A group of local pageant winners will be heading across the state to compete for statewide titles through the Miss Tennessee Organization later this week.

The Miss Iris Tennessee Teen will take place on Friday evening in Jackson, Tenn. The following evening on Saturday, contestants will compete for the Miss Tennessee Outstanding Teen title.

Among the many teens taking the stage over the course of the two events are three who were crowned in Elizabethton in September through the Miss Watauga Valley and Miss Carter County Pageants.

As part of the Miss Tennessee Organization, which is a preliminary for the Miss America Organization pageant, teens compete for the Iris Teen and Outstanding Teen titles to accompany the local “Miss” division winners.

Representing the Miss Watauga Valley pageant on Friday evening will be the reigning Miss Watauga Valley Iris Teen Reese Albright.

Contestants in the Iris Teen division compete in evening gown, interview, and lifestyle and fitness events for the pageant.

“The reigning Miss Iris Tennessee Teen Peyton Jones was our Watauga Valley Iris Teen last year,” said Linda Adams, co-director of both the Miss Watauga Valley and Miss Carter County pageants. “She will be there Friday to crown her successor.”

Joining Jones on stage as she passes the torch will be Miss Carter County Iris Princess Kaylen Simerly, a 9-year-old third grade student at Happy Valley Elementary.

“She’s over the moon about getting to be on the stage to help with the crowning,” Adams said about Simerly.

Adams said she and her co-director Becky Simerly are both sad to see Jones’ reign coming to an end. “We love her and her family,” Adams said. “We hope when she gets older she will come back and compete in the Outstanding Teen and Miss divisions.”

“We’ve been fortunate to have some very good girls,” Adams added.

Representing the Miss Watauga Valley pageant on Saturday evening will be the reigning Miss Watauga Valley Outstanding Teen Rachel McFarling.

Joining her at the competition to represent the Miss Carter County pageant will be the reigning Miss Carter County Kloye Peters.

Contestants in the Outstanding Teen division compete in evening gown, interview, talent, and lifestyle and fitness events for the pageant.

For her talent performance, McFarling will be performing the song “Orphans of God.” For her talent performance, Peters will be performing the song “Listen.”