What is a Titleholder?
Miss America and Miss America’s Teen may be the most recognizable names to the general public but local Titleholders like Miss Manhattan or Miss Hudson Valley’s Teen are the face of this organization to the people of New York. They take an active role in their communities and are role models for younger generations and their peers. Titleholders advocate for the importance of education and philanthropy and has multiple opportunities to earn scholarships, develop public speaking skills, engage in community activism, and network with professionals from around the state and the nation.
What is the competition like?
Miss America and Miss America’s Teen have the same phases of competition, starting with a private interview between the contestant and the panelists. On stage, all contestants compete in on-stage interview, fitness in activewear, talent, and evening gown. To learn more about the phases of competition and how they are judged, see our “competition” page
Am I eligible?
To be eligible to compete as an at-large, local or state participant for either Miss America or Miss America’s Teen in September 2026, you must:
- be a female
- meet the age criteria as shown below
- Miss America 18-28: must be NO OLDER than 28 on September 30, 2026, and no younger than 18 on Sept 1, 2026.
- Miss America’s Teen 14-18: must be no YOUNGER than 14 by September 1 and no older than 18 on Sept 30, 2026.
- be living full-time as a resident of your state, or employed full-time in person, or enrolled full-time as a student at an accredited school/college.
How do I sign up?
Start by deciding if you want to compete in a local competition or if you would like apply for an open title. Once you have decided, use the link below to join Club America through the Miss America website and choose the Local or State Open option. Once you have signed up, Miss America will walk you through the steps to fill out your contract and set up your spotfund profile. Once you are all set up we will reach out to you!
What does it cost?
- Club America ($49 annual membership)
- Raise $30 for the American Heart Association for your local and $300 for State
- Entry fee – this ranges from $0-$500, depending on what kind of local-level competition you are competing in. You can learn more in the one pager linked below.
- Other costs like transportation, hotels, wardrobe, etc vary quite a bit but you can also get this sponsored! Download our one-pager about costs and expectations for a more detailed outline.
