On Saturday, a queen and princess will be crowned in the annual Bean Queen contest.

Two girls will be crowned Bean Queen and Bean Princess respectively, a title they’ll carry for an entire year, at the annual Tracy Bean Queen and Princess Pageant tonight.

The long-time local tradition drew 15 applicants this year, from third-graders through high school seniors.

Friday night, the girls rehearsed their talents, which included song, dance, poetry, gymnastics and one comedic monologue.

The theme this year: Hollywood glamour.

The winners of the princess and queen titles will become a fixture this coming year at all of Tracy’s community celebrations. They will perform or make appearances at the Tracy Dry Bean Festival, the city’s Fourth of July celebration, the Christmas parade and other community events, like high school homecomings.

The winners will also attend business functions, like ribbon cuttings, mixers and Tracy Chamber of Commerce events during their yearlong reign.

"It’s a way to get young people involved in their community," said organizer Juana Dement, who helped revive the contest after a few-year sabbatical about five years ago. "This type of thing really does help build confidence."

All participants come away with an award, Dement said. Contestants will earn points for poise, talent and overall performance. Already, judges screened them in a pre-pageant interview, for which they also earn points.

Third- through fifth-grade contestants will compete for the princess title, while sixth grade and up will vie for the queen’s crown.

"This is one of those rare opportunities for a young lady to represent her community," Dement said, adding that the skills contestants polish through the pageant carry over to scholarship interviews, job skills and just the way young people interact with the world around them.

"It’s good, because they’ll learn things like public speaking and just how to network with people, for example. It’s just a really valuable experience."

At a glance

WHAT: Tracy Bean Queen and Princess Pageant

WHEN: 6 p.m. today

WHERE: Tracy Community Center, 950 East St.

INFO: Juana Dement, 914-0635

2008 contestants

Harley Rose Rodriguez

Stephanie Pelletier

Brittany Cuevas

Perle Goldberg

Amy Wise

Ankita Lakhotia