THE COMPETITION SEASON

This information is for ALL Miss Ohio Local Competitions for the 2025-2026 Season, also known as the Miss America 2027 Competition Cycle.

Miss Ohio Locals start July 2025 and end March 7, 2026. These locals will lead to the Miss Ohio 2026 State Competition in June 2026, which will then lead to the Miss America 2027 National Competition in September 2026.

While the competition process remains the same as last season, the registration and information submission process has changed.

 

AGE ELIGIBILITY 

The Miss America Organization has recently changed the AGE Eligibility for this season as follows.

MISS CONTESTANTS - 18-28
Must be NO OLDER than 28 on September 30, 2026, and no younger than 18 on Sept 1, 2026.

TEEN CONTESTANTS 14-18
Must be no YOUNGER than 14 by September 1 and no older than 18 on Sept 30, 2026.

Therefore...

If you were born on/between October 1, 1997, and September 1, 2007, you will compete as a MISS Contestant.  

If you were born on/between October 1, 2008, and September 1, 2012, you will compete as a TEEN Contestant.

If you were born on/between September 2, 2007, and September 30, 2008, you may CHOOSE to compete as either a MISS or TEEN during the season.  We HIGHLY recommend you choose to compete as a TEEN contestant.  Once chosen, you may NOT switch during the Season.

If you were born after September 1, 2012, you will be eligible to start competing in July 2026.

CITIZENSHIP ELIGIBILITY

You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible. 

GEOGRAPHICAL ELIGIBILITY

For MISS Contestants, YOU must meet one of the following...

• Lived in the state of Ohio for the past 120 days.
• Be a full-time student attending (in person) college or a university in Ohio.
• Been employed full-time (40 hours a week) here in Ohio for the past 120 days.

For TEEN Contestants, your PARENT must meet one of the following...

• Lived in the state of Ohio for the past 120 days.
• Be employed full-time (40 hours a week) here in Ohio for the past 120 days.

NOT HOLD ANOTHER TITLE

To enter a Miss America/Miss Ohio LOCAL Competition, you may NOT be a current titleholder of another pageant system.   

However, if you are a Fair or Festival holder, it may be possible for you to particiate as a direct entry contestant to the state competition in June, with the approval of Fair or Festival Board.  For more information, please email ContestantHelp@missohio.org 

 

 

PHASES OF COMPETITION

All MISS and TEEN Contestants will compete in the following FIVE phases of competition.

• Private Interview
• On-Stage Conversation
• Health & Fitness
• Talent/HERStory
• Evening Gown

PRIVATE INTERVIEW

The Private Interview with 5-7 judges will last TEN(10) minutes.  You will be required to submit a one-page fact sheet, a one-page Community Service Initiative Statement, and a Headshot photo.  The specific details, samples, and templates will be provided.

ON-STAGE CONVERSATION

Each contestant will be asked one question about their Community Service Initiative and will have 30 seconds to answer.

HEALTH & FITNESS

The Miss America Organization has partnered with the American Heart Association and Rebel Athletic for the Health & Fitness Phase of Competition.

ALL Contestants are required to wear an approved outfit from the Rebel Athletic Miss America Collection for the Health & Fitness competition. A variety of outfit combinations are available, starting at $80 for the set.

Contestants will move to a pre-blocked pattern for 20 to 30 seconds. 

TALENT / HERSTORY

Contestants will need to perform a Talent or HerStory presentation live on stage for up to 90 seconds.  Talent choices must be on the Miss America-approved talent list.

EVENING GOWN

The evening gown is the contestant's choice.  Everyone will walk a pre-blocked pattern for 30-45 seconds.

COMPETITION RULES AND EVALUATION PROCESS

Click the link below to download the Competition Rules and Evaluation Process details. The document outlines the process and specific requirements for each phase of competition, as well as what the judges are looking for.

DOWNLOAD - Full Competition Rules and Evaluation Process

 

MISS AMERICA REQUIREMENTS

The Miss America Organization requires all contestants to complete the following steps.

STEP 1 - REGISTER FOR THE SEASON

Each contestant must register with the Miss America Organization before competing in their first local competition for the 2025-2026 season.  There is a once-per-season fee of $49.99. 

After you FULLY understand the competition process and requirements, use the following link to complete the once-per-season registration process. 

MISS AMERICA REGISTRATION

STEP 2 - DELEGATE AGREEMENT

Once you register, you will need to complete and electronically sign the online Delegate Agreement.  

For contestants under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be required to complete and sign the online contract.

As part of the contract, you will need to provide proof of age, citizenship, and geographical eligibility by either residing in, attending school (college/university, not high school), or working full-time in Ohio.

A copy of the completed Delegate Agreement will be emailed to you. Save this email, because you will need to submit the completed Agreement to the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program.  

If you don't receive an email with the link to complete the Delegate Agreement, use the appropriate link below to complete the Delegate Agreement.

MISS AGREEMENT - Miss Contestants at least 18 years of age as of today

TEEN AGREEMENT - Teen Contestants at least 18 years of age as of today

TEEN AGREEMENT - Teen Contestants under 18 years of age as of today
Must be completed by a parent!

