A lineup of “amazing and talented young women” will be performing at this year’s Miss Chelsea Area pageant, according to Elizabeth Fairley, one of three directors for the event.

Working with her are Rebecca Turner and Crystal Langford, along with many other volunteers.

“Volunteers are crucial to us and to the Miss America Organization,” she said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this.”

The Miss Chelsea Area pageant, held each year in the gymnasium of a little white church building on SCR 47, is a preliminary pageant to the Miss Alabama contest.

And the first Miss Chelsea Area, Liz Cochran, became the winner of this coveted title last year.

Liz Cochran, Miss Alabama 2009, will again appear at the local venue as special emcee of the Jan. 9 pageant to be held at Lesters Chapel United Methodist Church.

Theme for the program is “Enjoy The Ride.” And, according to the list of other benefits awarded the winner of the Miss Chelsea Area crown, she will have quite a ride.

“I don’t know where to begin (naming benefits) because there are so many,” Fairley said. Besides scholarship money and other prizes there’s “the opportunity to compete in Miss Alabama/Miss America pageants and gain more scholarships, you gain public speaking skills, interview skills, confidence in front of large crowds, community service opportunities, friendships, and the list could go on.”

Appearances already lined up for the new Miss Chelsea Area include the Celebrate Chelsea Day in March and the Chelsea Christmas parade in December.

Anyone interested in having Miss Chelsea at their event can contact her at 966-2851, she said.

Fairley would also like to hear from anyone interested in volunteering to help with future pageants.

The Miss Chelsea Area pageant begins at 7 p.m. in the Lesters Chapel gymnasium.

Admission is $10 for ages 6 and up, $5 for 5 and under.

More information about the competition and pictures of past and present Miss Chelsea Area winners can be found at Misschelseaarea.com.

Shelba Nivens can be reached by e–mail at ssnivens@bellsouth.net.