Here She Comes, Miss Florida!

For the eighth year, St. Petersburg will host the Miss Florida Pageant, when 43 contestants arrive on July 1 to begin a week of competition and appearances that will conclude with the crowning of Miss Florida 2012 on Saturday, July 7, at the Mahaffey Theater.

Over $50,000 in cash scholarships are being awarded to this year's Class of 2012. 

The contestants kick off the week on Sunday, July 1 by attending a Tampa Bay Ray's baseball game with the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Miss Florida 2011 Kristina Janolo, who was a Top 12 finisher in the most recent Miss America pageant, will perform the National Anthem.

"We are thrilled to return to our host city for a great week of pageantry. The City of St. Petersburg has embraced our organization and is the perfect complement to our 2012 pageant theme, Red Hot & Blue,"  said Mary Sullivan, Executive Director of the Miss Florida Pageant.

"Our first class venue combined with the area's many attractions will delight the families, directors, volunteers, and supporters who will be in town to support their favorite contestants.

"One of these young ladies will become Miss Florida 2012 and quite possibly, Miss America 2013."

On Tuesday, July 3, 33 contestants vying for Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen will arrive to begin their quest to capture the 2012 Teen title and compete for Miss America's Outstanding Teen in August, 2012.

Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2011, Elizabeth Fechtel, won more than $30,000 in college scholarships and also won the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 on August 20, 2011 in Orlando.

The Miss Florida and Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant competitions will take place at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater.  Preliminary competition will be held on July 4-6 and the Pageant Finals are on Saturday, July 7.

Tickets to the Preliminaries and the Pageant Finals will be available to the public at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Box Office of the Mahaffey Theater. For additional information on tickets, please call 727.892.5767.