Newseum host and moderator Sonya Gavankar, emcee at last month’s presentation of Stephanie Williams, Miss DC 2010, announced the Miss District of Columbia Organization is inviting aspirants for the Miss D.C. 2011 competition, which is open to all young women in the area.

For criteria and other details, interested contestants should visit www.missdc.com. An information session for prospective contestants will take place on February 26, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Venue is the Institute of World Politics on 1521 16th Street, N.W. , Washington , D.C. To RSVP, e-mail missdcamerica@aol.com.

            There is no entry fee to compete in the Miss DC Pageant. Auditions will take place on March 26. The pageant will be held in late June or early July at the historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street N.W.

The winner and two runners-up will receive academic scholarships. Miss DC 2011 will represent the District in the 2012 Miss America Pageant. She will serve the D.C. community throughout the year, as a goodwill ambassador and promoter of various civic and philanthropic efforts.