LIVINGSTON – Demopolis’ Brandi McGee is one of five young ladies vying for the title of Miss University of West Alabama Thursday.

Miss UWA will be crowned Thursday, Feb. 3.

The annual public program selects a campus representative to the Miss Alabama Pageant, a Miss America preliminary held this summer in Birmingham.

McGee, a junior biology major, is the daughter of Donna and David McGee.

The Miss UWA pageant, which begins at 7 p.m. in Bibb Graves Auditorium, will showcase the contestants in evening wear, talent, swimsuit and on-stage question competitions during “A Night of Jazz.” Each contestant will also be scored on her interview held earlier in the day with the judging panel. Admission is free.

This year’s mistress of ceremonies and entertainment is Miss Alabama 2010 Ashley Davis, who recently returned from the Miss America pageant held in Las Vegas. Miss UWA 2010 Maegen Moore of Jasper will crown the new titleholder.

The pageant will also award the People’s Choice Award, given in conjunction with the Miss America national platform, Children’s Miracle Network. Each of the five Miss UWA contestants will have a contribution jar in the auditorium’s lobby, giving audience members the opportunity to donate in the name of their favorite contestant.

At the end of the evening, the contestant whose jar contains the largest contribution will be named the People’s Choice winner.

Funds are raised only during the pageant, with all proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network.

As the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation’s leading achievement programs, the Miss America Organization last year made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

The Miss America Organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of nationwide community-based programs.