NATCHEZ &045; Imagine crowds of steamboat passengers filling the seats of the Natchez City Auditorium, waving pompons and cheering at the top of their voices.

Imagine two jazz bands competing to get the scores of participants in the mood for what comes next.

Then imagine what happened when a dozen ladies dressed in feather boas, fishnet stockings and come-hither glances sashayed across the hardwood floor in an attempt to out-vamp each other.

Outright pandemonium.

Welcome to the Floozie Contest, an annual (actually, twice this year) contest between the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen steamboats as they make their way up the Mississippi River in the 25th competition for the Commodore’s Cup.

The object, for both passengers and crew members participating Saturday, was to see which participant was, well, the most convincing floozie.

The passenger winner each year wins the coveted Miss Natchez Under-the-Hill crown and sash, along with a bouquet of magnolias.

Judges Joe Cahn and Bodine Baldsco, veteran judges of the contest, and local judge Stephen Guido were charged to judge contestants based on four criteria: poise, originality, presence and personality.

&uot;There’s a difference between a floozie and a person of the night,&uot; Cahn said. &uot;A floozie is risqu, but not over the top.&uot;

Someone forgot to tell these ladies, however.

Jugs Mudbank (not her real name) wowed the judges by throwing her leg onto the judges’ table, taking off her garter and twirling it in their direction.

Okra Lynn Gumbo, on the other hand, took a more demure approach. Smiling sweetly, she threw a blanket on the hardwood floor &045; and beckoned the judges to it. One routine involved a man in a chair, although the act was just PG enough to pass muster with the over 65 crowd. Still another took Guido’s hand and placed it on the balloons that were overflowing from her blouse. Another act involved cherries and whipped cream. For a finale, contestant Jean Almandine did three cartwheels before descending into a split most of the contestants hadn’t tried in decades.

In the end, Almandine won the crew title, while Kathy Kudzu &045; actually former Natchezian Marie Wright &045; won the title of Miss Natchez Under-the-Hill with the chair routine and a series of sidelong glances at the judges.

&uot;I’ve never won such a prestigious Š I don’t know Šthing before,&uot; Wright said.

obviously a bit overcome by the honor.