Oh, that's gotta hurt! My whole body ached as I watched the Olympic skiers, one after another, get tossed around like rag dolls on the slopes the other night. Inspired by the winter Olympics and the record levels of snowfall this month, I've been talking about the blocks that get in the way of your pageant success.

Some of my favorite Olympic moments are when they do the human interest stories. I love hearing stories about how these elite athletes faced incredible challenges; and against the odds, overcame them to reach their dream. Sometimes the blocks were external; and other times there was an inner war raging. The element that seems to separate the Olympians from other great athletes is their mental approach and reaction towards the obstacles that are presented.

Two weeks ago I spoke about the outer blocks. Last week, I shared one of the four inner blocks. This week I'll cover the remaining three insiders that can get between you and success.

• Only tall, thin blondes win the crown.
• You must have expensive designer clothing in order to win.
• There's only one perfect answer to the onstage question.

These statements are examples of beliefs that some people perceive to be facts because they've heard them from friends, the media, or the allusive group of "they". These limiting beliefs, when left unchallenged, can hold you back.

Daniel Daza/Columbia Pictures

From left, Forest Whitaker, Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox in the thriller "Vantage Point." 2008

The third inner block is our interpretation of a situation. A movie that well illustrates this is Vantage Point. It's about an assassination attempt seen differently through the eyes of the main characters. In pageantry, you may think a judge dislikes you because of the expression on his face during the interview. As a result, you avoid eye contact with that judge for the rest of the pageant. Maybe the lights in the room were giving the judge a headache and that was the reason he was squinting. You just don't know.

The fourth block is the inner critic, or the Gremlin. In the 1984 movie, Gremlins, Gizmo is an intelligent and loving mogwi as long as you don't get him wet, expose him to sunlight, or feed him after midnight.

Then one day by accident, a friend of the family spills water on Gizmo and after a painful scene several fur balls pop from his back and turn into more mogwi. These mogwi seem cute and loveable like Gizmo but they have a mean streak that only Gizmo sees. After tricking Billy into feeding them after midnight, the evil mogwi turn into cocoons overnight and later hatch out as the scaly skinned green Gremlins, led by Stripe, that become chaotic, destructive creatures.

 

Our inner critic can have a similar effect on us,tearing us down in a debilitating way that leaves us feeling defeated. It tells us that we're not good enough, so why bother.
Comments such as:

• I'm not pretty enough, or thin enough, or tall enough.

• My breasts aren't big enough.

• The other contestants have more experience than me.

• I'm not good enough to be a national queen.

• I've been first runner-up so many times. I just don't have what it takes.

One negative self-talk statement leads to another and another and before you know it, you have triggered an emotional avalanche capable of destroying and burying all the positive energy you had.

How many times have you seen a pageant contestant that seems to have it all, not win the crown? Chances are that it's due to one of the four inner blocks. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance; eagerness and desperation; and, enthusiasm and abrasiveness.

So when your inner voice is talking to you, is it Gizmo or Stripe? If it's Stripe, give me a call so we can work through that block to help you move forward.

 

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Blocks can affect every aspect of our lives. "I can't change careers because I'm too old", "I'm walking away from this relationship because there's nothing I can do", and "Why bother exercising. I'm so overweight; I'll never be physically fit again". Which gremlin, assumption, interpretation and limiting belief is holding you back? Get started today moving these blocks from your path.

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant coach, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning ThroughPageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps them Succeed From The Inside Out™ in their lives. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three,who home educates her children, has been married 20 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.

You want to have a winning experience at the pageant and yet something prevents you from achieving the results you want. In last week’s article, I addressed outside blocks that may be in your way. This week, we’ll turn our attention to the “insiders”. Most inner blocks fall into one of four major types: gremlins, assumptions, interpretations and limiting beliefs.
Have you heard the old saying “when you assume something, you make an ASS out of U and ME”? LOL. Although assumptions don’t always lead to a negative outcome, they have the potential of limiting our possibilities and holding us back because we’re afraid.
An assumption is believing that because something happened to us in the past, it’s going to happen again.
Some typical pageant assumptions may be:

• I’m clumsy and can’t walk in heels (after you tripped on stage).

