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What is a Titleholder?
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 have multiple opportunities to earn scholarships, develop public speaking skills, engage in community activism, and network with professionals from around the state and the nation.
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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 female, non-parent, un-married
Be a US Citizen
Fit into an age division
Miss: no younger than 18 as of September 1, 2027, no older than 28 as of September 30, 2027.
Teen: no younger than 14 as of September 1, 2027, no older than 18 as of September 30, 2027.
Be Resident of NY State using ONE of the following:
Bona Fide Resident for 120 days preceding the competition
Employed full time for 120 days preceding the competition
Enrolled full time, in-person, by the first day of competition
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Club America ($49 annual membership)
Raise $30 for the American Heart Association for each local and $300 before 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 the Welcome Packet for a more in-depth breakdown.
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Contestants must attend our Webinar, Workshop and State Week
Webinar: February 2027, online
Workshop: April 2027 in Hudson Valley NY
State Week: June or July 2027 in our host city, TBD!
how do i compete?
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 sign up for Club America, start a spotfund profile, and a few other things. Download the Welcome Packet for the full instructions on signing up, and welcome to the family!
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 2027 competitions
The 2027 competitions are planned for late June - Early July 2027. The location and exact date will be announced once we have a host city! This is how our competitions are typically scheduled:
Thursday | Miss New York Preliminary Night 1
Friday | Miss New York Preliminary Night 2
Saturday | Miss New York’s Teen Preliminary Competition & Combined Final Competition.
Conflicts with Regents Exams and/or graduation ceremonies during the week leading up to the State Competition will be accommodated. Please feel free to reach out to our teen director, Bailey@missnewyork.org, if you have questions or concerns!
Private Interview | 30%
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
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%
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
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.
local competition
or open title?
2027 Competitions
The number of official local programs changes each year. These competition are held between September 1st and February 28th 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.
COMPETE
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: Use the instructions in the Welcome Packet to register as a contestant, download paperwork instructions, and start your fundraising!
Miss Finger Lakes
2026/27 Competition
Date TBA
Venue: TBA
Entry Fee: TBA
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
Contact
@missfluny
@missflunyorg
Miss Manhattan
2026/27 Competition
September 26, 2026
Venue: TBA
Entry Fee: $250
Miss Titles
Manhattan | Empire | Liberty
Bronx County, Kings County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County
Teen Titles
Manhattan
Bronx County, Kings County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County
Leadership
Director – Iohan Carasco
Contact
edmissmanhattan@gmail.com
@MissManhattanNY
@MissManhattanOrg
Miss Staten Island
2026/27 Competition
Date TBA
Venue: TBA
Entry Fee: TBA
Miss Titles
Staten Island | Richmond County
Richmond County
Teen Titles
Staten Island | Richmond County
Richmond County
Leadership
Directors – Carmine & Felicia DeBetta
Contact
cdebett@aol.com
@MissStatenIslandMissRichmondCountyOrg
@MissSIRC_MAO
Open Titles
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 October 1st and close three days before the last webinar date. There are a few steps, and we hold webinars 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 (April 2027 - 2 days) and State Week (June/July 2027 - 5 days), both with mandatory in-person attendance.
Download the Welcome Packet for all the details time and financial expectations.
Step 1: Review the time and financial expectations in our 2027 Welcome Packet
Step 2: Follow the registration instructions on page 7 of the Welcome Packet to register with Club America, start your Spotfund Profile, and sign your Delegate Agreement. Choose “At Large” at step 5 (Register for a Competition)
Step 3: Fill out the open title application and select your desired webinar date from the 2026/2027 cycle. If your application is approved, you will be sent an invite link for the webinar. Let us know in the application if there are any special circumstance you need considered.
November 7, 2026
December 5, 2026
January 2, 2027
February 6, 2027
March 6, 2027
Step 4: Use the paperwork instructions on page 8 of the Welcome Packet to write your judges paperwork and film your videos. Send these items to compete@missnewyork.org no less than 3 days before the webinar date you chose.