Victoria Parker, the 2005 Miss Grand Marquise, will relinquish her crown and scepter on March 26 as the search for the 2006 Grand Marquise begins.

The Grand Marquise, a pageant highlighting the glamour, elegance, prestige and beauty of female impersonators, will offer more than $2,500 in cash and prizes beginning at 8 p.m. on Sunday March 26 at Play Dance Bar.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award which will go to Bianca Paige. Carmella Marcella Garcia from Orlando, FL will host the event. Hurricane Summers from Louisville, KY will co-host with special guest Jordan Kennedy from Birmingham, AL.

Contestants will compete for the title of Miss Grand Marquise 2006, first runner up, and second runner up. The title winner will not only be crowned with a signature marquise crown and scepter, she will also win $500 in cash, jewelry valued at $300 and a signature marquise award. A $75 non-refundable entry fee is required for each contestant.

Category awards will be presented in presentation, talent, elegant evening gown and most beautiful. Contestants will be judged in four categories: Presentation (20 percent), Talent (30%), Elegant Evening Wear (40%) and Question and Answer (10%).

The pageant, in its third year, is the brainchild of Bud East, who developed the concept along with co-founders Joey Brown and Matt Church. East said he envisioned a national pageant that would focus on the beauty and grace of the entertainer and less emphasis on the talent categories.

“The highest scored category is elegant evening wear,” East explained. “We’re revitalizing a pageantry system that is based on the fundamental concepts of elegance and beauty.”

With the highest scoring area that of elegant evening wear, East said judges will be looking for contestants who have original, elegant and fashionable evening gowns.

“Last year the gowns were just beautiful,” he said. “We’re looking forward to seeing even more beautiful gowns this year.”

Unlike other competitions, there are no preliminary competitions. Entry forms can be found at www.playdancebar.com. More information can be obtained from East, who can be reached at (615) 977-4830 or by email, budeast@comcast.net.