• The on-stage questions they ask in pageants are too hard (your mind went blank).
• The pageant judges are too critical (one judge had a sour look on her face the whole time).
• Pageants are fixed, so why bother (you didn’t win).
• Pageant contestants are unfriendly and too competitive (the girls didn’t talk to you).
• Pageants are unorganized and a waste of my time (it was a logistical nightmare).

Because an assumption is based on a personal experience, it may be harder to detach from the emotions associated with that event. However, holding onto an assumption without separating the fact from the fiction could hold you back from experiencing things that may benefit you. Just because it happened once, what makes you think that it will be like that every time?

 
Assumptions can come in big or little forms. For example, the first time I tried a particular self-tanning product, I didn’t like the results. I was streaky and the color wasn’t right, so I called the company to ask for a refund. The customer representative was very nice and asked me two questions.

 
The first she asked was if I had watched the instructional video that came with the product. No, I hadn’t watched the video. I assumed all I had to do was apply the lotion to my skin. The sales representative gently encouraged me to try the product one more time after watching the video. If I still wanted a refund after trying it a second time, she’d be happy to do so. Although I was open to trying it again, that still didn’t solve the problem of the color not being right. Then she asked me the second question.

Would I like to try one of the other tanners that her company made? Why would I want to do that? After all, I assumed that all products from that company would have the same affect on my skin. No, I had made up my mind that not only would this company’s products not work for me, I reasoned that all self-tanners were faulty and I would need to look elsewhere to achieve a natural looking tan.

 
To make a long story short, within a few moments, the new product was on the way and I had agreed to give it a second try. This time, I watched the video, followed the directions and voila- the beautiful tan I’d been wanting appeared. Had I held on tightly to my first assumptions regarding this product, I would have lost a wonderful product that saved me a lot of time and money over a five-year period.

So what are you assuming in pageantry that may be holding you back? Ask yourself, just because it happened in the past, why must it happen again? If you do pageants for any length of time, you’ll occasionally encounter the unpleasant judge or contestant; a few pageants are unorganized and questionable; and yes you may stumble a couple times. These are single, isolated events. Learn from them and move on.

How many opportunities have you missed because of assumptions you have made in your life? When you have identified an assumption that is holding you back, ask yourself, just because it happened in the past, why must it happen again? Separate fact from the fiction.

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant coach and expert, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning ThroughPageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps them Succeed From The Inside Out™ in their lives. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three who has been married 20 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.

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What's Blocking Your Pageant Success? The OUTSIDERS.

• I haven't found the perfect dress yet.
• My hair and makeup choices were wrong.
• The judges didn't like me.
• I'm just not cut out for pageants.

Have you made any of these statements at the end of a pageant when you didn't get the results you were anticipating? I have. What additional comments would you add to the list? It's normal to feel some disappointment when you've looked forward to an event for so long. It may be especially frustrating if you feel your expectations weren't met. This brings me to an important question that few people take the time to ask themselves before the pageant.

What are you expecting to receive from participating in the pageant? In any endeavor you choose to follow, it's important to know what your expectations are; and how will you know when those desires are met? In other words, how do you define success? Take a moment to write down your thoughts. It doesn't have to be a novel, but list in very clear statements what you want to walk away with at the end of the pageant.

What needs to happen for you to feel successful? Making the top 15 may be a goal of yours. Maybe you want a feeling of confidence while you walk and model in 4" heels. Perhaps your aspiration is to just enjoy the pageant without feeling like a nervous wreck the whole time. Or, finishing the pageant, knowing you'd done your best and there's nothing you would have changed about the experience. Whatever your list is, write it down.

Now ask yourself, what would get in the way of having those results? Typically, the blocks will be external, internal or both. External blocks tend to be the quickest to identify so let's start there. Financial issues, sickness, a lack of proper training and time are a few examples of things outside of you that can quickly appear to get in your way. Write out your list of external blocks.

