Contestant Eligibility Requirements and Areas of Competition

Miss Contestants

Contestant Eligibility Requirements
(Age 17-24)

Our pageant is open to young women between the ages of 17 and 24 that live, work or attend school within Sacramento and Yolo Counties, El Dorado County and the Roseville and Rocklin areas of Placer County. 

Contestants must be a U.S. Citizen and must also have been a resident of California for at least 6 months prior to the local competition. Contestants must have never been married, pregnant, and should be of good moral character. Contestants must each raise $100.00, which will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network
Areas of Competition
Contestants in all Miss America preliminaries compete in 5 Areas of Competition:

Personal Interview (25% of total score):
Each contestant participates in a 10 minute private interview with our panel of judges. Scoring is based on overall communication skills including personality and intelligence, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses the qualities that would make her a good Miss America.

Talent (35% of total score):
Each contestant performs a 1 minute, 30 second routine of their own choosing. Scoring is based on skill, personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence and a totality of all elements.

Evening Wear (20% of total score):
Each contestant appears on stage in an outfit of her own choosing representative of something she would wear to an "after five" social event. Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk and posture, appropriateness of attire, and sense of attractiveness. 

Swim Wear (15% of total score):
Each contestant appears briefly on stage in a swimsuit of her own choosing. 
SWIM WEAR MUST BE APPROVED BY THE LOCAL DIRECTOR BEFORE COMPETITION. 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.

On-Stage Question (5% of total score):
The on-stage interview phase of competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her interests, opinions and aspirations. Overall "first impression", charisma and stage presence to be a spokeswoman for the state/local organization will be evaluated. Judges will give special attention to whether or not the contestant answered the question and if she had the commanding presence to make the audience want to listen to her. 

Teen Contestants

Contestant Eligibility Requirements
(Age 13-17)

Our Teen Competition is open to young women between the ages of 13 and 17 year old junior in high school. Contestants must be a United States Citizen and a resident of the State of California for at least 6 months prior to competing. 

Contestants must have never been married, pregnant, and should be of good moral character. Contestants must not be eligible to compete in the Miss Sacramento County Competition. Each teen contestant has an entry fee of $200

Areas of Competition
All Contestants compete in 4 Areas of Competition:

Personal Interview (35% of total score):
Each contestant participates in an individual interview lasting up to 8 minutes. Interviews are 8 minutes at the state competition and 10 minutes at the national competition. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel and the interview is press-style with the contestants standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, their educational and career goals, and their 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. Community Service (Platform) is required. 

Talent (35% of total score):
Contestants perform a 2-minute routine of their own choosing. Possible talents include (but are not limited to) 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. 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. 

Evening Wear (20% of total score):
Each contestant appears on-state in an outfit of her own choosing- representative of what she would wear to a prom of other formal event. Although contestants typically wear ball or evening gowns, pantsuits, tea-length dresses and cocktail dresses are all appropriate for this phase of the competition. Scoring is based on 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. 

Lifestyle in Fitness (10% of total score)
Each contestant briefly appears on-stage (up to 30 seconds) modeling sportswear of her choosing that represents something she does to stay fit. The Executive Director of the competition must approve workout attire prior to competition. Workout attire must be age-appropriate and typical of what a teenager would wear to workout at the gym. An example of workout attire includes sweats, leggings or shorts with a tank top/half top and tennis shoes. Swimsuits and clothing specifically for dance (such as a leotard) are not permitted. Scoring is based on 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. The fitness of a teen- by the shape of her body- will not be judged. Instead, her level of pursuit and dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be evaluated.

Appointed Teen Contestants


If you have not won a local Outstanding Teen title during a specific year, you still may be able to enter the state competition as an Appointed Teen Titleholder. Teens who have or have not won a title in the past may be appointed. The appointed teen is responsible for all costs and fees, but she will benefit from the experience of an established local organization as she prepares for state competition. Appointed teen titleholders have similar privileges enjoyed by local winners—they may wear the official crown and sash, and they compete as a regular titleholder at the state competition. The appointment fee is $450, plus the cost of crown/sash. The deadline to become an Appointed Teen Titleholder is the third Sunday in March of each year. However, opportunities are limited and appointments are awarded on a first-come first-served basis. Please understand that your appointed title may be from an area different from where you live. (For example, you might be appointed as Miss San Jose’s Outstanding Teen even if you live in Southern California.) Please contact Russ Gladden at russ.gladden@msn.com for further information.