About the Teen Program
Read on to learn more about the teen level of the Miss America Scholarship Program.
How do I know if I’m eligible for the Teen Program?
Age
- Contestants must be 14 by state competition and no older than 18 years old by the State competition, late June, 2025. For additional clarification on age requirements please contact us at TeenDirector@misspiercecounty.org
Residency
Must fulfill one of the following:
- Must reside in Washington state.
- 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 be female
- Is not now, nor will get married during her titleholder term.
- Is not now pregnant, nor will become the custodial or adoptive parent of any child during her titleholder term.
- Contestants must meet all additional requirements pursuant to the Miss America State and Local Contract.
Are past Miss Pierce County’s (Outstanding) Teen eligible to re-compete?
After completing her year or service, a Miss Pierce County’s (Outstanding) Teen titleholder will not be permitted to compete again in the Miss Pierce County’s Teen Program. This provides an equal opportunity for all new contestants, while allowing the former titleholder the right to compete independently or to apply to any other Teen program in the state.
What’s the financial commitment?
A teen candidate in the Miss America program is required to pay a once yearly registration fee of $39.99 to compete in any local program that year. Link to registration below.
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Program Registration
MPCSP requires each teen contestant to secure a minimum of $400 in advertising sponsorships. Each sponsor will receive an ad in the Miss Pierce County Scholarship Program Book. For more information on sponsorship benefits available, check out our sponsors page.
Keep in mind that a sponsor does not have to be a single business or person. Sponsorships can come from multiple businesses, or groups of family & friends. For example, 10 family members & friends could contribute $20 each to generate one (1) sponsorship of $200. Sponsorship payments can be made in cash, checks, or money orders.
Contestants are required to wear Rebel athletic wear for the Health and Fitness phase of competition. Additional information for purchasing the athletic wear will be made available during orientation.
What is a “Community Service Initiative” and do I need to have one?
In 1989, the Miss America Organization introduced the platform (now know as the Community Service Initiative) as part of the competition, with each state titleholder choosing an issue of importance to her and to society. Through in-depth interviewing during the local, state and national competitions, each contestant is evaluated on her commitment to her chosen issue. Examples of CSI issues have included child advocacy, volunteerism, domestic violence, literacy, diabetes, awareness, eating disorders and our nations homeless.
You don’t need to know exactly what your CSI is before applying – we can help you develop it – but you should have a good idea of what issues are important to you.
What does the time commitment look like?
We know that the time of both you and your parents or guardians is valuable, and we promise not to waste it. That being said, we pride ourselves on pushing our contestants to do more, achieve more and demand more of themselves.