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SMITHFIELD

The 2020 Miss Isle of Wight County Fair scholarship pageant is still on for Sunday, Aug. 2, but will be a little different this year given the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the pageant’s Facebook page, the plan is to host a crowning ceremony for the new fair queens and a farewell to the 2019 queens at 3 p.m. in The Smithfield Center, with each queen and contestant allowed five guests as to ensure social distancing. This will be live-streamed via the pageant’s Facebook page.

Instead of the typical competition areas, the pageant is instead requiring contestants to submit an essay and participate in a video interview with judges. The updated application and essay prompt will be available starting Friday, June 5, at thefairiscoming.com. The application deadline will also be extended through Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m., giving contestants an extra month to turn in their essays.