Eligibility Requirements
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• At least 17 years old at the time of local pageant
• No more than 24 years old on September 30th of the year of the Miss America national finals
• High school graduate or successfully completed G.E.D. testing program by July 1th
• Female, never married and never have had children
• Legal resident of Oregon at least 6 months prior to local pageant competition
• Geographic eligibility for local pageants:
RESIDENCY - resided in the local pageant franchise area for a minimum of six (6) months prior to entering a local preliminary pageant. Proof will be a Oregon driver's license, auto registration, current lease, student ID card or any other official document establishing residency.
OR
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE- completed at least one fulltime semester at a high school, community college or a four year college/university within the State of Oregon and must be currently enrolled as a fulltime student (12 units) located within the franchise area or in accordance with the Miss Oregon nearest four year college rule. Proof will be evidence of registration, transcripts or other official documentation from the appropriate educational institution.
OR
EMPLOYMENT - have been a fulltime employee of a firm located within the local pageant franchise area for a minimum of six (6) months prior to entering the local pageant. Must also be currently employed by a firm in the franchise area. Proof will be a letter from the contestant's employer.
• Must maintain the basis for eligibility throughout the local and state competition
General Policies
• An entrant may enter only 2 structured local pageants within a single pageant year. One of the open pageants must be the entrant's home area open
• There is no limit on the number of local pageant titles an entrant may hold during her entire competition eligibility period (ages 17 - 24)
• An entrant may not succeed herself, but upon setting out one full pageant year can once again compete for the same title.
Areas of Competition
Private Interview
Each contestant participates in an individual 10-minute press conference-style interview with our panel of judges (12 minutes at the state and national competitions). There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, their educational and career goals, their opinions on current events and social issues, and their interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities.
Scoring is based on:
Qualities and attributes of a Miss America
Overall first impression
Validated aspirations, opinions and responses in context
Poise, personal appearance and attractiveness
Personality, intelligence, style and emotional control
Speech, vocabulary and grammar
Confident and commanding presence
Knowledge, understanding and ability to articulate her platform issue
Sense of accomplishment
Ability to fulfill job responsibilities of Miss Local/Miss Oregon
Talent
Contestants perform a 2-minute routine of their own choosing. Some possible talents include all types of singing, dancing, gymnastics, instrumental music, dramatic or comedy monologues, baton twirling and ventriloquism. Other talents that can be performed solo on a stage are also possible. Phone or e-mail us if you have a question about your talent presentation.
Scoring is based on:
Talent selection and performance, as it distinguishes both the contestant's skills and personality
Interpretive ability
Technical skill level (execution, technique, synchronization, control)
Stage presence and on-stage personality
Totality of all elements (including costume, props, voice, use of body, choreography)
Lifestyle & Fitness In Swimsuit
Each contestant briefly appears on stage in a one- or two-piece swimsuit and footwear of her own choosing. Swimsuits must be approved prior to competition by the Executive Director of the pageant.
Scoring is based on:
Qualities and attributes of a Miss America
Overall first impression
Statement of strong physical fitness and health
Sense of attractiveness and presence
Display of energy, charisma and expression
Sense of confidence and composure
On-Stage Question
Questions will be of a general nature and will be neither platform-related nor something taken directly from the private interview. The objective is to evaluate the contestant's ability to think on her feet and answer a question of general interest to people her age, including, but not limited to, local, state and national current events.
Scoring is based on:
Overall first impression
Extemporaneous response to on-stage question
Did the contestant answer the question in the context in which it was asked?
Can she handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience?
Will young people see her as a role model who is reflective of today's generation?
Evening Wear
Each contestant appears on stage in an outfit of her own choosing, representative of what she would wear to a formal "after five" social event. Pant suits, cocktail dresses and evening gowns are all appropriate for this phase of the competition.
Scoring is based on:
Qualities and attributes of a Miss America
Overall first impression
Sense of confidence, personality and stage presence
Walk, posture, carriage and grace
Appropriateness of attire and sense of style
Sense of attractiveness, beauty and charm
Top Five - Final Ballot
From the above 100%, the Top Five Finalists will be named. The Top Five Finalists enter the final round of competition with zero points. The judges will then rank the contestants in the order they individually believe the contestants should finish on a Final Ballot.
Each judge will rank the Top Five contestants on a Final Ballot. A first place vote is worth ten points, a second place vote is worth five points, a third place vote is worth three points, a fourth place vote is worth two points and a fifth place vote is worth one point . The total of the Final Ballots alone will determine the outcome of the pageant. The high and low scores on the Final Ballot will NOT be dropped. All judges’ votes count on the Final Ballot.
