Compete Teen

This page houses all the necessary information to participate in the competition. After submitting all required details, you will receive the password to the contestant information page via email. Please read all the information carefully!

Eligibility 


  • 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 female 

  • Be a United States citizen

  • Candidates must have residency in Minnesota for 6 months prior to competing in a first local competition.

  • Residency is defined as the primary address where you physically live. You may be asked to present proof of residency if you have recently moved

Areas of Competition

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

    Timing: 30 second opening, 9-minute Q&A, optional 30 second wrap up or closing statement.

    Fact Sheet & Community Service Initiative (CSI) Statement:

    ● State/Local Organizations will use the same Fact Sheet throughout the competition year.

    ● Community Service Initiative (CSI) submission is a one sheet document in which the delegate responds in a short essay regarding her personal CSI.

    ● Sample of the Fact Sheet and CSI will be provided.

    Procedures

    ● Format decided must be uniform for all delegates.

    ● The delegate may be seated at a table or standing at a podium.

    ● Each delegate is introduced by the panelist chair and will take her position and immediately present a brief 30-second introduction/CSI overview. Once the CSI

    intro is completed, the panelists begin the interview.

    ● At (9:30) nine-minute thirty second mark, timekeeper indicates (30) seconds remaining for interview. The Panelist Chair will inform the delegate of remaining time and delegate may choose to use the time to finish her response to the last question or proceed in a closing statement.

    ● At the 10-minute mark, the timekeeper stands, and the head panelist indicates the interview time is up. Concluding that delegate’s private interview phase.

    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.

  • Wardrobe:

    Health & Fitness - 20%

    Director or delegate’s choice of fitness outfit, silhouettes outlined by MA style guide, but determined at local/state level. Examples of Fitness Wear options include yoga/dance/athletic wear. 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.

    ● State competitions may include, during Health & Fitness, LED video footage of the

    delegate representing their health & fitness initiative; and/or a voice over of the same.

    Purpose:

    This phase of competition is where the delegate showcases her commitment to health and fitness initiatives. At the local/state organization discretion this phase may include 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 comfort and confidence level on stage.

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

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

    ● The ability to gauge the audience’s impression of the contestant.

    ● The delegate’s spontaneity, and lack of “robotic” stage presentation;

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

  • Performing Arts Talent/HERStoryTM - 20%

    Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice – Performance Arts Talents or HERStoryTM Presentation.

    Timing: Up to 90 seconds.

    Purpose:

    To underscore the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen commitment to supporting performance arts education initiatives and women’s individual efforts in dance, music, opera/vocal, drama, magic, oratory, and circus arts.

    Procedure:

    ● The organization will present each delegate’s talent not to exceed 90 seconds per delegate.

    Performance Talent Requirements:

    Talent must be approved by National office or previously approved as listed on the most recent “Approved Performance Talent List” OR be in compliance with the guidelines for the HERStoryTM stage presentation. HERStoryTM guideline sheet to be used.

    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 the 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.

  • Wardrobe: Timing: Choreography:

    Purpose:

    Evening Gown-20%

    Delegate’s Choice of Evening Wear - Appropriate for Red Carpet. State/Local choice of timing to music.

    State/Local choice of blocking, choreography and timing.

    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. Part of a titleholder’s role is to attend galas, fundraisers, awards shows and other formal events. This often involves walking a red carpet, posing for press photographers, modeling in fashion shows, promoting various national fashion designers who partner with Miss America or Miss America’s Teen programs.

    Local/State programs are to create an elegant runway/stage experience set to music appropriate for this phase of competition.

    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.

IMPORTANT DATES

 

Early Bird Registration - Now

Registration Form Opens - August 1, 2025

Registration Form Closes - September 28, 2025

American Heart Association Fundraiser - September 28, 2025

Sponsorship Fee Due - September 28, 2025

Sponsorship fee - $200.00

ARE YOU READY TO START YOUR JOURNEY?

JOIN CLUB AMERICA

The form is straightforward—just follow the prompts and notes as they appear on each screen.

Membership Details

Club America membership is $49.99 per year and will automatically renew annually unless you cancel. All payments are processed securely with bank-level encryption to protect your information.

What Happens Next

Once you complete the membership application, you’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps, helpful resources, and access to our exclusive membership community.

Complete BEFORE doing the registration form!

COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM

The Registration form will collect the information we need to get you set for the local competition.

Here are the things you should know BEFORE you start registration:

  • Talent Name and Song Selection

  • Community Service Initiative and Description

Other paperwork will be due at a later date.