Phases of Competition

Miss America is both a business and a culturally specific brand that transcends being just a beauty pageant.  Miss America herself is a critical member of the Miss America Organization marketing team and works to advance the business of scholarship and community service for women.  The Miss America judging system distinguishes Miss America via a form of Olympic scoring where each candidate competes against ONLY herself.
  • Private Interview
  • On-Stage Conversation
  • Health & Fitness
  • Talent / HERStory™
  • Evening Gown
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Private Interview - 30%

In the private interview portion of competition, each contestant will participate in a 10-minute interview with our judging panel. 

This area of competition allows insight into the contestant's:
  • Ability to fulfill the qualifications, responsibilities, duties, and term of the titleholder.
  • Personal qualities and attributes relevant to the titleholder position.
  • Commitment to her community service initiative or CSI.
  • Ability to express her own beliefs in an authentic and relatable manner.
  • Sense of accomplishments / goals above and beyond the fact sheet.
  • Spontaneity, intelligence, sense of humor, charm, and charisma.
  • Authenticity and ability to answer questions in a conversational, unrehearsed manner.
  • Ability to serve as a role model and if she is reflective of her generation​.

On-Stage Conversation - 10%

The On-Stage Conversation will engage the audience in a conversational perspective on the contestant's ability to have an extemporaneous conversation or respond authentically to a question in a manner befitting a brand ambassador or local/state representative.  A question will be asked onstage to each contestant regarding her Community Service Initiative (CSI) or questions involving the social impact of community service.  Response(s) should not be longer than 20 seconds.

This area of competition allows insight into the contestant's:
  • Commitment to the Service point of the crown.
  • Unique perspective on community service and its local impact.
  • Desire to create interest in her community service initiatives.
  • Brings the interview to the stage in an interactive engaging way to showcase each contestant.
  • Highlights intelligence, personality, charisma, aptitude for titleholder’s opportunity.
  • Allows a look at the sense of composure in presenting ideas on stage.
  • Allows a look at interactivity with the panelists and the audience.

Health & Fitness - 20%

The Health & Fitness phase of competition is where each contestant showcases her commitment to health and fitness initiatives.  A contestant's discipline and commitment to being physically healthy is a key to success in all other areas of life and the rigors of representing the Miss MIchigan and Miss America programs as a state or national titleholder.

Contestants will wear their choice of fitness outfit from the Rebel x Miss America Collab Red Collection.  Judges will evaluate each contestant on the following: Overall First impression of a Dynamic Presence, Radiates Health, High Energy, Engaging Vitality, and a Sense of Confidence.

This area of competition allows insight into:
  • The contestant's comfort and confidence level on stage.
  • The contestant's overall impression of health and physical fitness commitment.
  • On stage presentation and energy, comfort in front of an audience, confidence.
  • The contestant's spontaneity, and lack of “robotic” stage presentation.
  • Ability to determine if the contestant could serve as national health/fitness ambassador.

Performance Talent / HERStory™ - 20%

Each contestant will present her talent or HER Story™presentation (not to exceed 90 seconds per delegate) to underscore the Miss America Organization's commitment to performance arts education initiatives and women’s individual efforts in dance, music, opera/vocal, drama, magic, oratory, circus arts and storytelling. 

In the performance talent or HER Story™ competition, contestants will have 90 seconds to captivate the audience/judges with a talent performance or personal narrative.

Judges will evaluate each performance talent or HER Story™ based on the following criteria:
  1. How engaging and compelling is the contestant's story or talent?
  2. How effectively does a contestant connect with audience on an emotional or entertaining level?
  3. Do they convey their story or demonstrate a talent skill with skill and confidence?
  4. How powerfully does the contestant deliver their story or demonstrate their talent? Are they able to engage the audience and maintain their attention throughout the performance?

Evening Gown - 20%

Each contestant will publicly present her sense of Style wearing an evening gown in a fashion suitable for an appearance as Miss Wayne County.  Part of a titleholder’s role is to attend galas, fundraisers, awards shows and other formal events.

The Evening Gown competition allows insight into the contestant's:
  • Ability to capture attention on stage, and individual stage presence.
  • Comfort, confidence, and composure.
  • Overall impression of ability to represent the Miss Wayne County Organization at a high-profile event.
  • Scoring is based on how the delegate carries herself/performs in this phase of competition, not on the actual gown she is wearing or the perceived cost of that gown.