BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The 2016 North Baldwin Beauty Review, set for Feb. 20, will be a time to highlight the “beauty, grace and intelligence” of young ladies who reside in the northern portion of Baldwin County.

The pageant begins at 6 p.m. at the L.D. Owen Performing Arts Center at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette. The Beauty Review is open to third through 12th grade students who reside in north Baldwin County. Students can be enrolled in public, private or home-school programs.

The pageant will feature three divisions: Elementary, for third through fifth grades; Junior High, for sixth through eighth grades; and High School for ninth through 12th grades.

The winners of each division will be crowned with titles: Little Miss North Baldwin, Junior Miss North Baldwin and Miss North Baldwin, respectively. Each division will also have a first, second, third and fourth runner-up.

Additional awards will also be presented including top ad sales, most photogenic, best smile, best hair, and best dress, among others. Prizes and awards for winners include gift certificates, apparel, photography sessions, jewelry, and more!

The pageant is sponsored by the Baldwin County High School's Tigerettes and Tiger Guard. The teams are under the direction of Elizabeth Bridges Byrd.

“This year will be our 5th year of the North Baldwin Beauty Review, and I am excited to make it the best year yet,” Byrd said. “I truly want this experience to be the highlight of the year for all of the contestants. The message of this program is that beauty comes from within, and my goal as the director is to help build self-esteem and confidence in all who participate. Contestants will have fun, make new friends, and (hopefully) discover amazing qualities they possess that make them beautiful.”

Contestants will wear evening gowns for the full duration of the pageant. For the High School and Junior High divisions, gowns can be floor or tea length and must fall below the knee. For the Elementary division, gowns can be floor, tea or knee length and must not fall any higher than the top of the knee cap.

The judging criteria will be self-expression/personality, presence and poise, beauty/appearance and overall appeal. The contestants will also take part in an on-stage interview where they will respond to a personal question provided prior to the program. Byrd said the judges will be looking for “someone with grace, poise, beauty, elegance and a memorable presence.”

The winners may be asked to make special appearances at community events and to ride in local parades, Byrd said. The winners also take part in the Bay Minette Christmas parade.

Applications for the 2016 North Baldwin Beauty Review are available at north Baldwin schools, the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and at Bay Minette City Hall. Each contestant is asked to secure a minimum of $50 sponsorship, payable to Baldwin County High School.

Registration and rehearsal will be held Monday, Feb. 15, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, as well as a rehearsal on Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A dress rehearsal will be held Friday, Feb. 19, from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. at the same location.

For more information or to contribute to this event, contact Byrd via email at Elizabeth.B.Byrd@gmail.com.