What is the pageant progression one must follow in the USA in order to make it to the Miss Universe Pageant?

Question

My sense is that one goes from a local pageant to a state pageant and after winning at the state level, can progress to either the Miss USA or Miss America Pageant. The winner of the Miss USA Pageant goes on to compete in the Miss Universe competition. I am not sure if there is a higher level that the winner of the Miss America Pageant graduates to (please respond if you know this related question.)

In general, though, where should a potential pageant enthusiast start if they believe they have a future in pageant competitions? Certainly one can start at a very young age to gain experience, poise, and confidence. But I have also heard examples where winners did not necessarily start out as child pageant contestants and were able to jump right in during their mid teens and find surprising success given the talent, drive, and natural ability.

Answer 1

The Miss America and Miss USA pageant systems are completely separate. I have included information about both systems and my advice for preparation.

----MISS USA AND MISS UNIVERSE----

For the Miss Universe Pageant a potential contestant must first find their state pageant. (for example Miss Florida USA) Links to the state websites for more information can be found

at http://www.missusa.com/howtoenter/index....

The contestants must send in a photo, along with their entry form, and eventually an entry fee (I believe the fee can be around $900). This "reserves" their "local title" and makes them eligible to compete for their state title. The competition areas are interview, evening gown, and swimsuit.

State title holders (ex. Miss Florida USA) compete for Miss USA, and Miss USA competes for Miss Universe. Winners receive "scholarships" for items such as clothing, personal training, and modeling.

-------------MISS AMERICA---------------

Miss America starts out with local pageants. To be eligible young women must:

    * Be between the ages of 17 and 24.

    * Be a United States citizen.

    * Meet residency requirements for competing in a certain town 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 program in which you compete.

Participants must have a personal platform based on an issue that they are passionate about and upon which they can base their community service. Also to compete on the local level participants need to raise $100 for the Children's Miracle Network. Sometimes this fund raising is done through the pageant itself and the girls do not have to do it on their own.

The areas of competition are:

    *  Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit - 15%

    * Evening Wear - 20%

    * Talent - 35%

    * Private Interview - 25%

    * On-Stage Question – 5%

Local winners complete a year of service working with their personal platform and their local government (largely representing the city or region at social events). They then go on to compete for the state title (ex. Miss Florida - notice that there is no USA at the end of it. That's how you tell the difference). The state title holder competes for Miss America. Miss America then completes a year of service working with her platform and serving as the spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network. At the end of the year of service on each level, the title holder receives her scholarship to be applied to her education.

For more information about local pageants through the Miss America Organization, visit the appropriate state website, which can be found at:

http://www.missamerica.org/organization-...

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In recent years with the Miss America Organization, the girls who have done the best are the girls with limited pageant experience. The judges are looking for someone "real", rather than someone trained to walk a certain way or look a certain way.

The best preparation at a young age is probably talent development and speaking experience. If the girl is comfortable performing and comfortable speaking in front of a group then she will probably do well in a pageant.

Both the Miss America Organization and the Miss USA franchise have teen level pageants for girls between ages12 and 17.

If someone over 17 would like to participate, she shouldn't be intimidated by the pageant system. As I said, the judges are looking for someone real, and the pageant organizations have workshops prior to the actual pageant to prepare contestants. She should look for the pageant system that she feels represents her best, and compete with that one first. Many offer completely free information that's easy to find with just a little research.