HOW TO BECOME A CONTESTANT

Eligibility Requirements
for all Preliminary & State Competitions

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• At least 17 years old at the time of local pageant
• No more than 24 years old on September 30th of the year of the Miss America national finals
• High school graduate or successfully completed G.E.D. testing program by July 1st
• Female, never married and never have had children
• Legal resident of New Mexico at least 6 months prior to local pageant competition
• Geographic eligibility for local pageants

RESIDENCY - resided in the local pageant franchise area for a minimum of six (6) months prior to entering a local preliminary pageant. Proof will be a New Mexico driver's license, auto registration, current lease, student ID card or any other official document establishing residency.
OR
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - completed at least one fulltime semester at a high school, community college or a four year college/university within the State of New Mexico and must be currently enrolled as a fulltime student (12 units) located within the franchise area or in accordance with the Miss New Mexico nearest four year college rule. Proof will be evidence of registration, transcripts or other official documentation from the appropriate educational institution.
OR
EMPLOYMENT - have been a fulltime employee of a firm located within the local pageant franchise area for a minimum of six (6) months prior to entering the local pageant. Proof will be a letter from the contestant's employer.

General Policies

• There is no limit on the number of open local pageant titles an entrant may hold during her entire competition eligibility period (ages 17 - 24)

• An entrant may not succeed herself, or win the same structured or open pageant title more than once in the pageant competition year.

To be eligible to compete in a local pageant, a young woman shall:

Never before competed in any National Finals of the Miss America Organization.

Age: Be between the ages of 17-24 years of age. A High School graduate and no older than 24 years of age on September 30, 2007 (for Miss America 2008) No older than 24 years of age on December 31, 2008 (for Miss America 2008)

Residence: Must reside in, be enrolled in, and attending classes on a full-time basis at an accredited college or university in, or be employed on a full-time basis for six months in the state in which the young g woman plans to compete.

Citizenship; Must be a citizen of the United States of America at the time she enters her first pageant.

Education: Must be a high school graduate or have successfully completed the academic requirements for entry into a four-year college/university degree program by July 30th immediately preceding the National Finals.

Additionally: Must have never been married.
Must never have been pregnant
Must not be the adoptive parent of any child
Must never have been convicted of any criminal offense
Must not have criminal charges presently pending
Must be in good health and can participate fully and without limitation in any program activities
Must not use or consume any illegal controlled dangerous substances or abuse the use of alcohol or other dangerous substances
See contestant contract for additional requirements

Relatives Competing: A relative of a Local Pageant director or any local pageant volunteer is not eligible to enter the local pageant for which her relative serves as a director or volunteer. However, she is eligible to compete in another local competition in the same state.

If you qualify for competition please contact the Local Executive Director  to request current information at:
Pbbreese@earthlink.net