Contestants begin quest to become Miss WV - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Contestants in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant are beginning their quest for the crown.

They arrived from across the state in Morgantown on Thursday evening for events over the next several days, which will end with the crowning of a new Miss West Virginia and West Virginia's Outstanding Teen.

"I'm just so excited this is my second year. I really hope things turn out this year. I'm excited to be here with all these contestants involved here with all these contestants involved and everything this week. I cant wait to see the culmination," said Kaitlin Gates, Miss Harrison County.

Contestants have already won a local preliminary pageant competition to represent their area in the state pageant. The new Miss West Virginia will go on to represent the state in the Miss America Pageant. Contestants earn the opportunity for college scholarships through the program, one of the largest of the its kind for young women in the world.

Contestants also spend time in their communities, working on public service projects and serving as an ambassador for The Children's Miracle Network.

Preliminary competition begins next week and stage competition begins on Wednesday, June 27. The final night of competition is Friday, June 29 at the Morgantown Event Center. The crowning of the new Miss West Virginia will be telecast live on West Virginia Media Stations across the state. Viewers can watch the crowning on WOWK-TV, 13News at 11.

You can learn more about the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization and West Virginia's Outstanding Teen by clicking on this link.