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This year’s Miss Uniquely Union Pageant will score contestants’ natural beauty.

The 2012 Uniquely Union BBQ Festival Pageant will be held at 1 p.m. on the second day of the festival — Saturday, Sept. 8 — at the Union County Fairgrounds.

This year’s pageant will be hosted by The Glass Slipper, whose natural, age-appropriate pageant rules make each of its pageants something unique in the pageant world.

To coincide with the Uniquely Union BBQ Festival’s theme, the Uniquely Union Pageant will be a “no glitz” pageant, meaning all dress will be “country casual.” The pageant is for girls only — from birth to 16 years of age — and will feature only theme wear, with no beauty dress category. The pageant website — a link for which can be found on www.uniquelyunion.com — encourages contestants to have fun with their casual country look and offers ideas such as “glamming up” blue jeans with rhinestones. Bathing suits, bare bellies and pro-am modeling are all prohibited.

Applicants do not necessarily have to live in Union County.

Another rule in the natural beauty pageant is that no heavy make-up is allowed. Scoring penalties can occur. For girls from birth to three years of age, absolutely no make-up is allowed. Girls ages 4-6 are allowed only lip gloss. Girls ages 7-12 are allowed lip gloss and light blush. Girls ages 13-16 are allowed very light make-up. Spray tans, wigs and hair extensions are also prohibited.

The pageant starts at 1 p.m., and applicants may register that day from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with an additional $5 fee added. Applicants may register now on the pageant website, which can be found under the pageant menu on www.uniquelyunion.com. All fees must be paid in full when the application is submitted, and if fees do not accompany the application, it will not be processed.

The age group divisions for the pageant are as follows:

Division I

Baby Miss — 0-12 months

Tiny Miss — 13-23 months

Wee Miss — 2 years

Toddler Miss — 3 years

Division II

Precious Miss — 4-5 years

Petite Miss — 6-7 years

Little Miss — 8-9 years

Division III

Young Miss — 10-13 years

Teen Miss — 14-16 years

A minimum of two contestants is required, or the director has the right to move the contestant up to the next category.

Miss Uniquely Union 2012 will be crowned from the overall highest score in pageant, and she will receive a crown; a three-foot, two-tier trophy; an embroidered sash; a certificate; and the prestigious title. The winner will remain the titleholder for one year.

The overall highest score for each age group will receive a crown, a trophy, a certificate, an embroidered sash and title.

There will also be winners for the following categories in each age group that will receive medal or trophy.

• Best Personality
• Best Smile
• Best Overall Appearance (outfit)

Every contestant will be recognized on stage and will receive a trophy or medal.

For more information, visit www.uniquelyunion.com.