BECOME A MISS OR TEEN CANDIDATE

Gain experience through interviews, public speaking, talent, promoting your social impact initiative, social media promotion, and compete for the title of Miss Tennessee!  

HOW TO GET STARTED:

The first step to becoming Miss Tennessee or Miss Tennessee's Outstanding Teen is to enter and win a local competition. Local competitions are held throughout the state. Once you win a local title, you qualify to advance to the Miss Tennessee Competition held each year in June. 

HOW TO ENTER A LOCAL COMPETITION: 

Registering to enter is a TWO STEP process. You will first register to become a member of the Miss America Organization for this year. You will then register for each individual local in which you choose to compete through a link provided to you via email.

1) First, register with the Miss America Organization here:   

2) After you register, you will receive an email from the Executive Director on how to register for a specific local competition. The email will include information about the paperwork you will need to complete in order to compete in your local competition.

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During local competitions, you will compete in four phases of competition. 

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Scoring for the Phases of Competition for Miss Candidates:

  • Private Interview with Panel of Judges (counts 35%)

  • Talent (90 seconds) (counts 35%)

  • On-Stage Interview / Social Impact Pitch (20-30 seconds) (counts 15%)

  • Red Carpet / Evening Wear (counts 15%)

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Scoring for the Phases of Competition for Teen Candidates:

  • Private Interview with Panel of Judges (counts 30%)

  • Talent (90 seconds) (counts 40%)

  • Lifestyle & Wellness (counts 10%)

  • Evening Wear/Onstage Question (counts 20%)

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Good luck in chasing your dream to earn scholarships and become Miss Tennessee or Miss Tennessee's Outstanding Teen! 

Eligibility to Compete for Miss

Age & Education

  • Must be at least nineteen (19) years of age on December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes;

  • Must not be older than twenty-six (26) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes 

  • For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn twenty-seven (27) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State Competition. (Calendar Year defined as January 1st through December 31st). For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot be eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition. If the candidate is eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition, then she must compete in the MAOTeen program, unless she meets the Grandfather Clause below.

  • Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Agreements ONLY: Since age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are: 1) eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) are eligible to compete in the Miss program, as long as the candidate is also a 2) high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022. Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect for the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Residency

  • Must fulfill ONE of the following:

    • Must reside in the state of competition

    • Be enrolled in and physically attending classes on a full-time basis at an accredited college or university;

    • Or be employed on a full-time basis in the state in which she intends to compete.

Citizenship

  • Must be a citizen of the United States of America


Additional Miss Program Requirements

  • Candidates must meet all additional requirements pursuant to the Miss America State and Local Application & Agreement:       Full Miss Program Requirement

 

Eligibility to Compete for Teen

Age

  • Must be at least thirteen (13) years on the first day of the State Competition in which she compete

  • Must be no older than eighteen (18) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she could compete.

  • For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn nineteen (19) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State MAOTeen Competition (January 1st through December 31st). 

  • Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Candidate Agreement ONLY: Since the age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are: 1) eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) may choose to compete in either the MAOTeen or Miss programs, as long as candidate is also a 2) high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022.  Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect in the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Residency

  • Must fulfill one of the following:

    • Must reside in the state of competition

    • Be successfully enrolled in and physically attending classes on a full-time basis at an accredited public or private school, or home schooled within the state of competition.

Citizenship

  • Must be a citizen of the United States of America

Additional Requirements

  • Must not be eligible to compete in the Miss America Competition (see Miss Program Eligibility requirements above).

  • Candidates must meet all additional requirements pursuant to the Miss America's Outstanding Teen State and Local Application & Agreement: Full Miss America's Outstanding Teen Program Requirements

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