The Coastal Camellia Formal Wear and Pageant Company will host its annual pageant weekend July 19-20 at the Foley Civic Center, featuring a special event for girls with special needs and a national-style pageant open to all ages.

The weekend kicks off Saturday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. with the Coastal Camellia Princess Pageant, a non-competitive event honoring girls of all ages with special needs. Every contestant will be treated like royalty and presented with a sash and crown.

The main event, the Miss Coastal Camellia Pageant, will run Saturday and Sunday. Contestants will compete in natural, scholarship-style divisions, with hair and makeup allowed if kept age-appropriate. The pageant welcomes girls and women from infants to adults, with tentative divisions ranging from 0-12 months through 19 and up. The entry fee is $150, which includes a custom round crown, sash, swag bag, special gift and eligibility for all age and side awards. A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration, and fees must be paid in full by July 1. Registration and payment can be completed online via https://forms.gle/P8qYNypsWirrRYBh6, with options to pay through Venmo, PayPal or cash.

Additional optional contests include interviews and a Fun Fashion/Outfit of Choice category for $50 each, as well as Jackpot titles available the day of the pageant. Jackpot winners receive half the total entries for that category, a crown and a title. Overall awards can be added for $100, yielding a chance for double crowning.

With enough entries, the pageant may be split into multiple sessions. The tentative schedule includes interviews and optional contests Saturday morning, followed by the 13 and up pageant and the special needs pageant Saturday evening. The youngest divisions (0-5 years) compete Sunday morning, with ages 6-12 starting at 2 p.m. The People's Choice award, featuring a "blinged" out satin sash and crown, will be announced Sunday. Votes cost $1 each, and contestants with 100 or more votes also receive a crown.

Pageant winners will be named across a range of titles. At least 10 Supreme Queens, 10 Divisional Queens and 10 Divisional Mini Queens will be crowned, along with winners for best smile, best hair, best eyes and best dress in every division.

The pageant, which has been called a "friendly local pageant with a national-level flair," guarantees every contestant a crown, swag bag and special gift from the director. The event will also feature a concession stand, refreshments and gift items for sale, with cash only accepted.

Miss Alabama 2023 Briana Burrell will serve as the emcee, and qualified judges will provide feedback and scores. The pageant has no residency restrictions or contract requirements.

For more information, or to register, visit www.coastalcamellia.com/events-2-1. To sponsor the special needs pageant or contribute swag bag items, email coastalcamellia@gmail.com.