To illustrate how an external block can have differing effects on people, let's use the blizzard we had this past weekend as an example. The weather made the roads difficult, if not impossible, to drive to scheduled activities. Tasks such as cooking meals, working on the computer, doing the laundry and watching your favorite TV shows were blocked because some people didn't have electricity. Shoveling the snow not only took up time that was meant to be spent elsewhere; but, also, created a physical discomfort for some in the way of body aches and pains. How did the events of this past weekend affect your thoughts, attitudes and emotions?

For some people who didn't have shovels or snowblowers, electricity or heat, this event could have really created some stress. But, those people who had their equipment ready in the garage, had at least a week's supply of food and a backup generator, the feelings and attitude towards the storm might have be quite different. In fact, they may have enjoyed it.

What affects are your external blocks having on you in your pageant life? Are you viewing them as excuses for not getting what you want, or are they forcing you to look at the results of the choices you've been making? The blocks are neutral.How they make us feel and react will determine if we remain stuck or move forward. So, take a look at your list of external blocks and ask yourself, how are these affecting my pageant success?

If you don't have enough money to do pageants, what could you do to remove that barrier?

How important is it for you to remove this block? Rate it on a scale of 1-10, with one being "I could care less about it" and ten being "I will make this happen no matter what". Go through each of your outer blocks and rate them. What did you find? One of the advantages of working with me is once we identify your blocks; together we create a step-by-step plan that will eliminate these blocks from your path so you can move forward. It's no longer necessary to feel like you're being stopped by perceived obstacles. You do have a choice.

Next week we'll begin to explore The Insiders.

Blocks can show up in any area of your life at any time. Recognizing that the block is neutral can have a liberating affect on a person. I know it did for me. My first reaction to a block use to be a fear-based, "Oh no, what now?" The moment I really understood that all events are just that, EVENTS- neither negative nor positive, I felt immediately lighter. It was instead my reactions and feelings surrounding the events that I needed to go head to head with. What do you think about the idea that events are neither negative nor positive? Hold that thought until next week.

Congratulations Amanda Shepard- Mrs. Delaware America 2010

On the snowy evening of Saturday, January 30, 2010, Amanda Shepard was crowned Mrs. Delaware 2010 at the Rehoboth Beach Theater of The Arts, and will represent The First State at the Mrs. America Pageant in September.

With the threat of a blizzard due at any time, the 13 contestants agreed they all wanted to still move forward with the pageant and it went off without a hitch, having nearly a full theater! There were some die-hard fans there to support the ladies!

The runners-up included: Shana Williams of Newark, Tracy Friswell-Jacobs of Bear, Erin Tierney of Middletown and Francine Edwards of Townsend.

This was Amanda's second attempt at the title, having competed in 2008.
She resides in Middletown with her husband of seven years, Ben, and their two children. She holds a bachelors degree in musical theater and received her master’s in special education the day after the pageant, where she also presented the commencement speech.

To read her complete bio and see more photos of this amazing woman, follow the provided link: http://www.mrsdelawareamerica.com/mrsde.html

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant expert, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning ThroughPageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps them Succeed From The Inside Out™ in their lives. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three who has been married 20 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.

 

When I was growing up, watching the Miss America Pageant was an annual tradition for my mom and me. Likewise, I have carried on this tradition with my three daughters. We have a great time sitting around the TV admiring the dresses, evaluating the talent, and analyzing the on-stage questions. Once again, I found myself explaining to them the differences between the Miss America Pageant and the Miss USA/Universe Pageants. There are hundreds of different pageant systems out there, but these are the three televised ones that we watch each year.

So let’s start with talking about the Miss America system. Knowing how time consuming and frustrating it can be to find information on the web, I’ve done all the work for you. This week’s article contains everything you want to know about this year’s results and the Miss America Pageant in general. For the most up to date information regarding the Miss America Pageant and the scholarships available, please visit their website at http://www.missamerica.org. All photos included in this article are property of the Miss America Organization.

