Why Compete?

There are numerous reasons to join us, but here are just a few...

Scholarships

At the Triangle Scholarship Organization's inaugural competition, we will award over $5,000 in scholarships. Even if you don't win a title, you can still walk away with scholarship money. We will offer several awards for the highest scorer in various phases (Interview, Talent, etc.), increasing the odds of walking away with scholarships.

Titleholders will earn the opportunity to compete at Miss North Carolina, Miss North Carolina’s Teen, and possibly Miss America or Miss America’s Teen—where, collectively, more than $200,000 in scholarships are awarded annually.

Community Service

Every candidate in the Miss America Opportunity develops a Community Service Initiative (CSI)—a personal cause you are passionate about & eager to champion.

During the competition, you’ll present your CSI to the judges and audience, showcasing why it matters to you.

If selected as our titleholder, our organization provides you with year-long support to shine a spotlight on your initiative—through community events, media opportunities, partnerships with local nonprofits, and more. It’s your chance to turn your passion into action and make a lasting difference.

Mentorship

Each candidate is paired with a Carolina Star—one of the young girls in our mentorship program, which is part of the Miss America’s Little Sisters initiative. This experience gives you the chance to build a meaningful bond, serve as a role model, and inspire our next generations of leaders and changemakers.

For our four titleholders, the mentorship continues throughout the year: you and your Carolina Star will march in parades together, volunteer side-by-side at service projects, and share experiences that create lasting memories and reinforce the power of leadership through example.

We can't wait for you to join us!!

Miss Contestants
Eligibility Requirements

To compete, you must:

Be between the ages of 18 and 28 (must be no older older than 28 on September 30, 2027, and no younger than 18 on Sept 1, 2027.)
Be a citizen of the United States
Be single
Reside, work, or attend school full-time in one of these counties: Alamance, Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson.
Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss America Organization
Develop a Community Service Initiative (CS Initiative)
Be in reasonably good health to the meet the job requirements of Miss North Carolina and Miss America
Be able to meet time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the Triangle Scholarship Organization
Meet eligibility requirements to compete in the Miss America Scholarship Competition
Submit $39 registration fee to Miss America Organization
Submit $100 registration fee to Triangle Scholarship Organization

Miss Candidate Interest Form

Teen Contestants
Eligibility Requirements

To compete, you must:

Be between the ages of 14 and 18 (must be no younger than 14 by September 1, 2027 and no older than 18 on Sept 30, 2027.)
Be a citizen of the United States
Reside and attend school in North Carolina (open to all counties)
Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss NC's Teen and Miss America's Teen Organizations
Develop a Community Service Initiative (CS Initiative)
Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements of serving as Miss NC's Teen and Miss America's Teen
Be able to meet the time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the Triangle Scholarship Organization
Meet the eligibility requirements to compete in the Miss America's Teen Scholarship Competition
Submit $39 registration fee to Miss America Organization
Submit $100 registration fee to Triangle Scholarship Organization

Teen Candidate Interest Form

Phases of Competition
& Judging Criteria

Miss America is both a business and a culturally specific brand that transcends being just a beauty pageant. Miss America herself is a critical member of the Miss America Opportunity marketing team and works to advance the business of scholarship and community service for women. The Miss America judging system distinguishes Miss America via a form of Olympic scoring where each contestant competes against ONLY herself.

Private Interview

30% of overall score

In the private interview part of the competition, each candidate will participate in a 10-minute interview with our judging panel.

The Private Interview allows Insight Into the candidate's:

● Ability to fulfill the qualifications, responsibilities, duties, and terms 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.

On-Stage Question

30% of overall score

The On-Stage Question will allow us to see the candidate's ability to respond authentically to a question in front of an audience. A question will be asked on-stage to each candidate and they will have only 20 seconds to answer.

This area of competition allows insight into the candidate's:

Commitment to the Service point of the crown
Unique perspective on community service and its local impact
Desire to create interest in her community service initiative(s)
Brings the interview to the stage to showcase each candidate
Highlight intelligence, personality, charisma, aptitude for titleholder's opportunity
Allows a look at the sense of composure in presenting ideas on-stage

Private Interview

30% of overall score

Health & Fitness

20% of overall score

The Health & Fitness phase of competition allows each candidate to showcase her commitment to health & fitness initiatives. A candidate's discipline and commitment to being physically healthy is key to success in all other areas of life and the rigors of representing the Miss NC and Miss America programs as a state or national titleholder.

Candidates will wear their choice of fitness outfit from the Rebel x Miss America Collab Red Collection. Judges will evaluate each candidate on the following: Overall First Impression, Ability to Radiate Health, High Energy, Engaging Vitality, and a Sense of Confidence.

The Health & Fitness phase of competition allows insight into:

The candidate's comfort and confidence level on stage
The candidate's overall impression of health & physical fitness commitment
On-stage presentation, energy, comfort in front of an audience, and confidence
The candidate's ability to serve as the national health & fitness ambassador

Talent

20% of overall score

Each candidate will present her talent or HER Story presentation to underscore the Miss America Organization's commitment to performance arts initiatives and women's individual efforts in dance, music, vocal, drama, oratory, and storytelling.

In the performance, candidates will have 90 seconds to captivate the audience and judges.

Judges will evaluate each performance based:

How engaging and compelling the candidate's story or talent is
How effectively the candidate connects with the audience on an emotional/entertaining level
How the candidate is able to convey their story or demonstrate their performance skill with confidence
How powerfully the candidate delivers her story or demonstrates her talent
The candidate's ability to engage the audience and maintain their attention throughout the performance

Each candidate will have the opportunity to publicly present her sense of style wearing an evening gown suitable for an appearance as Miss America/Miss America's Teen. Part of a titleholder's role is to attend galas, fundraisers, awards shows, and other formal events that would require formal attire.

The Evening Gown phase of competition allows insight into the candidates:

Ability to capture attention on stage
Comfort, confidence, and composure
Overall impression of the ability to attend high-profile events as a representative of the Triangle Scholarship Organization, Miss NC Organization, and Miss America Opportunity
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

Evening Gown

20% of overall score

Why Compete?

Scholarships

Community Service

Mentorship

We can't wait for you to join us!!

Miss Contestants Eligibility Requirements

Teen Contestants Eligibility Requirements

Phases of Competition & Judging Criteria

Miss Contestants
Eligibility Requirements

Teen Contestants
Eligibility Requirements

Phases of Competition
& Judging Criteria