STEP 3 - REGISTER FOR A LOCAL COMPETITION

You will receive an email with a link to "Join a Local Competition".   Once you have decided which local to enter, you will need to use the link to register for the specific Local Competition.  You may also use the link below.

MISS AMERICA - OHIO LOCAL REGISTRATION

 

STEP 4 - GO RED FOR WOMEN INITIATIVE

The Miss America Organization and the American Heart Association have partnered to raise awareness and funds for Women’s Health and Scholarships.  Each contestant is required to raise $30 through online donations for each local competition entered.

Once you complete the Delegate Agreement, you will receive an email with instructions to create a SpotFund Campaign. WAIT until you register for a Local Competition before creating the SpotFund Campaign.

This email contains a unique link specifically for you, so DO NOT delete the email!  You will need the link to create SpotFund Campaigns.

All funds raised for the American Heart Association must be raised through the specific Spotfund fundraising process.  Any funds raised outside the specific Spofund campaign will not count toward the $30 per Local requirement. 

Also, you will need to create a separate campaign for each local you enter.  

Save the link for future use.

 

 

REGISTERING TO COMPETE IN OHIO

Once you have completed the Miss America Requirements, you will need to complete the following one-time steps to be eligible to compete in your first Local Competition this season. 

SCHOLARSHIP RULES & REGULATIONS

Local programs will award scholarships to the new MISS and TEEN Titleholders.  In many cases, the local may also award scholarships for runner-up positions, phase-of-competition scholarships, etc. 

Contestants are required to complete and electronically sign the online Scholarship Rules and Regulations document.  You only need to submit the signed Scholarship Rules and Regulations once, and it will apply to all local scholarships awarded during the 2025-2026 Local Season.

If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will be required to sign on your behalf.

MANDATORY DATES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Local Titleholders will advance to the Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio's Teen State Competition in June 2026.  Contestants are required to acknowledge the Mandatory Dates and Events that will require their attendance should they become Local Titleholders to participate in the State Competition.

NO-SHOW RULES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Contestants who register and submit paperwork for Local Competitions but fail to show up twice will be prohibited from competing for one year.  Exceptions will be for unforeseen circumstances on a case-by-case basis. 

MISS OHIO REGISTRATION FORM

AFTER you have registered with the Miss America (registration link above) AND completed the Delegate Agreement, you may proceed to complete the one-time Miss Ohio Local Competition requirements using the link below.

MISS OHIO ONCE-PER-SEASON REGISTRATION

 

 

LOCAL COMPETITIONS 2025-2026

The following is a list of the Local Competitions, including their scheduled dates, the Titles planned to be awarded, and the city where each competition takes place. 

Almost all the locals will accept contestants from All of Ohio.

DATE		COMPETITION/TITLES		LOCATION		CONTESTANTS ACCEPTED FROM
JULY 20th		MISS LAKE FESTIVAL MISS LAKE FESTIVAL'S TEEN		Celina		Mercer County & Surrounding Area
SEPTEMBER 20th		MISS CLAYLAND		Urichsville		All of Ohio
OCTOBER 4th		MISS NORTH COAST MISS NORTH COAST'S TEEN		Brunswick		All of Ohio
OCTOBER 25th		MISS NORTHERN OHIO MISS NORTHERN OHIO'S TEEN MISS LAKE ERIE MISS LAKE ERIE'S TEEN MISS COLUMBIA HOMECOMING		Columbia Station		All of Ohio
NOVEMBER 1st		MISS MAPLE CITY MISS MAPLE CITY'S TEEN		Norwalk		All of Ohio
JANUARY - TBD		MISS SHAWNEE MISS SHAWNEE'S TEEN MISS PORTSMOUTH MISS PORTSMOUTH'S TEEN		Portsmouth		All of Ohio
FEBRUARY 7th		MISS GREATER COLUMBUS MISS GREATER COLUMBUS' TEEN MISS CENTRAL OHIO MISS CENTRAL OHIO'S TEEN		Columbus		All of Ohio
FEBRUARY - TBD		MISS CHILLICOTHE MISS CHILLICOTHE'S TEEN MISS SOUTH CENTRAL MISS SOUTH CENTRAL'S TEEN		Chillicothe		All of Ohio
FEBRUARY 28th		MISS GREATER CLEVELAND MISS GREATER CLEVELAND'S TEEN MISS SPIRIT OF OHIO MISS SPIRIT OF OHIO'S TEEN		Sandusky		All of Ohio
MARCH 7th		MISS OXFORD MISS OXFORD'S TEEN		Oxford		All of Ohio

For more information on each local, please visit the Miss Ohio website

MISS OHIO WEBSITE LIST OF LOCALS  

 

READY TO ENTER A LOCAL COMPETITION

After you have completed the Miss America requirements and the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program's once-per-season requirements, you will be notified that you are eligible to compete in OHIO!

You may then proceed to choose the local you wish to enter and complete the online Entry Form. 

LOCAL CONTESTANT ENTRY FORM