Beauty queens from across the Peach State are competing this week in hopes of taking the Miss Georgia or Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen crown.
Luckily, you don't have to make the drive to Columbus to watch the competition take place (although there are still tickets available if you want to see it in person). We've got everything you need to watch and what to know about this year's Miss Georgia pageant.
Miss Georgia 2017: Meet the metro Atlanta women vying for the crown
Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2017: Meet metro Atlanta contestants
What’s the difference between Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen?
Miss Georgia is a pageant for women between 17 and 24 years old. Miss contestants compete in five phases of competition: talent, swimsuit, evening wear, on-stage question and private interview. The winner of Miss Georgia goes on to compete for the title of Miss America.
Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen is a pageant for young women between the ages of 13 and 17. Contestants must be no older than a rising high school senior; if a 17-year-old has graduated high school, she is only eligible for Miss Georgia, not the teen competition. Teen contestants compete in four phases of competition: talent, evening wear and on-stage question, physical fitness and private interview. Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen is a “little sister” to Miss Georgia and goes on to compete in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, the “little sister” pageant to Miss America.
How can I watch online?
The pageant's preliminary and final competition is streamed live by WRBL-TV, a local Columbus TV station. The stream is free and covers all three preliminary nights, Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen finals and Miss Georgia finals. Preliminary competition takes place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen finals are on Friday at 7 p.m. and Miss Georgia finals are on Saturday at 7 p.m. You can find live streams at WRBL's Miss Georgia page and "Watch Live" page.
Why do some contestants not live in the city or region they represent?
Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen have dozens of local pageants that send contestants to the state competition. Some are “open pageants” and others are “closed pageants.”
Open pageants allow any Georgia resident within the proper age range to compete; that’s why Miss Historic Buford lives in Athens and Miss Fulton County lives in Suwanee. Titleholders who represent locations where they do not live still attend events and perform community service in the location they represent.
Closed pageants restrict their contestant pool to a certain city, county or region. Miss Warner Robins, for example, is a closed pageant that permits contestants to compete if they live in one of 14 Middle Georgia counties.
Follow AJC reporter Amanda C. Coyne’s coverage of Miss Georgia, including live coverage of each night of competition, at AJC.com and on Twitter at @AmandaCCoyne.
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