Contact the state director of your home state for the specifics of your state pageant system before you enter. The information provided below is for educational and informative purposes only, and provided to give you an overview of this prestigious pageant. As things have a tendency to change over time, please get the most up to date information from the website and the appropriate people at the time you’re entering the pageant.

I do want to take a moment to mention a couple important facts you won’t find on the website.

• First, the talent number MUST BE ENTERTAINING. Contestants must make an emotional connection with the judges and the audience. You could be a virtuoso in your given field. But if you choose some technical piece that only a highly skilled professional in that area would appreciate, you’re going to miss the mark. So the good news is you don’t have to be extremely gifted in order to have a winning talent number. On a scale of 1-10, you still need to be at least an 8 in your talent ability. It’s more about showmanship and being entertaining. Your energy must project off the stage.

 

• Secondly, Miss America does not spend her year performing her talent. She will have occasions, depending on what her talent is, to perform; but it is a year of public speaking and service. Miss America titleholders must, first and foremost, be intelligent, articulate speakers. The ability to answer any questions asked of them, easily and naturally, is critical. At the same time, Miss America must be approachable and humble.

 

• Although there is no registration fee to enter, you will have expenses with this elite pageant. Your hair, makeup, clothing, talent and speaking skills must be impeccable which means hiring professionals to help you on your journey. Research your state pageant wardrobe requirements, and figure out your budget before hand so you’re not caught off guard. Some women prepare a lifetime for this opportunity, and others just a few years.

 

Meet Miss America 2010

Caressa Cameron-Miss Virginia
Fredricksburg, Virginia
Age: 22

Education:
Massaponax High School
Virginia Commonwealth University-

Platform Issue: Real Talk: AIDS in America

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Master's degree in Mass Communications

Talent: Vocal Pop-Listen from Dreamgirls

Scholastic Honors: Deans List, Academic Honors

Career Ambition: To work as an anchor for a television news station.

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Arlington Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Virginia Organization,Inc.

 

Preliminary Results

Night One Preliminary Winners

Miss Puerto Rico - Mimi Pabon, Lifestyle & Fitness and Miss Virginia - Caressa Cameron, Talent

 

Night Two Preliminary Winners

Miss New York - Alyse Zwick, Lifestyle & Fitness and Miss California - Kristy Cavinder

 

Night Three Preliminary Winners

Miss Michigan - Nicole Blaszczyk, Talent and Miss Oregon - CC Barber, Lifestyle & Fitness

 

For those of you who want to know the talent for all 53 contestants, I have included the preliminary break down as well.

MU GROUP Monday (AM) – Interview Tuesday – On Stage Question Wednesday – Swimsuit/Evening Wear Thursday - Talent ALPHA GROUP Monday (PM) – Interview Tuesday - Talent Wednesday - On Stage Question Thursday - Swimsuit/Evening Wear SIGMA GROUP Tuesday (AM) - Interview Tuesday - Swimsuit/Evening Wear Wednesday - Talent Thursday - On Stage Question Nevada - Ballet en Pointe West Virginia - Vocal Texas - Vocal North Dakota - Vocal Maine - Vocal Kansas - Trumpet New Hampshire - Vocal/Piano Louisiana - Piano Montana - Vocal Vermont - Jazz Dance Rhode Island - Vocal Missouri - Tap Kentucky - Vocal Wyoming - Jazz Dance California - Ballet en Pointe Massachusetts - Broadway Vocal Virginia - Vocal Pennsylvania - Tap Dance District of Columbia - Opera Vocal Washington - Piano Solo Puerto Rico - Vocal Virgin Islands - Monologue Georgia - Oboe Florida - Irish Step Dance Idaho - Viola Alaska - Opera Iowa - Violin South Carolina - Vocal Colorado - Contemporary Lyrical Dance Delaware - Classical Vocal New York - Ballet en Pointe South Dakota - Broadway Vocal Alabama - Jazz Dance Mississippi - Vocal Oregon - Dance Ohio - Vocal Nebraska - Dance Wisconsin - Dance en Pointe Minnesota - Vocal Oklahoma - Ballet en Pointe Illinois - Ballet en Pointe Tennessee - Vocal New Mexico - Vocal Arizona - Baton Dance Twirl Hawaii - Hula Michigan - Lyrical Dance New Jersey - Classical Vocal Connecticut - Tap Dance Arkansas - Vocal Utah - Piano North Carolina - Ballet en Pointe   Indiana - Vocal Maryland – Vocal

