MARIETTA — Eighteen young women are preparing to compete for the 2013 Miss Cobb County crown and more than $30,000 in cash scholarships at the 55th annual Miss Cobb County Scholarship Pageant.

The pageant will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center at 548 South Marietta Parkway in Marietta. All tickets at $20 are reserved seating and may be obtained by contacting (770) 435-6378 or misscobbcounty@yahoo.com. This year’s pageant theme is: “We’re Having A Party.”

The new Miss Cobb will become a public relations ambassador during the coming year, culminating with her participation in the Miss Georgia Pageant next June in Columbus.

FOX 5 Atlanta meteorologist Joanne Feldman will be the mistress of ceremonies. Feldman captured the title of Miss Cobb in 1993. Miss Georgia Leighton Jordan will be a special guest. She will compete in the Miss America Pageant in January.

Saturday’s production will feature an array of special talent, including ComPAny 2013 from Pebblebrook High School’s Cobb County Centre for Excellence in the Performing Arts.

A special highlight will be the announcement of the 2013 Miss Cobb County’s Outstanding Teen, who will vie for the title of Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen next June in Columbus. She will be crowned by Amelia Hunt, the 2012 Miss Cobb County’s Outstanding Teen and first runner-up in the recent state pageant.

After actively promoting Boys and Girls Club of America and other issues, current Miss Cobb Stephanie Burkholder will pass her crown to one of 18 contestants.

The winner will be awarded a $10,000 cash scholarship. The runner-up scholarships include first runner-up ($1,250), second runner-up ($1,000), third runner-up ($750) and fourth runner-up ($500).

The talent winner will receive the $400 Donna Chastain Award, and the swimsuit winner will receive the $200 Corwin M. Robison II Award. Contestants will select the winner of the $200 Lace Larrabee Miss Congeniality Award.

“The Miss America system has taught me to truly believe in myself and all I have to offer,” said Burkholder, 21, a University of Mississippi senior. “I will cherish the relationships leadership skills and life skills I have gained for the rest of my life.”

The pageant is sponsored by the Miss Cobb County Scholarship Pageant Inc., a nonprofit composed of community volunteers. Originally, the pageant was a community service project of the Kennesaw Mountain Jaycees, which later became the Marietta Jaycees. Since it began in 1958, the program has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarship money. Contestants must be single and never married, between 17 and 23 years old, and a high school graduate.

Contestants for this year’s pageant were selected through preliminary auditions conducted earlier this summer. Judging for the pageant is based on a private interview (25 percent), talent (35 percent), evening gown (20 percent), swimsuit (15 percent) and on-stage question (5 percent).

The 2013 Miss Cobb contestants are: Katherine McCauley, 19, Marietta, daughter of John and Rebecca McCauley; Brianna Godshalk, 19, Marietta, daughter of David and Lucia Godshalk; Jazmine Scroggins, 22, Lithonia, daughter of Edward Gerard and Shkita Flemister; Victoria Norman, 23, Smyrna, daughter of Laura and Tracy Tyson and David Norman; Maggie Bridges, 19, Atlanta, daughter of John and Cathy Bridges; Ashley ShahAhmadi, 20, Marietta, daughter of Cheryl ShahAhmadi; Macy Lister, 21, Atlanta, daughter of Rachel and Rhaled Hamed; Tyler Forbes, 18, Roswell, daughter of Kim and Brian Forbes; Natalie Harrell, 19, Marietta, daughter of John and Laurel Harrell; Taylor Mahi, 19, Acworth, daughter of Melissa Adams and Rick Maddox; Keonnie Betts, 20, Marietta, daughter of Ken and Connie Betts; Tara Lynn Steele, 19, Marietta, daughter of Charles and Darcy Steele; Carly Gill, 22, Kennesaw, daughter of Gary Gill; Heather Fulbright, 18, Johns Creek, daughter of Jeffrey and Jeannie Fulbright; Allie Chastain, 19, Cartersville, daughter of Dawn and Eddie Chastain; Lauren Green, 21, Acworth, daughter of David and Lynn Green; Erika Elliott, 18, Acworth, daughter of Rob and Terry Elliott; and Gray Stoner, 19, Smyrna, daughter of Doug and Della Stoner.