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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 a Titleholder?
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, scroll down to the competition section.
what is judged?
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.
Am I eligible?
Club America ($49 annual membership)
Raise $30 for the American Heart Association for your local and $300 for State
Entry fee: ranges from $0-$500, depending on what kind of local competition you compete in.
Other costs like transportation, hotels, wardrobe, etc vary, but you can also get this sponsored! Download our one-pager about costs and expectations for a more detailed outline.
What does it cost?
Contestants must attend Workshop and State Week, in person.
Workshop: March 7-8, 2026 in Suffern NY
State Week: June 23-27, 2026 in Suffern NY
If you have a known conflict, please reach out to us at compete@miss-newyork.org to discuss options.
TIME COMMITMENTS?
Start by deciding if you want to compete in a local competition or if you would like apply for an open title. Scroll down to learn more about the different ways to get to the State Competition.
No matter how you get to state, you will need to join Club America, Miss America’s Membership Platform. Use the link below to register, and choose either the local you will compete in, or the at-large option if you are going to apply for an open title. Once you have signed up, Miss America will send you an email with steps to fill out your contract and set up your spotfund profile.
Next, either reach out to the director of the local competition you signed up for, or use our form to register for an open title.
how do i compete?
THE COMPETITION
The Miss and Teen Competitions are exactly the same, unless noted otherwise. These are the same phase judged at the State and National level, though the portion of the score and requirements may change from year to year. These phases to not apply to open titles.
Miss New york & Miss new york’s teen 2026 competitions
Private Interview | 30%
The 2026 competitions are scheduled for June 25-27 at the Cultural Arts Theater at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY. This is the preliminary competition schedule, subject to change:
June 25, 2026 | Miss New York Preliminary Night 1
June 26, 2026 | Miss New York Preliminary Night 2
June 27, 2026 | Miss New York’s Teen Preliminary Competition & Combined Final Competition.
We are aware than many graduating seniors have Regents Exams and/or graduation ceremonies during the week leading up to the State Competition. Your education is a priority and your exam schedules will be accommodated. Please feel free to reach out to our teen director, Bailey@miss-newyork.org, if you have questions or concerns!
on-Stage Interview | 10%
This is a single question asked to each delegate pertaining to the Community Service Initiative. It is an opportunity to underscore the importance of, and passion for, their chosen service platform.
What is judged:
Commitment to the ‘Service’ point of the crown
Unique perspective on community service and it’s local impact
Desire to create interest in your Community Service Initiative
Intelligence, personality, charisma, and aptitude for the titleholder’s opportunity
Sense of composure in presenting ideas on stage
Interactivity with the panelists and the audience
Health & Fitness | 20%
Delegates showcase their commitment to health and fitness initiatives. A delegate’s discipline and commitment to being physically healthy is a key to success in all areas of life. The routines are of equal length and choreographed to highlight personal fitness.
What is judged:
Comfort and confidence level on stage
Overall impression of health and fitness commitment
Spontaneity and flow of presentation
Preparedness to serve as a health and fitness ambassador
Talent Presentation | 20%
Delegates’ presentations may include singing, dancing, baton twirling, acting, instrumental performance and more. Additionally, delegates who may not have a traditional stage talent are encouraged to present a “HERstory” piece—a personal story which can move, inspire, or entertain.
What is judged:
Performance or storytelling skills
Ability to capture the attention of an audience while performing on stage
Interpretive ability and entertainment value
Stage presence, on-stage personality and personal connection to her story
Evening Wear | 20%
Delegates begin with a 30 second opening statement, introducing their Community Service Initiative to the judges. This is followed by a nine minute Q&A and an optional 30 second closing statement. The discussion with the judges ranges in topic from the Community Service Initiative, to education goals, to current events.
What is judged:
Ability to fulfill the qualifications, responsibilities, duties, and term of the titleholder
Commitment to her Community Service Initiative
Ability to express beliefs in an authentic and relatable manner
Sense of accomplishments and goals
Spontaneity, intelligence, sense of humor, charm and charisma
Authenticity and ability to answer questions in a conversational and unrehearsed manner
Ability to serve as a representative of her generation
This is an opportunity for the delegate to showcase the sense of style they would bring to the role while attending galas, fundraisers, award shows, and other formal events. Scoring is not based on the actual or perceived cost of the delegates’ wardrobe.
What is judged:
Ability to capture attention on stage
Comfort, confidence, and composure
Interactivity with the panelists and the audience
local competition
or open title?
