Miss Candidates Scoring TALENT Talent is 35% of the total score. The judges are looking for: overall first impression, interpretive ability, technical skill, stage presence, totality of all elements including costume, music, and choreography, quality of the performance, and entertainment value.
PRIVATE INTERVIEW The interview will be conducted on the day of the pageant. It is 35% of the total score. Your wardrobe selection should be age appropriate and could be pants, skirt or dress. Choose something that you would wear for a job interview. You will be introduced as you enter the room and will speak from a podium. The 9 ½ minute interview will begin immediately. When the time has elapsed you will be offered a chance to clarify anything or make a closing statement of up to 30 seconds. Questions are on general topics, current events, items from your resume, and from your platform essay. This is your opportunity to let the judges get to know you. The judging will emphasize your poise in handling the questions and how well you articulate your beliefs on the issue, not the position you take. The judges are looking for: overall first impression, qualities and attributes of Miss America, positive role model, knowledge and understanding of platform, ability to fulfill job responsibilities, confident and commanding presence, personality, appearance and attractiveness, validated opinions and responses, ability to express feelings and defend beliefs, energy, intelligence, and communication skills (speech, vocabulary, and grammar).
ON-STAGE INTERVIEW This phase of the competition is an extension of the private interview and is worth 15% of the total score. The question is written by the judges after each interview and before the next interview begins. The question will be sealed and asked by a judge during the on-stage portion. The time limit to answer the question is 30 seconds. The judges are evaluating your extemporaneous responses to the onstage question, poise, confidence, and comfort level in speaking before a large audience.
RED CARPET and SOCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT This phase is 20% of the total score. The contestant’s entire look (not the price of her gown) and stage presence is taken into consideration. The candidate will model in her gown and step to the microphone where she will make her statement. This is a very short statement that summarizes the core of the Social Impact, or platform. It can also be described as a verbal tweet, campaign slogan, or a mission statement. The time limit is no longer than 10 seconds. The judges are looking for: overall first impression, sense of confidence, walk, posture, carriage and grace, personality, stage presence, beauty and sense of attractiveness, appropriateness of the evening wear, sense of empowerment, and passion for their platform. In all phases of competition the judges are instructed to evaluate contestants by asking these question: Does this contestant possess the qualities and attributes of Miss America? Can she do the job? Will she be difficult to manage once she has the job? Teen Competition Scoring: TALENT Contestants perform a 90 second routine of their own choosing. Scoring is based on contestant’s skill and personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence and the totality of all elements, including costume, props, voice, use of body and choreography. Talent is worth 35% of their total score. INTERVIEW Each contestant participates in an individual 6-minute press conference-style interview with our panel of judges. There are typically 5 judges on a panel. Contestants are questioned on their background, their educational goals, their opinions on teen issues, and their interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities. Scoring is based on overall communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses the overall qualities and attributes of a Miss SC Teen. Interview is worth 35% of their total score. EVENING WEAR & ON-STAGE QUESTION Each contestant appears on stage in an outfit of her own choosing, representative of what she would wear to a formal, black tie social event. Pantsuits, cocktail dresses and evening gowns are all appropriate for this phase of the competition. Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk and posture, appropriateness of attire and sense of attractiveness. At the completion of their walk, each contestant will be asked one on-stage question. The questions are written by all of the Teen contestants and then randomly selected on-stage. The contestant is judged on how well she answers the impromptu question. Evening Wear and on-Stage Question is worth 20% of their total score. LIFESTYLE & FITNESS IN ACTIVE WEAR Each contestant performs an identical fitness routine on-stage in the fitness outfit of their choice. Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of physical fitness and health, overall physique and proportion, walk, posture and grace, sense of confidence and presence on stage. Active Wear is worth 10% of their total score.