The Miss America Organization Increases Candidate Age Eligibility

Miss America competition maximum age for candidates increases to twenty-six (26) years old from twenty-five (25) by December 31st in the state competition year.

• Must be at least nineteen (19) years of age on December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes.
• Must not be older than twenty-six (26) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes

  For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn twenty-seven (27) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State Competition. (Calendar Year defined as January 1st through December 31st).

  For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot be eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition. If the candidate is eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition, then she must compete in the MAOTeen program, unless she meets the Grandfather Clause below.

  Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Agreements ONLY: Since age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) are eligible to compete in the Miss program, as long as the candidate is also a high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022

  Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect for the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Candidates

MAOTeen competition maximum age for candidates increases to eighteen (18) years by December 31st from seventeen (17) years old by July 31st.

• Must be at least thirteen (13) years on the first day of the State Competition in which she compete
• Must be no older than eighteen (18) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she could compete

For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn nineteen (19) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State MAOTeen Competition (January 1st through December 31st). 

Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Candidate Agreement ONLY:

Since the age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are: 1) eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) may choose to compete in either the MAOTeen or Miss programs, as long as candidate is also a 2) high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022.  Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect in the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Exception: Since Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Utah did not hold competitions in 2021, if the Candidate exceeds the 17-year-old age eligibility in 2022, she is hereby “grandfathered” to continue competing in only these state’s MAOTeen  Competitions as well as the 2022 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition as long as the Candidate is not 19 years old on December 31^st, 2022.

Please note, this change is effective for all candidates who will compete in 2022 State Competitions, which includes all Local and State Competitions. If you have any questions, please contact your state Executive Director.

The Miss America Organization is thrilled that this change further strengthens the commitment to empower young women by providing scholarships and continuing our mission of preparing great women for the world, and preparing the world for great women.