Miss Contestant Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements (Miss)
Why participate? Do it for the…
Applause! Receive recognition for your efforts and your community
Personal Development – Gain valuable experience and develop life skills
Crown & Awards! Winners receive scholarships toward tuition for college/grad school & a crown!
Glamour – Red carpet moments await.
Adventure…..Explore new interests, discover new opportunities
Sisterhood! Make lifelong friends with other like-minded, motivated women
Growth….Foster a positive, self-motivated mindset to achieve your goals
Eligibility
Miss America has released updated age and eligibility guidelines for individuals competing as at-large, local, or state delegates in the lead-up to the 2026 national competition. These updates reflect the organization's return to its historic September schedule, an homage to its origins in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the first competition was held in 1921.
The revised eligibility criteria are as follows:
For Miss America: Delegates must be no older than 28 years of age as of September 30, 2026 and no younger than 18 on September 1, 2026
For Miss America’s Teen: Delegates must be no younger than 14 as of September 1, 2026 OR no older than 18 on September 30, 2026
Be a United States citizen
Be a female
Single
No legal dependents
Meet residency requirements for competing in your city or state
Residency Requirement (Miss)
Delegates qualifying by residence must provide proof of at least 120 consecutive days of residency within the state prior to the date of competition.
Employment Requirement (Miss)
Delegates qualifying by employment must submit documentation of full-time, in-person employment (minimum of 40 hours per week) held for at least 120 consecutive days prior to competition.
Student Status Requirement (Miss)
Delegates qualifying through student status must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university located in the state. Full-time status is determined by the institution.
Not a resident of Texas? You might be eligible in your home state...
Areas of Competition (Miss)
Private Interview (30% of total score)
Interviews are 10 minutes with a 30-second Community Service Initiative opening statement, a 9:00 interview, and an optional 30-second closing or to finish the last question answered. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel, and the interview is press style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, educational and career goals, interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities. Scoring is based on overall communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression, and personal appearance. Can the judge envision the public, especially young people, being positively impacted by meeting this young woman?
Onstage Lifestyle and Fitness (20% of total score)
For this portion of the competition, contestants will model fitness wear. The fitness wear should be from the Rebel Athletic Miss America Red collection of the contestant's choosing*. Shoes/socks and accessories such as hair bows and earrings are also of the contestant’s choosing. The Lifestyle and Fitness competition is designed to determine the contestant's fitness level and obtain a glimpse into her daily routine and lifestyle. The contestant’s drive, energy, and presence are likewise considered.
*NOTE REGARDING REBEL ATHLETIC WEAR: If you have ordered your fitness apparel and it DOES NOT arrive in time for the competition, you must email your proof of purchase/receipt to scott@missdallas.org, and you may wear the fitness apparel of your choice (preference will be for all RED as a backup).
Talent of Your Choice (20% of total score)
Contestants will perform a talent of 90 Seconds.
Nothing longer will be accepted, and this time limit is strictly enforced! Judges will be informed immediately if a contestant exceeds 90 seconds. Each judge will then use this information to assist in determining his/her score of the contestant’s talent competition. Scoring is based on the contestant's skill and personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence, and the totality of all elements, including costume, props, voice, use of body, and choreography. Will the judge be proud that he or she selected this young woman when she performs her talent if she is selected as the titleholder? Did the judge enjoy the presentation?
Each contestant appears onstage in a gown of her choosing, representing what she would wear to walk the red carpet or a black tie event. Overall “first impression”; sense of confidence, composure, and poise; personality and stage presence; walk, carriage, posture, and beauty; sense of style and age-appropriateness of the evening wear are evaluated. Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it?
On Stage Conversation: (10% of total score)
Can she handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience? Judges must give special attention to whether or not she answered the question she was asked and did she have the ability to make the audience want to listen to her. The contestant’s total look, grace, charm, and ability as a spokesperson and role model must be considered.
Eligibility - Teen Contestants
Eligibility Requirements
To compete you must:
For Miss America’s Teen: delegates must be no younger than 14 as of September 1, 2026 OR no older than 18 on September 30, 2026
Be a United States citizen
Be a female
Single
No legal dependents
Meet residency requirements for competing in your city or state
Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss Texas' Teen Organization.
Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements.
Be able to meet the time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the local program in which you compete.
Residency Requirements (Teen)
Delegates qualifying by residence must provide proof of at least 120 consecutive days of residency within the state prior to the date of competition.
Not a resident of Texas? You might be eligible in your home state...
Areas of Competition and Criteria (Teen)
There are five areas of competition for the Miss Texas’ Teen Pageant. They are as follows:
Judges Interview (10 minutes)
Talent (90 seconds)
Fitness Routine
Evening Gown
On Stage Conversation
Each contestant must also have a service initiative they will advocate during their year of service.
Private Interview (30% of total score)
Interviews are 10 minutes with a 30-second Community Service Initiative opening statement, a 9:00 interview, and an optional 30-second closing or to finish the last question answered. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel, and the interview is press style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, educational and career goals, interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities. Scoring is based on overall communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression, and personal appearance. Can the judge envision the public, especially young people, being positively impacted by meeting this young woman?
Onstage Lifestyle and Fitness (20% of total score)
For this portion of the competition, contestants will model fitness wear. The fitness wear should be from the Rebel Athletic Miss America Red collection of the contestant's choosing*. Shoes/socks and accessories such as hair bows and earrings are also of the contestant’s choosing. The Lifestyle and Fitness competition is designed to determine the contestant's fitness level and obtain a glimpse into her daily routine and lifestyle. The contestant’s drive, energy, and presence are likewise considered.
*NOTE REGARDING REBEL ATHLETIC WEAR: If you have ordered your fitness apparel and it DOES NOT arrive in time for the competition, you must email your proof of purchase/receipt to scott@missdallas.org, and you may wear the fitness apparel of your choice (preference will be for all RED as a backup).
Onstage Talent of Your Choice (20% of total score)
Contestants will perform a talent of 90 Seconds.
Nothing longer will be accepted, and this time limit is strictly enforced! Judges will be informed immediately if a contestant exceeds 90 seconds. Each judge will then use this information to assist in determining his/her score of the contestant’s talent competition. Scoring is based on the contestant's skill and personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence, and the totality of all elements, including costume, props, voice, use of body, and choreography. Will the judge be proud that he or she selected this young woman when she performs her talent if she is selected as the titleholder? Did the judge enjoy the presentation?
Onstage Evening Wear (20 % of total score)
Each contestant appears onstage in a gown of her choice, representing what she would wear to a prom or other formal event. Dresses should be appropriate for a TEEN. High slits and plunging necklines are not acceptable. Overall “first impression”; sense of confidence, composure, and poise; personality and stage presence; walk, carriage, posture, and beauty; sense of style and age-appropriateness of the evening wear are evaluated. Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it?
Onstage Conversation: (10% of total score)
Can she handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience? Judges must give special attention to whether or not she answered the question she was asked and did she have the ability to make the audience want to listen to her. The contestant’s total look, grace, charm, and ability as a spokesperson and role model must be considered.