 

Miss America 2010

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

Top 5

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron, Miss America

· Miss California, Kristy Cavinder, 1^st Runner-Up

· Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler,2^nd Runner-Up

· Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam, 3^rd Runner-Up

· Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin, 4^th Runner-Up

Top 7 (In Random Order)

· Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin

· Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler

· Miss California, Kristy Cavinder

· Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford

· Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam

· Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

Top 10 (In Random Order)

· Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin

· Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler

· Miss California, Kristy Cavinder

· Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford

· Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam

· Miss District of Columbia, Jen Corey

· Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

· Miss Texas, Kristen Blair

· Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers

Top 12 (In Random Order)

· Miss Oklahoma, Taylor Treat

· Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin

· Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler

· Miss Colorado, Katie Layman

· Miss California, Kristy Cavinder

· Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford

· Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam

· Miss District of Columbia, Jen Corey

· Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

· Miss Texas, Kristen Blair

· Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers

Semi Finalists (In Random Order)

· Miss Oklahoma, Taylor Treat

· Miss Arkansas, Sarah Slocum

· Miss Kentucky, Mallory Ervin

· Miss Tennessee, Stefanie Wittler

· Miss Colorado, Katie Layman

· Miss California, Kristy Cavinder

· Miss Indiana, Nicole Pollard

· Miss Hawaii, Raeceen Woolford

· Miss Louisiana, Katherine Putnam

· Miss District of Columbia, Jen Corey

· Miss New Mexico, Nicole Miner

· Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron

· Miss Texas, Kristen Blair

· Miss Nebraska, Brittany Jeffers

· Miss Oregon, CC Barber

Miss America History

Today, Miss America travels approximately 20,000 miles a month, changing her location every 24 to 48 hours. She tours the nation reaching out to support her ideals, committed to helping others. Miss America is more than just a title. She is a woman who reflects a tradition of style, sophistication and service.

National Judging Process 2008

Miss America is both a business and a culturally specific brand that transcends being just a beauty pageant. Miss America herself is a critical member of the Miss America Organization marketing team and works to advance the business of scholarship and community service for women. The Miss America judging system distinguishes Miss America via a form of Olympic scoring where each contestant competes against ONLY herself.

Preliminary Competitions Scoring

The Miss America Preliminary Competitions and their weighted score values are:

· Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit - 15%

· Evening Wear - 20%

· Talent - 35%

· Private Interview - 25%

· On-Stage Question – 5%

Finals Competition Scoring

The scoring for the Miss America Finals Competition is weighted accordingly:

· Composite Score - 30% (Top 16)

· Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit - 20% (Top 16)

· Evening Wear - 20% (Top 10)

· Talent - 30%  (Top 8)

· On-Stage Question (Top 8)

· Final Ballot – Each judge ranks the top 5 contestants in the order he/she believes they should each finish.  The outcome of the pageant is based solely on the point totals resulting from the final ballot.

