Miss Dallas Park Cities Scholarship Competition

Miss Contestant Paperwork

Due: Monday, September 2nd, 2024 (LABOR DAY HOLIDAY)

Submission Details:

• E-mail paperwork, copy of birth certificate, proof of residency, and proof of school enrollment (if applicable), and short talent introduction to scott@missdallas.org

• State paperwork is emailed to paperwork@misstexas.org (State Contract etc)

• Save paperwork as a PDF

• Rename item in this format: FirstNameLastName_Documenttitle2025 (example: ScottPadgett_ContestantApplication2025)

Details:

• To compete, all contestants must submit their application and all required paperwork by Monday, September 2nd, 2024. Please note that this is the Labor Day Holiday.

• The contestant order will be determined based on when the application and the $150 competition fee are complete (first submitted = last in competition order, last submitted = first in competition order).

• Additional information will be e-mailed to contestants after submitting their application and completed registration. 

• Miss contestants must submit an entry fee of $150 by clicking here.

Teen Contestant Paperwork

Due: Monday, September 2nd, 2024 (LABOR DAY HOLIDAY)

Submission Details:

• E-mail paperwork, copy of birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of school enrollment and short talent introduction to scott@missdallas.org

• E-mail State paperwork to paperwork@misstexas.org (Contract etc.)

• Save paperwork as a PDF

• Rename item in this format: FirstNameLastName_Documenttitle2025 (example: ScottPadgett_ContestantApplication2025)

Details:

• To compete, all contestants must submit their application and all required paperwork by Monday, September 2nd, 2024. Please note that this is the Labor Day Holiday.

• The contestant order will be determined based on when the application and the $150 competition fee are complete (first submitted = last in competition order, last submitted = first in competition order).

• Additional information will be e-mailed to contestants after submitting their application and completed registration.

• Teen contestants must submit an entry fee of $150 by clicking here.

 Miss Contestant Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements (Miss)

Why participate? Do it for the…

• Applause!  Receive recognition for your efforts and your community

• Personal Development – Gain valuable experience and develop life skills

• Crown & Awards! Winners receive scholarships toward tuition for college/grad school & a crown!

• Glamour – Red carpet moments await.

• Adventure…..Explore new interests, discover new opportunities

• Sisterhood! Make lifelong friends with other like-minded, motivated women

• Growth….Foster a positive, self-motivated mindset to achieve your goals

Eligibility

To become a local or state participant for the Competition Cycle 2026 (some states starting locals in March of 2024) competing as a State Titleholder at nationals in January 2026, you must meet the age criteria as shown below (Please be advised that the age criteria for Cycle 2026 is different from all previous cycles):

• For Miss America, 18-28 – must be 18 by state competition and no older than 27 at the state competition

• For Miss America’s Teen, 14-17 –  must be 14 by state competition and no older than 17 at state competition

• Be a United States citizen

• Be a female

• Single

• No legal dependents

• Meet residency requirements for competing in your city or state

Residency Requirements (Miss)

Contestants must have residency in the state where they compete for 6 months before competing in their first local pageant. Residency is defined as the primary address where you physically live. Residency verification includes a driver's license, automobile registration, property mortgage or lease in your name, tax filings, etc.

Not a resident of Texas? You might be eligible in your home state...

Areas of Competition (Miss)

• Private Interview (30% of total score)
  Interviews are 10 minutes with a 30-second Community Service Initiative opening statement, a 9:00 interview, and an optional 30-second closing or to finish the last question answered. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel, and the interview is press style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, educational and career goals, 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. Can the judge envision the public, especially young people, being positively impacted by meeting this young woman?

• Onstage Lifestyle and Fitness 20%

  For this portion of the competition, contestants will model fitness wear. The fitness wear should be from the Rebel Athletic Miss America Red collection of the contestant's choosing*. Shoes/socks and accessories such as hair bows and earrings are also of the contestant’s choosing. The Lifestyle and Fitness competition is designed to determine the contestant's fitness level and obtain a glimpse into her daily routine and lifestyle. The contestant’s drive, energy, and presence are likewise considered.

  *NOTE REGARDING REBEL ATHLETIC WEAR: If you have ordered your fitness apparel and it DOES NOT arrive in time for the competition, you must email your proof of purchase/receipt to scott@missdallas.org, and you may wear the fitness apparel of your choice (preference will be for all RED as a backup).

