As a contestant, you will compete in the following phases of competition. 
 
PRIVATE INTERVIEW - You will meet with a panel of judges for a private interview. During the interview, you be asked questions which will allow you the opportunity to express your views and beliefs. Questions may cover a variety of topics, such as your platform, community service activities, achievements, ambitions and goals, current events, education, and even personal experiences.

Your 10 minute interview will consist of 9 minutes and 30 seconds of questions followed by a closing statement for up to 30 seconds.

You choice of wardrobe is at your discretion, however it should be appropriate for a business interview as if you were applying for a job. Essentially, you are applying for a job.

Through this interview, the judges will be looking for the following...

• Overall first Impression
• Personal Appearance
• Personality
• Intelligence
• Validated opinions
• Speech, vocabulary and grammar
• Response in context
• Style
• Emotional Control
• Knowledge and understanding of platform issue
• Sense of accomplishments
• Confidence and commanding presence

Remember, the judges are not trying to interrogate or intimidate you, they are trying to learn as much about you as possible in a very short amount of time.

The PRIVATE INTERVIEW will count for 25% of your total score.

TALENT - The talent competition is not and end in itself, but rather an insight into your preparatory and performance skills. Consideration is given whether your talent selection fits these skills and your personality. The talent competition acknowledges the "quality" of the talent you present, the "technical skill level", the "feeling" with which the technical skill is presented and your "stage presence."

Your talent presentation is your choice provided it is appropriate for the stage. Also, you must abide by the following rules; Your talent must be 1 minute and 30 seconds or less and presented live. You may not use any live animals. Any props you have on stage must be used. You are not permitted to disrobe on stage. You may not perform a talent that posses a danger to the audience such as; fire batons, sword twirling, knife throwing, archery, etc.

During talent, the judges will be looking for the following...

• Personality
• Interpretive ability
• Technical skill level - execution, technique, synchronization
• Stage presence - on-stage personality
• Totality of all elements - costume, props, voice, music, use of body, choreography

The TALENT will count for 35% of your total score.

EVENING WEAR - The evening wear competition is deigned for you to make an on-stage statement of you personality. Your personality and beauty must be projected "across the footlights". Your total look is considered. Your choice of evening wear (not the value of the evening wear) should extend your personality and complement you.

Your choice of evening wear is your decision. It should be appropriate for an "After Five" social engagement. This may include but is not limited to evening gowns, pant outfits and cocktail dresses.

During evening wear, judges will be looking for the following...

• Overall first impression
• Sense of confidence
• Personality and stage presence
• Walk, posture, carriage and grace
• Sense of attractiveness
• Appropriateness of evening wear

The EVENING WEAR will count for 20% of your total score.

LIFESTYLE AND FITNESS IN SWIMSUIT - The swimsuit competition is designed to see how well you maintain a good figure that reflects good physical fitness and health. You should project a sense of confidence, attractiveness and presence. You and the swimsuit should complement each other.

The swimsuit competition has always been the most controversial phase of the competition. Over the years the guidelines have been modified to reflect the changing times, preserve the historical relevance and still provide individual choice. Beginning July 1999, a decision has been by the Miss America Organization in Atlantic City to allow you your choice of swimsuit style, one or two piece (excluding thong and string bikinis), color and pattern. Also, you may choose your own footwear (or barefoot). Also, you may not use hosiery or oil on you skin. However, pageant executive directors reserve the right to disqualify swimsuits if deemed inappropriate or exceeding those requirements necessary for proper judging of physical fitness.

During swimsuit, judges will be looking for the following...

• Overall first impression
• Sense of confidence and comfort Posture, walk, poise and grace
• Statement of physical fitness
• Beauty of face and figure
• Energy, charisma, expression

The LIFESTYLE AND FITNESS IN SWIMSUIT will count for 15% of your total score.

ON STAGE INTERVIEW - You will be asked a couple of questions while on stage during the show. The On-Stage Interview phase of competition is designed for you to make an on-stage statement of your interests, opinions and aspirations. This will give the judges the opportunity to hear you speak in front of a live audience.

The ON STAGE INTERVIEW will count for 5% of your total score.