NATCHEZ &8212; A little nervous but very excited, Megan Guido made her debut as Historic Natchez Pageant Queen on Friday, representing the Natchez Garden Club with her king, Leo Joseph III.

The 2003 Cathedral School graduate said it is like a fairy tale to put on the silk, satin and lace gown that indeed is fit for a queen.

&8220;I&8217;ve never pictured myself being a queen,&8221; she said. &8220;But I have always admired the dresses and that part of the pageant.&8221;

The pageant dates to earliest years of the Spring Pilgrimage, which began in 1932. Guido joins a long line of queens who, like her, donned frothy white or ecru dresses adorned with all the trimmings of the finest pre-Civil War styles.

Her dress, in fact, is styled after a vintage queen&8217;s dress, with a bodice of ivory satin overlaid with shirred silk organza.

The neckline is edged with heavily beaded lace trim and has a narrow ruffle of netting above the trim and a wider ruffle of beaded embroidered net lace below.

Created by Cindy Whittington of Natchez, the gown includes a train of silk organza. Beaded embroidered net lace falls from the shoulders.

The queen attire also includes a new tiara and a scepter, both of fine crystals. And recently her aunt, Debby Cooper Hill, presented her with a triple-strand pearl necklace to wear with her queen&8217;s dress.

&8220;That was a complete surprise. It&8217;s beautiful, and it will be very special for me,&8221; she said.

Wearing costumes is nothing new for Guido. She has taken part in Pilgrimage activities since she was a small girl, including participating in the pageant and receiving visitors at Glenburnie, the home of her grandparents, George and Margaret Guido.

Her sister, Kari, is a senior at Cathedral and also has a big role in the pageant as a lead dancer in The Soiree at Jefferson College.

Guido was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg when she learned about her invitation to be queen.

She is spending the second semester of the school year in Natchez as a student at Copiah-Lincoln Community College but plans to return to USM and either continue her nursing education or consider physical therapy as a new major.

&8220;I&8217;ve really enjoyed being back in Natchez,&8221; she said. &8220;And most of the members of the court are friends from high school.&8221;

The excitement has not been lost on her parents, Gary and Carolyn Guido. &8220;We&8217;ve had to be super organized,&8221; Carolyn Guido said. &8220;It has amazed me how much preparation it takes, but it has been rewarding to spend this time with my daughter.&8221;

The pageant will continue each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through April 8. The Natchez Garden Club royalty will reign through March 24. A king, queen and court representing the Pilgrimage Garden Club will reign beginning March 25.