Bakersfield is the new home of the California Junior Miss program, which means you get a front-row seat as these young women sing, dance and “self-express” their way to the top this week.

The competition runs Thursday through Saturday, but the girls will kick things off tonight at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace when the outgoing Junior Misses will perform on stage, accompanied by a band. All of the Junior Miss activities are open to the public.

Five Kern County high school seniors along with 35 other young woman compete for the honor and about $35,000 in scholarships.

The entertainment value of the show is high, according to organizers. In addition to the professionally cherographed fitness category, there will be individual talent presentations.

Laura Wilson, of Bakersfield High School, will sing “On My Own” from “Les Miserables” at Thursday night's show. Lauren Richardson, of Frontier High School, will perform a ballet choreographed by Kristin Doolittle of Civic Dance Studio at Friday night's show. Melissa Ford, of Delano, will play “Clair de lune” by Debussy on the piano. Kathleen Chung, of Tehachapi, will play “Fantasie Impromptu in C Minor” by Chopin on the piano. Michelle Starrh, of Shafter, will play “Sonata Pathetique” by Beethoven on the piano.

The 40 teens are divided into four groups that will perform different areas of the show each night. Thursday and Friday night are preliminary nights, which include performances in fitness, self-expression and talents. Saturday night finalists will perform their individual talents along with group routines and ends with the announcement of California's Junior Miss.

California's Junior Miss contestants are evaluated in five areas of competition: fitness 15 percent, self-expression, 15 percent, talent 25 percent, interviews 25 percent, and scholastic achievement 20 percent.

The winner of California's Junior Miss will go on to compete at America's Junior Miss for $225,000 in college scholarships next June in Alabama.