• Talent of Your Choice (20% of total score)

  Contestants will perform a talent of 90 Seconds. 
  Nothing longer will be accepted, and this time limit is strictly enforced! Judges will be informed immediately if a contestant exceeds 90 seconds. Each judge will then use this information to assist in determining his/her score of the contestant’s talent competition. Scoring is based on the 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. Will the judge be proud that he or she selected this young woman when she performs her talent if she is selected as the titleholder?  Did the judge enjoy the presentation?

• Onstage Evening Wear (20% of total score)

Each contestant appears onstage in a gown of her choosing, representing what she would wear to walk the red carpet or a black tie event. Overall “first impression”; sense of confidence, composure, and poise; personality and stage presence; walk, carriage, posture, and beauty; sense of style and age-appropriateness of the evening wear are evaluated.  Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it? 

• On Stage Conversation: (10% of total score)

  Can she handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience?  Judges must give special attention to whether or not she answered the question she was asked and did she have the ability to make the audience want to listen to her.  The contestant’s total look, grace, charm, and ability as a spokesperson and role model must be considered.

Eligibility - Teen Contestants

Eligibility Requirements 

To compete you must:

• For Miss America’s Teen, 14-17 –  must be 14 by state competition and no older than 17 at state competition

• Be a United States citizen

• Be a female

• Single

• No legal dependents

• Meet residency requirements for competing in your city or state

• Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss Texas' Teen Organization.

• Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements.

• Be able to meet the time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the local program in which you compete.

Residency Requirements (Teen)

Contestants must have residency in the state where they compete for 6 months before competing in their first local pageant. 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.

Not a resident of Texas? You might be eligible in your home state...

Areas of Competition and Criteria (Teen)

There are five areas of competition for the Miss Texas’ Teen Pageant. They are as follows:

• Judges Interview (10 minutes)

• Talent (90 seconds)

• Fitness Routine

• Evening Gown

• On Stage Conversation

• Each contestant must also have a service initiative they will advocate during their year of service. 
  

• Private Interview (30% of total score)
  Interviews are 10 minutes with a 30-second Community Service Initiative opening statement, a 9:00 interview, and an optional 30-second closing or to finish the last question answered. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel, and the interview is press style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, educational and career goals, 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. Can the judge envision the public, especially young people, being positively impacted by meeting this young woman?

• Onstage Lifestyle and Fitness 20%

  For this portion of the competition, contestants will model fitness wear. The fitness wear should be from the Rebel Athletic Miss America Red collection of the contestant's choosing*. Shoes/socks and accessories such as hair bows and earrings are also of the contestant’s choosing. The Lifestyle and Fitness competition is designed to determine the contestant's fitness level and obtain a glimpse into her daily routine and lifestyle. The contestant’s drive, energy, and presence are likewise considered.

  *NOTE REGARDING REBEL ATHLETIC WEAR: If you have ordered your fitness apparel and it DOES NOT arrive in time for the competition, you must email your proof of purchase/receipt to scott@missdallas.org, and you may wear the fitness apparel of your choice (preference will be for all RED as a backup).

• Onstage Talent of Your Choice (20% of total score)

  Contestants will perform a talent of 90 Seconds. 
  Nothing longer will be accepted, and this time limit is strictly enforced! Judges will be informed immediately if a contestant exceeds 90 seconds. Each judge will then use this information to assist in determining his/her score of the contestant’s talent competition. Scoring is based on the 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. Will the judge be proud that he or she selected this young woman when she performs her talent if she is selected as the titleholder?  Did the judge enjoy the presentation?
  

• Onstage Evening Wear  (20 % of total score)
  Each contestant appears onstage in a gown of her choice, representing what she would wear to a prom or other formal event. Dresses should be appropriate for a TEEN. High slits and plunging necklines are not acceptable. Overall “first impression”; sense of confidence, composure, and poise; personality and stage presence; walk, carriage, posture, and beauty; sense of style and age-appropriateness of the evening wear are evaluated.  Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it? 
  

• Onstage Conversation: (10% of total score)

  Can she handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience?  Judges must give special attention to whether or not she answered the question she was asked and did she have the ability to make the audience want to listen to her.  The contestant’s total look, grace, charm, and ability as a spokesperson and role model must be considered.