NATCHEZ — Pepper Taylor will make a special mark on Natchez’s tricentennial celebration this year.

The 2013 Cathedral High School graduate will reign as the Natchez Garden Club’s queen during Spring Pilgrimage.

“I think it’s such an incredible honor, and with it being Natchez’s tricentennial, I think it makes it even more special,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s reign will also be special because she is sharing it with her brother, John Hunter Taylor, who is NGC’s 2016 king.

“Our family is so honored to represent Natchez,” Taylor said. “My brother and I are 10 years apart, but we’re very close. This has been so much fun because it’s something we get to do together.”

Taylor, like many children in Natchez, grew up performing in the Historic Natchez Tableaux, during which each year’s royalty is presented.

“As a little girl, I grew up always looking up to the queens,” she said. “So I am really excited for this experience, and I’ve enjoyed it so far. I’m sure it will only get better.”

Taylor is a junior at Mississippi State University majoring in communications with a concentration in public relations.

At Mississippi State, she was selected for membership in the Shakous Honors College and Lambda Sigma Honors Society.

Taylor is a Maroon VIP member and tour guide, past new Maroon Camp co-director, member of Delta Gamma sorority, activities director and member of its art crew and photography crew and the Student Association’s past co-director of the outdoor and film committee.

In the summer of 2015, she was admitted into the Coastal Marine Educational Research Academy in Tampa Bay, Fla., where she caught and tagged numerous sharks and stingrays and had the opportunity to save sea turtles.

Taylor’s previous tableaux participation includes Little Maypole, Raising of the American Flag, Picnic, Polka and Wedding of Jefferson Davis, in which she played the bride.

Taylor said she has enjoyed performing multiple roles in the tableaux.

“Every year was exciting because I got to be something else and see the pageant from a different perspective,” Taylor said.

Taylor will be wearing former queen Amy Callon’s dress, which is a beaded ivory off-the-shoulder gown.

“I knew I wanted to borrow a dress because I think it’s kind of special to wear a dress of a former queen,” Taylor said.

Taylor and her parents took a special trip to New Orleans to pick out her crown and scepter.

“They’re very beautiful, and Tableaux is a fun excuse to wear a crown and have a scepter,” Taylor said, laughing.

Tableaux has changed through the years, with the biggest changes made last year and more slated for this year. Taylor said it has been interesting to watch the transformation.

“I really like how it’s changed and that we are including history and information we did not previously,” she said. “Tableaux is so unique, and when people come here who are not from Natchez, they are always so impressed, especially that Tableaux is all volunteers. I know I have been very impressed this year with all the volunteer work that goes into it.”

Taylor is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Taylor Jr. of Natchez. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Noland Edward Biglane of Natchez and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Taylor of Yazoo City.