Pageant clocks are ticking

Women ages 17 to 24 are eligible to compete in the 2012 Miss Pasco County Pageant.

The pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Dan Cannon Auditorium as part of the 65th annual Pasco County Fair.

The pageant is an affiliate of the Miss America Pageant Scholarship Program. It is open to women who have lived in Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, Manatee, Citrus or Lake counties for at least six months before the pageant. Contestants must have never been married, pregnant or convicted of a crime.

Two titles will be awarded: Miss Pasco County and Miss Pasco County Fair. The winners will advance to the Miss Florida Pageant in July. The winner there goes on to compete for the title of Miss America.

It is a Miss America preliminary, and contestants will compete in the same categories of competition: interview, swimsuit, talent, eveningwear and onstage question. Contestants will be judged by people from the Miss Florida Pageant Scholarship Program.

There is no entry fee, but each contestant will be required to raise $100 for the Children's Miracle Network before the pageant dress rehearsal.

Applications also are being accepted for the 22nd annual Miss Heart of Florida Pageant, which will be held in the Dan Cannon Auditorium on the Pasco County Fairgrounds on Feb. 24.

The pageant is open to girls 6 to 17 who at the time of the pageant have lived in Pasco County at least six months. The contestants will be split into five age divisions:

• Tiny Miss Heart of Florida, ages 6 through 8;

• Young Miss Heart of Florida, ages 9 and 10;

• Junior Miss Heart of Florida, ages 11 and 12;

• Teen Miss Heart of Florida, ages 13 and 14;

• Miss Heart of Florida, ages 15 through 17;

There is a nonrefundable entry fee of $35 through Jan. 30. Entries will be accepted after the deadline until Feb. 19, but there will be a $10 late fee. No entries will be accepted after Feb. 19.

Get applications and rules at www.pascocountyfair.com; the Pasco County Fair Office, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City; or by calling the fair office at (352) 567-6678.

The 2012 Pasco County Fair will be held Feb. 20 through 26. There is a $2 spectator admission to the pageant with gate admission to the fair. Gate admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Parking is free.