Phases of Competition

 

MISS & TEEN JUDGING CRITERIA

1. PRIVATE INTERVIEW - 30%

Wardrobe: Delegates Choice - Stylish Interview Attire (age appropriate)

Timing: 30 second opening, 9-minute Q&A, optional 30 second closing statement

Purpose: Allows Insight Into the delegate’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.

 
 

Talent/HERStoryTM - 20%

Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice

Timing: Up to 90 seconds

Performance Talent Requirements: Talent must be approved by Executive Directors

Procedure & Performance Description: To underscore the 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 StoryTM competition, contestants will have 90 seconds to captivate the audience/judges with a talent performance or personal narrative. HER StoryTM contestants may use voice overs, music backtracks, props, or any other creative means to enhance their storytelling experience; singers will use a microphone, pianists a piano, musicians a musical instrument and so on.

Judges will evaluate each performance talent or HER StoryTM 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 the 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? 
5. Are they able to engage the audience and maintain their attention throughout the performance?

Purpose: Allows Insight into the delegate’s:

  • Preparatory, performance or storytelling skills.

  • Overall presentation skills and ability to deliver a captivating presentation.

  • Interpretive ability and entertainment value relative to category of performance art.

  • Stage presence, on-stage personality, and personal connection to her story.

  • Allows a look at the totality of the performance elements of on-stage presentation.

  • Ability to capture the attention of an audience while performing on stage.

 
 

Health & Fitness - 20%

Wardrobe: Delegate’s choice of Rebel x Miss America Collab Red Collection (mandatory) fitness outfit. Judges to evaluate the following: Overall First impression of a Dynamic Presence, Radiates Health, High Energy, Engaging Vitality, and a Sense of Confidence.

Procedure: The organization will present each delegate in a pre-blocked, high energy stage routine with movement and posing. Each delegate will not exceed 20-30 seconds. No props are allowed.

Purpose: This phase of competition is where the delegate showcases her commitment to health and fitness initiatives. Emcee will provide a voice-over on her experience with self-care and health goals, and related initiatives, or a health/fitness statement. A delegate’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 America or Miss America’s Teen program as a national titleholder.

Allows Insight Into the delegate’s: 

  • The delegate’s comfort and confidence level on stage. 

  • The delegate’s overall impression of health and physical fitness commitment. 

  • On stage presentation and energy, comfort in front of an audience, confidence. 

  • The delegate’s spontaneity, and lack of “robotic” stage presentation. 

  • Ability to determine if a delegate could serve as national health/fitness ambassador.

 
 

Evening Gown - 20%

Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice of Evening Wear - Appropriate for Red Carpet 

Purpose: Delegate will publicly present her sense of Style wearing an evening gown in a fashion suitable for an appearance as Teen/Miss Local or State 

Allows Insight into the delegate’s: 

  • Ability to capture attention on stage, and individual stage presence. 

  • Comfort, confidence, and composure. 

  • Overall impression of ability to represent the Miss America or Miss America’s Teen 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. 

 
 

On-stage Conversation - 10%

Wardrobe: Delegate to be in Opening Number Outfit 

Stage Production: Will be a single microphone on a stand

Questions: The actual questions may touch on an aspect of the Miss America or Miss America's Teen brand, mission statement, the four points (Style, Service, Scholarship, Success) the brand foundation of “sisterhood”, the delegate's vision on the effective marketing of the Miss America/Miss America’s Teen brand. Conversational Panel questions may be more open-ended and relate to the topics of the day. These questions should allow the audience to gauge the delegate’s understanding of the role of Miss America or Miss America’s Teen as a spokesperson/advocate for the brand and the delegate's ability to have an engaging commentary on stage. The delegate will have between 15-20 seconds to answer the question. Questions will not be political or divisive in nature.

  • Brings the interview to the stage in an interactive way to showcase each delegate.

  • Highlights intelligence, personality, charisma, aptitude for titleholder’s opportunity.

  • Allows a look at the sense of composure in the final moments of decision.

  • Allows a look at interactivity with the panelists and the audience.

  • Allows top delegates to demonstrate depth of understanding about the brand of the Miss America/Miss America’s Teen Opportunity, and how serving as Teen/Miss Local/State will set the stage for becoming a spokesperson for those pillars throughout the state/country.