2008 Miss America Competition: Scholarships

Miss America	$50,000
First Runner-Up	25,000
Second Runner-Up	20,000
Third Runner-Up	15,000
Fourth Runner-Up	10,000
Three Finalists ($7,000 each, contestants 6-8)	21,000
Two Finalists ($6,000 each, contestants 9-10).	12,000
Six Semi-Finalists ($4,000 each, contestants 11-16).	24,000
36 Non-Finalists ($3,000 each).	108,000
3 Preliminary Talent Winners ($2,000 each)	6,000
3 Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit Winners ($1,000 each)	3,000
7 Non-Finalist Talent ($1,000 each)	7,000
Miss Congeniality	2,000
Quality of Life Winner	6,000
Quality of Life First Runner-Up	4,000
Quality of Life Second Runner-Up.	2,000
Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarships	25,000
Total Scholarships Awarded At National Level	$340,000

· The Quality of Life scholarship is given to women who excel in their commitment to enhance the quality of life for others through volunteerism and community service, the Miss America Organization funds three Quality of Life awards with special attention to depth of service, creativity of the project and the significant effects upon the lives of others.

· The Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 1992.  The will of Ervin Brown directed that a trust fund be created for the purpose of awarding ten $2,500 scholarships annually to specific contestants who compete in the national finals of the Miss America Pageant.

· SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO ALL STATE COMPETITORS

· $52,000   Miss America Academic Scholarship* (Total of 52 Awards, 1 per state) – awarded to the contestant competing at the state level for academic excellence.

· $52,000   Miss America Community Service Scholarship* (Total of 52 awards, 1 per state) – awarded to the contestant demonstrating exemplary community service initiatives.

· *Scholarship Administered by Scholarship America & funded by the Miss America Organization.

·

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO ALL COMPETITORS

· Scholarships available to anyone that has competed since 1998 at any level, local, state or national regardless of whether they have won a title or not.  These awards vary in number and amount awarded.

· Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship  - In memory of Dr. David B. Allman, a past President of the American Medical Association, and later by Mrs. Allman, and funded by their estate, this scholarship is available to contestants wishing to enter the field of medicine.

· Eugenia Vellner-Fischer Award for the Performing Arts - This award sponsored by the family of Mrs. Fischer is for contestants wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts.  This includes dance, instrumental, monologue and vocal.

· Pyramid Scholarship for Public Relations and Marketing – The Pyramid scholarship is for women pursuing a career (undergraduate, master or higher) in marketing or public relations.

· The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women.  Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.  For more information, go to http://www.missamerica.org.

Key Facts and Figures

Overview

· Developed by the Miss America Organization, the Miss America program exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women and to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community. The program provides a forum for today's young women to express their viewpoints, talents and accomplishments to audiences during the telecast and to the public-at-large during the ensuing year. Almost all contestants have either received, or are in the process of earning, college or postgraduate degrees and utilize Miss America scholarship grants to further their educations.

· To become Miss America, a contestant must first win a local competition and then compete to represent her state, a process requiring personal commitment, hard work and talent. A woman may compete at the state level more than once, but may only compete in the national Miss America competition one time. More than twelve thousand women participate each year in the local and state events, culminating in the selection of 52 national finalists who vie for the Miss America title. Tens of thousands of volunteers organize the local and state preliminary competitions, promoting community involvement throughout the United States and furthering scholarship and achievement among young women in their communities.

· Miss America and the state titleholders partner with numerous corporate sponsors to raise funds for civic and charitable organizations tied to their platform issues. These corporate sponsors become involved with the Miss America program not only on a financial level, but also on both philosophical and personal levels.

General Background

· Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.

· The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Community Service

· In the 1940s, the Organization enlisted the support of the national Jaycees Organization to assist with state and local competitions, giving them a decidedly community-service oriented focus.

· In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept, which requires each contestant to choose an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our society. Once chosen, Miss America and the state titleholders use their stature to address community-service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues. Since 1989, Miss America titleholders have appeared at thousands of public speaking engagements and charitable events to generate awareness for a variety of causes, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, character education, and literacy.

· In 1994, the Organization provided its first National Community-Service Award of $5,000. All community-service winners at the state level may apply for this national grant even if they have not won their state titles. Scholarship America (formerly known as Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America) administers the National Community Service Award.

· Since 1997, Miss America participants nationwide have taken part in Make a Difference Day. Local and state titleholders, volunteers and Miss America make a difference through community service initiatives in conjunction with the Points of Light Foundation and USA Weekend.

