The University Programming Board (UPB) will begin taking applications for the Miss Georgia Southern scholarship pageant, an annual beauty pageant affiliated with Miss America, this week.

The winner of the pageant is awarded a scholarship and given a place at the Miss Georgia scholarship pageant. The winner of Miss Georgia goes on to the Miss America Pageant.

The UPB, which organizes and puts on the pageant, will take applications from Oct. 4 to Oct. 19.

Applicants must be under 25 years old in the year they compete, have a 2.5 GPA or higher, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours, be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the university and have completed at least one semester before the pageant.

There is also an entry and application fee that must be paid before the close of application admission on October 19. The application asks general information about the applicant, like hometown, family background, interests, community service and involvement in organizations on campus.

Contestants can expect categories of competition including talent, onstage question, swimsuit and evening wear.

“The main thing [contestants] can expect [at the pageant] is to have fun. A lot of our girls from previous years always dwell on the experience that they have because it is like none other, like gaining new friendships, learning all the different things about Georgia Southern, and having that great school spirit,” Keandra Goodman, the special events committee chair for UPB and coordinator of the Miss Georgia Southern pageant, said.

The pageant will begin January 21, 2017 at the Performing Arts Center and will be the 69th Annual Miss Georgia Southern Pageant.