There are two ways to compete on the Miss New York and Miss New York’s Teen stage. You can sign up for, compete in, and win a local competition, or you can apply for an open title. Local competitions come with a board of directors and financial support from their team, in addition to scholarships awarded during the local competition. Open titleholders prepare and pay their own way to State, but may be more flexible for someone with a busy schedule, or someone who does not live near a local competition.
The number of official local programs changes each year. These competition are held between September 1st and January 31st and are closed to contestants from specific regions in the State. Keep watch here and on our social media pages for local competition announcements.
The winners of a local competition will receive an official Miss America local sash and crown, often receive coverage for room fees at State, and scholarship awards. You have a board of directors who helps prepare you for the state competition and connects you to your community. Each local competition determines its own entry fee and regional boundary.
2026 Local Competitions
Step 1: Contact the local you wish to compete in and make sure they are accepting contestants. Let them know you want to compete, and complete any of the local-specific paperwork.
Step 2: Sign up for Club America using the link below. Select the local you wish to compete in when you register.
Step 3: Fill out the contract, which will be sent to you from Miss America
Step 4: Use the instructions and the link provided by Miss America to set up your spotfund fundraising profile. You will need to raise $30 for every local competition you compete in each calendar year.
COMPETE
Miss Finger Lakes
2025/26 Competition
Date January 10, 2026
Venue:
Homer Center for the Arts
Entry Fee: $150
Miss Titles
Finger Lakes | Upstate New York
All counties in NY state EXCEPT Bronx County, Kings County, Nassau County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County, & Suffolk County
Teen Titles
Finger Lakes | Upstate New York
All counties in NY state EXCEPT Bronx County, Kings County, Nassau County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County, & Suffolk County
Leadership
Director – Nina Zesky
Panelist Chair – Nancy Cane
Contact
@missfluny
@missflunyorg
Miss Manhattan
2025/26 Competition
September 20, 2025
Venue: Marjorie S Deane
Little Theater
Entry Fee: $250
Miss Titles
Manhattan | Empire | Liberty
Bronx County, Kings County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County
Teen Titles
No Teen Titles available
Leadership
Executive Director – Iohan Carasco
Panelist Chair – Delesia Watson
Vice President – Ariyanna Norman
Director of Entertainment – Tylesha Perkins
Marketing – Alayna Carter
Contact
edmissmanhattan@gmail.com
@MissManhattanNY
@MissManhattanOrg
Miss Staten Island
2025/26 Competition
November 16, 2025
Venue:
Port Richmond High School
Entry Fee: $125
Miss Titles
Staten Island | Richmond County
Richmond County
Teen Titles
Staten Island | Richmond County
Richmond County
Leadership
Directors – Carmine & Felicia DeBetta
Panelist Chair – Shreya Jain
Social Media Coordinator – Ashley Davis
Contestant Coordinator – Dawn Macchia
Contact
cdebett@aol.com
@MissStatenIslandMissRichmondCountyOrg
@MissSIRC_MAO
Open titles for Miss New York and Miss New York’s Teen are awarded through an all-digital application, which includes an evaluation of your resume, social impact essay, and a video of your talent, as well as a virtual interview (Zoom or Google Meet). Applications open on September 1st each year and close three days before the last interview date. There are a few steps, and we hold interviews on a rolling basis.
Open Titleholders have the option to request a mentor. These mentors are familiar with the Miss America and Miss New York system, but they are not coaches. You do not have to pay a mentor, but you need to respect the time they are dedicating to helping you. If one is available in your area we will put you in contact with them.
Open Titleholders are responsible for their own preparation, wardrobe, hotel, and transportation costs for workshop (March 7-8, 2026) and State Week (June 23-27, 2026), both with mandatory in-person attendance.
Open Titles
Step 1: Review the time and financial expectations in our 2026 One-Pager.
Step 2: Fill out the application. Make sure you select the desired interview date from the 2025/2026 cycle and let us know in the application if there are any special circumstance you need considered.
October 25, 2025
November 29, 2025
December 20, 2025
January 31, 2026
February 28, 2026
Step 3: Sign up for Club America using the link below. Select the ‘at large’ competition when you register. Do not do this if you already competed and registered this season.
Step 4: Fill out the contract, which will be sent to you from Miss America.
Step 5: Use the instructions and the link provided by Miss America to set up your spotfund fundraising profile. You will need to raise $30, even if you already competed in a local this year.
Step 6: Download the paperwork instructions below, and film your talent performance. Send the following items to compete@miss-newyork.org no less than 3 days before your interview.
Your contestant fact sheet and essay (PDFs)
Your talent video (Videos must be no longer than 100 seconds. The talent itself may be no longer than 90 seconds.)
A color headshot