The time has come, yet again, to name a Miss Driver Days.

Diane Whicker is helming the pageant again this year in the hopes of helping young women across the city and region develop into well-spoken, confident and successful members of society.

“No matter what you do in life, poise and personality get you in the door,” she said.

And, with that in mind, plans for the 2008 Miss Driver Days Scholarship Pageant have been kicked into high gear.

This year, the pageant is taking a more urgent turn to helping its participants chase down their dreams.

The pageant has partnered with both John Robert Powers School of Modeling as well as the Miss Virginia Coed Pageant to sponsor the event, which means the pageant will give its winners of each division access to more comprehensive training and pageant opportunities.

By being a Coed-sponsored pageant, Whicker says the emphasis is put back on letting girls embrace their natural beauties. Participants under the age of 13, for example, are not allowed to wear makeup or points will be deducted from their score. Plus, there is no talent or bathing suit competition, instead relying on stage presence, sportswear, evening gown and their interview portion.

“It’s finding the girl next door,” she said.

While the winner will be named Miss Driver Days, their chances at crowns are nowhere near over.

Winners will head to the state level of the Miss Virginia Coed Pageant. All state winners will then proceed to the Miss American Coed Pageant in Disney World. Since 1983, this national pageant has awarded over $6 million dollars in scholarships.

To help prepare the Driver representatives for these competitions, winners of each division will be given a one-time enrollment to the Powers school for professional instruction on stage presence, personal presentation and acting classes.

Not only will this help their performance on stage, but it will also help the young women be eligible for auditions with top casting directors from Los Angeles and New York, looking for new faces for runway and catalog modeling, commercials, movies and television.

“I think we’re offering the girls a terrific package with this pageant,” Whicker said.

The entry fee is $100 and a requirement to sell a one-page advertisement in the program. For more information, contact Diane Whicker, pageant director, at 291-2800 or e-mail her at dianewhicker1@verizon.net.