Miss El Paso, Teen pageants to crown 2013 winner

More than 70 ladies have prepared for months to have a chance to hold the Miss El Paso and Miss El Paso Teen titles for 2013.

The two-day event begins Friday night with the preliminary round. The winners on Friday night will move on to the final round Saturday night.

The annual event will be held at the Magoffin Auditorium at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Twenty-eight women are competing for the Miss El Paso title, 43 for the Miss El Paso Teen title.

Winners will be picked by a panel of judges thatincludes some previous title-holders, prominent business owners and twoUTEP coaches.

The competition includes a swimsuit, evening gown and interview rounds.

The twowinning contestants will move on to a bigger stage later this year.

Miss El Paso and Miss El Paso Teen are the official state pageant recruiters to the Miss Texas USA pageant.

The new title holders will receive more than $10,000 in prizes.

Their duties willcontinue for the next year making appearances at local events and donating their time to local charities.

Part of the proceeds of this weekend’s competition will benefit the March of Dimes and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger.