Become a Candidate
Become a candidate
Each year, thousands of young women participate at the local, state and national levels, culminating in the selection of 51 national finalists who compete for the title of Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen (MAOTeen). One of them could be you!
To compete for the national title, a candidate must first enter and win a local competition where available, and then compete to represent her state at national —a process requiring hard work, talent and personal commitment. Along the way, you can learn valuable life and career skills and earn thousands of dollars in scholarships to help pay for your education. Visit our registration page to learn more and see if you’re eligible!
Why enter? Because you can…
- Gain valuable experience and develop life skills (e.g. interview skills, public speaking, interpersonal communication, social interaction, etc.)
- Earn quality scholarship funds for college and graduate school, regardless of whether a title is won
- Find new interests and discover new opportunities
- Make lifelong friendships and relationships
- Learn to set goals, follow them through and exceed your expectations
- Develop a sense of responsibility for helping others
- Foster a positive, self-motivated mindset to achieve your goals
- Receive recognition for your efforts in bettering yourself and your community
Where to start
To become a candidate, you must:
- Be between the ages of 17 and 26 for Miss Candidates
- Be between the ages of 13 and 18 for MAOTeen Candidates
- Be a United States citizen
- Meet residency requirements for competing in a certain city or state
- Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss America Organization
- Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements
- Be able to meet the time commitment and job responsibilities as set forth by the local, state and national competition(s) in which you compete
-
Not be a candidate, titleholder, or representative of a competing program to the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen programs
For more information on becoming a candidate, click below!
State Contact Information
Miss Alabama Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: nanjten@aol.com
E-mail Contact: Nan Teninbaum
Web Site: http://www.missalabama.com
Executive Director: Nan Tenimbaum
Miss Alaska Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
E-mail Address: alisashomes@yahoo.com
E-mail Contact: Alisa Parrent
Web Site: http://www.missalaskapageant.com
Executive Director: Alisa Parrent
Miss Arizona Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
E-mail Address: info@missarizona.org
E-mail Contact: Stacey Kole
Web Site: http://www.missarizona.org
Executive Director: Stacey Kole
Miss Arkansas Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: info@missarkansas.org
E-mail Contact: Jessie Bennett
Web Site: http://www.missarkansas.org
Executive Director: Jessie Bennett
Miss California Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: info@misscalifornia.org
E-mail Contact: Russ Gladden
Web Site: http://www.misscalifornia.org
Executive Director: Russ Gladden
Miss Colorado Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: mette@misscolorado.com & mark@misscolorado.com
E-mail Contact: Mette Castor & Mark Hinson
Web Site: www.misscolorado.com
Executive Director: Mette Castor & Mark Hinson
Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: ashleyr@missamericact.org
E-mail Contact: Ashley Reid
Web Site: http://www.missctamerica.org
Executive Director: Ashley Reid
Miss Delaware Scholarship Program
E-mail Address: traceyeng1963@gmail.com and gwleejr@aol.com
E-mail Contact: Tracey Eng & George Lee
Web Site: http://www.missde.org
Executive Directors: George Lee & Tracey Eng
Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: MissDCAmerica@aol.com
E-mail Contact: Tricia Morrin Lloyd
Web Site: http://missdc.org
Executive Director: Tricia Morrin Lloyd
Miss Florida Scholarship Program, Inc.
E-mail Address: jkeithwilliams.2010@
E-mail Contact: Keith Williams
Web Site: http://www.missflorida.org
Executive Director: Keith Williams
Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition, Inc.
E-mail Address: trinaspruitt@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Trina Pruitt
Web Site: www.missgeorgia.net
State Executive Director: Trina Pruitt
Miss Hawaii Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: info@misshawaii.org
E-mail Contact: Blaine Dutro
Web Site: http://www.misshawaii.org
Executive Director: Blaine Dutro
Miss Idaho Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: missidahoboard@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Heidi Brendle
Web Site: http://www.missidaho.org
Executive Director: Heidi Brendle
Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: susanshea8@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Susan Shea
Web Site: http://www.missillinois.org
Executive Director: Susan Shea
Miss Indiana Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: missin@missindianapageant.com
E-mail Contact: Aren Straiger
Web Site: http://www.missindianapageant.com
Executive Director: Aren Straiger
Miss Iowa Scholarship Program Management Corporation
E-mail Address: executivedirector@missiowa.com
E-mail Contact: Leslie Moore
Web Site: http://www.missiowa.com
Executive Director: Leslie Moore
Miss Kansas Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: stephanieharrismko@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Stephanie Harris
Web Site: http://www.misskansas.org
Executive Director: Sue Givens and Tiffany Harrison
Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: brian@misskentucky.org
E-mail Contact: Brian Jeffries
Web Site: http://www.misskentucky.org
Executive Director: Brian Jeffries
Miss Louisiana Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: dewanalittle@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Dewana Little
Web Site: http://www.misslouisiana.com
Executive Director: Dewana Little
Miss Maine Scholarship Program, Inc.
E-mail Address: execdirector@
E-mail Contact: Sarah Nadeau-Balducci
Web Site: http://www.missmaine.org
Executive Director: Sarah Nadeau-Balducci
Miss Maryland Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: sherry.rush@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Sherry Rush
Web Site: http://missmd.org/
Executive Director: Sherry Rush
Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
E-mail Address: dancgym@aol.com
E-mail Contact: Dolores “Buffy” Rabuffo
Web Site: http://www.missmass.org
Executive Director: Dolores “Buffy” Rabuffo
Miss Michigan Scholarship Program
E-mail Address: mmdirector@missmichigan.org
E-mail Contact: Paula DeWall
Web Site: http://www.missmichigan.org
Executive Director: Paula DeWall
Miss Minnesota Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: kathyshellum@missminnesota.org
E-mail Contact: Kathy Shellum
Web Site: http://www.missminnesota.org
Executive Director: Kathy Shellum
Miss Mississippi Corporation
E-mail Address: secretary@miss-mississippi.com
E-mail Contact: Miss Mississippi Corporation
Web Site: https://www.miss-mississippi.com/
Executive Director: W. David Blackledge
Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: office@missmissouri.org
E-mail Contact: Alice Leonatti
Web Site: http://www.missmissouri.org
Executive Director: Alice Leonatti
Miss Montana Scholarship Program
E-mail Address: info@missamerica.org
E-mail Contact: TBD
Web Site: http://www.missmontana.com
Executive Director: TBD
Miss Nebraska Scholarship Program
Email: info@missnebraska.org
Email Contact: Peggy Fox
Web Site: www.missnebraska.org
Executive Director: Peggy Fox
Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization, LLC
Brooke Allen-Burnstein, PhD – brooke@missnevada.orgJillian Helget – jillian@missnevada.orgWebsite: https://missnevada.org/ Co-Executive Directors: Brooke Allen-Burnstein and Jillian Helget
Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program, Inc.
E-mail Address: execassist@missnh.org
E-mail Contact: Megan Simons
Web Site: http://www.missnh.org
Co-Executive Directors: Brenda Keith, Claudette Jolin & Lynne Ulaky
Miss New Jersey Education Foundation
E-mail Address: dholtzman@missnj.org
E-mail Contact: David Holtzman
Web Site: http://www.missnewjersey.net
Executive Director: David Holtzman
Miss New Mexico Scholarship Competition
E-mail Address: missnewmexico@yahoo.com
E-mail Contact: Rhonda Haynes
Web Site: http://www.missnewmexico.org
Executive Director: Rhonda Haynes
Miss New York Scholarship Competition, Inc.
E-mail Address: sloane@miss-newyork.org
E-mail Contact: Sloane Lewis
Web Site: https://miss-newyork.org
Executive Director: Sloane Lewis
Miss North Carolina Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: susanwilliams@missnc.org
E-mail Contact: Susan Williams
Web Site: http://www.missnc.org
Executive Director: Susan Williams
Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: Kathrynkkj@hotmail.com
E-mail Contact: Kathy Jones
Web Site: http://www.missnorthdakota.org/
Executive Director: Kathy Jones
Miss Ohio Organization
(Mid-Ohio Scholarship Program)
E-mail Address: ed@missohio.org
E-mail Contact: Steven Oliveri
Web Site: http://www.missohio.org
Executive Director: Steven Oliveri
Miss Oklahoma Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: mop8908@aol.com
E-mail Contact: Kay Alexander
Web Site: http://www.missoklahoma.org
Executive Director: Kay Alexander
Miss Oregon Scholarship Program, Inc.
E-mail Address: directors@missoregon.org
E-mail Contact: Beth McShane
Web Site: http://www.missoregon.org
Executive Director: Beth McShane
Miss PA Scholarship Foundation Inc.
E-mail Address: debbiebutcher@yorklinks.net
E-mail Contact: Debbie Butcher
Web Site: Pending
Executive Director: Debbie Butcher
Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: debidiorio@gmail.com
E-mail Contact: Debi D’Iorio
Web Site: http://www.missri.org
Executive Director: Debi D’Iorio
Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: info@miss-sc.org
E-mail Contacts: Chaz Ellis and Ashley Byrd
Web Site: http://www.miss-sc.org
Co-Executive Directors: Chaz Ellis and Ashley Byrd
Miss South Dakota
(South Dakota State Scholarship Foundation, Inc.)
E-mail Address: september.kirby@misssd.org
E-mail Contact: September Kirby
Web Site: http://www.misssd.org
Executive Director: Kate Wismer
Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition
E-mail Address: colene.trent@misstennessee.org
E-mail Contact: Colene Trent
Web Site: www.MissTennessee.org
Executive Director: Colene Trent
Miss Texas Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: info@misstexas.org
E-mail Contact: Jan Mitchell
Web Site: http://www.misstexas.org
Executive Director: Jan Mitchell
Miss Utah Organization
(The Utah Scholarship Foundation)
E-mail Address: utahscholarshipfoundation@
E-mail Contact: Carly Condie
Web Site: https://missutah.org
Executive Director: Carly Condie
Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: executivedirector@
E-mail Contact: Darcie Fisher
Web Site: http://www.missvermont.org
Executive Director: Darcie Fisher
Miss Virginia Organization, Inc.
E-mail Address: mcgravely@missva.org
E-mail Contact: MC Gravely
Web Site: http://www.missva.com
Executive Director: MC Gravely
Miss Washington Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: peggy@misswashington.org
E-mail Contact: Peggy Miller
Web Site: http://www.misswashington.org
Executive Director: Peggy Miller
Miss West Virginia Organization
E-mail Address: shelleynicholsfranklin@gmail.
E-mail Contact: Shelley Nichols Franklin
Web Site: https://www.misswestvirginia.org/
Executive Director: Shelley Nichols Franklin
Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
E-mail Address: directors@misswisconsin.com
E-mail Contact: Jeanne Schmal
Web Site: http://www.misswisconsin.com
Executive Director: Jeanne Schmal
Miss Wyoming Scholarship Organization
E-mail Address: chele@misswy.org
E-mail Contact: Chele Schamber
Web Site: http://www.misswyoming.com
Executive Director: Chele Schamber