Fifteen boys and girls will be vying for a $1,500 grand prize in North DeKalb Mall's fourth annual Youth Idol competition that kicks off Jan. 24.

The contestants, ages 8 to 15 years old, were picked at a Jan. 10 audition. They will compete every Saturday at 2 p.m. through Feb. 28 in the mall's food court.

Each week contestants will be critiqued by contest judges Jean Wagner, Abbie Mansour and Felicia Harris. The contest runner up will get $500.

The Youth Idol competition is one of three "American Idol"-style competitions hosted by the mall to find local singing talent in the metro Atlanta area. Mary J. Burdge, the mall's marketing manager, said the competition is longer this year because it is the most popular Idol contest they have.

"We normally hold the competition for five weeks, but we extended it to six weeks this year, because we have so much participation," she said.

Nia Imani Hunter, the 2008 Youth Idol winner, is now starring on Broadway in Disney's "The Lion King."

North DeKalb Mall is at 2050 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. For more information, email NDMIdol@cdecompany.com or call 404-235-6444.