The contestant must be a Citizen of the United States of America.
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.
Contestant Must Also Meet One of the Following:
Geographic Eligibility (Residency): The contestant must be a legal resident of that State by the first at least one hundred and twenty days (120) prior to competing in the Competition.
Geographic Eligibility (Employment): The contestant must be a full-time employee (full-time defined as an average of no less than 40 hours per week for a single employer) working in the State or geographic area of the Local Competition for a minimum of one hundred and twenty days (120) immediately preceding the Local Competition.
Geograpgic Eligibility (Education Status): The contestant must be enrolled as a full-time student (full-time student status as determined by the school) at an accredited college or university located within the State by the first day of the Local Competition.
For more information, please review Sections 2 and 3 of the Miss America contract.