Become a Contestant

The Miss America Program and its 1,500 local and state Pageants comprise the largest single source of scholarship funds available to young women in the world. Annually, an estimated 40 million dollars is offered to more than 30,000 young women who participate in the Miss America programs.

To compete in the Miss Idaho Program, a contestant must first win a local pageant. The Events Calendar contains a list of upcoming events. Use it to find the local pageant nearest you. The general eligibility requirements for competing in this program are as follows:

• Currently enrolled as a full or part time college student or registered as a full or part time student for the fall semester following high school graduation
• Resident of Idaho for at least six months prior to the local competition
• Must be at least 17 years of age and a senior in high school to compete in a local pageant; High School graduate or completion of G.E.D. by June of the year in which you would compete at Miss Idaho
• No older than 24 years of age on October 31st of the year you would compete at Miss America
• Female, never been married
• U. S. Citizen
• Entrant must maintain the basis upon which she claims eligibility throughout the local and state competition.

Areas of Competition at the Local Level

Contestants in all Miss America preliminaries at the local and state level compete in the following areas:

• Presentation & Community Achievement in Interview (25% of total score)
  

  Each contestant participates in a private 10-minute press conference-style interview with a panel of judges. 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, social issues, and their interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities. Scoring is based on communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses the overall qualities and attributes of a Miss Idaho.

• Artistic Expression (35% of total score)
  

  Contestants perform a routine of up to 2-1/2 minutes of their own choosing. Possible talents might include 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. Contact us if you have a question about your talent presentation. Scoring is based on 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.

• Presence & Poise in Evening Wear (20% of total score)
  

  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. Pantsuits, cocktail dresses and evening gowns are all appropriate for this phase of the competition. Scoring is based on the overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk and posture, appropriateness of attire and sense of attractiveness.

• Lifestyle & Fitness in Swimsuit (15% of total score)
  

  Each contestant appears on stage in a swimsuit and footwear of her own choosing. Swimsuits can be either one or two-piece, but must be approved prior to competition by the Director of the pageant. Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of physical fitness and health, overall physique which is pleasing to her height, weight and bone structure, walk, posture and grace, sense of confidence and presence on stage.

• Overall Composite Score (5% of total score)
  

  Each judge will score the contestant based on the overall performance in all phases of competition and whether or not she has the qualifications to be the title holder.

Types of Pageants:

CLOSED pageants have specific geographic eligibility requirements, based on where you live, attend school or work. Any young woman may run in an OPEN pageant regardless of where she lives within the state of Idaho, so long as all other eligibility requirements are met.