Heidi Cook and Tia Childers of Austin were recently selected to participate in the Nationals’ 2008 Miss Teen Minneapolis/St. Paul pageant competition Aug. 17. The girls learned of their acceptance into this year’s competition as Nationals, Inc. announced their selection on Monday afternoon.

They submitted an application and took part in an interview session conducted by Patty Neidert, this year’s Minneapolis/St. Paul Pageant Coordinator.

Cook and Childers will be competing for their share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants. They will be competing in the Miss Teen division, one of four divisions in which girls between the ages of 7 and 19 will compete in modeling routines including casual and formal wear. Most importantly, Cook and Childers will display their personalities and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year’s Minneapolis/St. Paul judging panel. Personality is the No. 1 aspect that each contestant is judged on during all phases of the competition.

If either of the girls were to win the title of Miss Teen Minneapolis/St. Paul, she would represent Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding communities at the Cities of America National Competition that will take place in Orlando, Fla. More than $60,000 in prizes and awards will be presented at the National Competition while each winner enjoys this expense-paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando.

There is no cost to for participating in the pageant competition. Community businesses, organizations and private individuals will assist Cook and Childers in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to them.

Also competing from Austin is Megan Hardy, 12.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor should contact pageant coordinator, Patty Neidert, at (800) 569-2487.