· In 2000, state and local contestants collectively participated in 12,384 community-service projects, dedicating a total of 571,177 hours and raising millions of dollars for worthy causes.

Telecast

· In 1954, during the golden era of television, the Miss America competition was broadcast live for the first time. That broadcast broke viewership records of the day with 39 percent of the television audience (27 million viewers) watching the Miss America telecast.

· The Miss America telecast is the fourth longest-running live event in television history. It has been broadcast live at one time or another by all three of the country's major television networks.

Important Dates in Miss America History

1921		First Miss America competition is held.
1935		Talent is added to the competition.
1945		First scholarship grant ($5,000) is awarded to Bess Myerson, the first college graduate to serve as Miss America.
1950s		The Miss America Scholarship Fund reaches over $250,000.
1954		First nationally televised Miss America telecast kicks off one of the longest-running live events in television history.
1955		Bert Parks begins his 25-year tenure as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the program’s theme song, "There She Is, Miss America."
1966		Miss America is broadcast for the first time in color.
1989		Focus on achievement comes of age, as the platform program is introduced.
1994		Heather Whitestone, who is profoundly deaf, is the first woman with a disability to become Miss America.
1995		By the 75th Anniversary of Miss America and 50th Anniversary of the Miss America Scholarship Fund, the Organization has become the world's largest provider of scholarships for young women in the world.
1996		The Miss America Organization conducts its first-ever National Day of Service by staging nearly 100 events throughout the country featuring Miss America Organization titleholders and community, government, business and education leaders.
1997		The Miss America telecast appears on ABC television for the first time since the 1950s.
2000		Miss America Organization celebrates its 80th Anniversary.
2001		The judging system at the national level is revamped in order to better reflect the goals of the Miss America Organization. In doing so, the organization is able to provide nearly $50,000 more in scholarship money at the national level.
2004		Miss America celebrates 50 years on television
2006		Pageant moves out of Atlantic City for the first time in its 85 year history. Las Vegas hosts the Miss America Pageant which is held in January.
2007		Miss America Organization and TLC sign a multi-year deal for telecast rights to the Miss America Pageant

What is the Platform?
In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept, which requires each contestant to choose an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our country. Once chosen, Miss America and the state titleholders use their stature to address community service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues. Since 1989, Miss America titleholders have appeared at thousands of public speaking engagements and charitable events to generate awareness for a variety of causes, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, character education, literacy, etc.

What does Miss America do after she is selected?
After Miss America is selected she embarks on a year-long national speaking tour. As a national spokesperson and advocate, Miss America travels approximately 20,000 miles a month, to a different city every other day, addressing diverse audiences, increasing awareness and promoting her chosen platform.

Can I represent my state at the national Miss America Competition more than once?
To become Miss America, a contestant must first win a local competition and then compete to represent her state, a process requiring personal commitment, hard work and talent. A woman may compete at the state level more than once, but may only represent her state in the national Miss America competition one time.

Is there an entry fee to compete in the Miss America system?
No, there is not an entry fee to compete in the Miss America system.

Is the Miss America program different than Miss USA?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits founded the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants as product promotion tools. Developed by the Miss America Organization, the Miss America program exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community. Almost all contestants have either received, or are in the process of earning college or postgraduate degrees and utilize Miss America scholarship grants to further their educations. The Miss America Organization is the leading provider of scholarships for young women in the world. Although some young women compete in both Miss America and Miss USA, the two systems are completely separate.

Are scholarships available for those who are not awarded a title?
Yes. There are all types of scholarships available at the local, state and national levels of competition. Even if you do not win a title you are still eligible for scholarship assistance. The Miss America Organization is the leading provider of scholarships for young women in the world. Each year, the organization makes available more than $40 million in cash and tuition scholarship assistance.

Becoming a Contestant Fast Facts:

To compete you 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.

For more information, visit their website.  http://www.missamerica.org