Pageant FAQs

The Mississippi and Louisiana ELEMENTARY, Jr. High School, High School, and Collegiate America Pageants are state preliminary pageants that go on to compete nationally for the titles of Miss Elementary America, Miss Jr. High School America, Miss High School America, and Miss Collegiate America. The purpose of the national competition exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women. It is their goal to provide outstanding elementary, junior high school, high school, and collegiate girls the opportunity to compete in a pageant system that has the highest of moral values.

1) How are the divisions determined? 

• For the older girls there are three divisions for the both the Mississippi and Louisiana state pageants. Your grade level determines the division in which you compete, not your age.

2) What is the breakdown for the divisions (as of Fall 2025)?

• The Miss Mississippi Jr. High School America or the Miss Louisiana Jr. High School America division is for girls in the 6th grade to 8th grade.
• The Miss Mississippi High School America or the Miss Louisiana High School America division is for girls in the 9th grade to 11th grade.
• The Miss Mississippi Collegiate America or the Miss Louisiana Collegiate America division is for student in the 12th grade or enrolled at a college,university, graduate school, tech/trade school, or beauty college in Louisiana or Mississippi, respectfully. This can be both in person or online. The Collegiate contestants must be no older than 27 as of June 1, 2026.

3) I am entering the 12th grade, why do I have to compete in the collegiate division? 

• The National Pageant date and year of reign determines the divisions. The National Pageant will be held in June of 2026. If the Mississippi or Louisiana Collegiate titleholder wins the national title, they would reign during their freshman year of college. So yes, the majority of your reign as the Mississippi or Louisiana titleholder would be during your senior year. The judges will understand this. Please contact the state office if you still have further questions as to how the age division you are to compete in is determined.

4) If I attend school outside of Louisiana, but live in Louisiana when not attending school, can I still compete? What if I don't live in Louisiana, but attend online school in Louisiana?

• Yes and yes... You can compete in Louisiana Collegiate America if you live in Louisiana while attending school or during school breaks, or if are attending college in Louisiana in person or online.

If I attend school outside of Mississippi, but live in Mississippi when not attending school, can I still compete? What if I don't live in Mississippi, but attend online school in Mississippi?

• Yes and yes... You can compete in Mississippi Collegiate America if you live in Mississippi while attending school or during school breaks, or if are attending college in Mississippi in person or online.

5) When is the State Pageant held? 

• The Mississippi and Louisiana state pageant will be held October 17-19, 2025

6) Where is the pageant held? 

• The Saenger Theater in Hattiesburg, MS..

7) Is there a host hotel? 

• Yes!  Info coming very soon!

​8) Is there a group rate for the hotel?

• Yes!  Info coming very soon!

9) Will I be rooming with my family during pageant weekend? 

• Yes, you are responsible for your own lodging and transportation.

10) Do I have to stay at a hotel if I live nearby? 

• No, however, many of the pageant events will begin early and run late. Attending all pageant weekend events is mandatory and punctuality is highly important. If you are driving each day to the hotel, we expect you to be on time.

11) What are the phases of competition? 

• You will compete in interview, fashion runway, and evening gown.

12) What is the score breakdown? 

• Interview and Evening Gown are worth 40% of your score, Fashion Runway is worth 20%.

13) How is the order of the contestants determined? 

• Our contestants will be in alphabetical order based on the local title they have selected.

14) During interview do the contestants stand or sit? 

• Stand, in a panel style interview with all the judges.

15) How long is interview? 

• 2 minutes for PreK - 1st grade
• 3 minutes for 2nd grade - 5th grade
• 5 minutes + an optional 30 second closer for Junior High, High School, and Collegiate

16) Will there be any political or controversial questions? 

• No, not unless it is brought up by the contestant.

17) What do I wear for interview? 

• Elementary contestants will wear a tshirt provided by us, red shorts, and white socks tennis shoes. Matching hair bows are allowed.
• Jr. High, High Schoo, and Collegiate contestants will wear an interview dress/sundress/jumpsuit. Outfits should be professional, but can also be fun and show your personality!

18) Are fashion forward shoes okay in interview or should we only wear nude/tan color shoes? 

• Either is fine for interview.

19) Are there examples of what to wear? 

• Yes. Please message us for examples.

20) Is there an onstage question or onstage interview portion?  

• For elementary, no.
• For Junior High, High School, and Collegiate finalists, yes.

21) What do I wear for Fashion Runway? 

• Fashion Runway is a high fashion outfit of choice: Pantsuit, Sundress, High Fashion off the rack, High-Low, or Cocktail. No floor-length gowns. Contact us for more examples.

22) Can my fashion outfit be a 2 piece? 

• Yes, but it must be age appropriate.

23) Is there anything I cannot wear? 

• No props, No hats/hairpieces, No denim, no flip-flops. This is an outfit that shows your personal style.

24) Do I need a routine? 

• No full routines. You will be given the competition pattern prior to pageant weekend.

25) Are there any examples of outfits worn? 

• Yes, please message us for examples. You may also look at the national fun fashion outfits for more elaborate choices, but they are not necessary to win.

26) What do I wear for Evening Gown? 

• Evening gown is your moment to feel like a queen! Evening gowns need to be prom or pageant style dresses and age appropriate. The gown must touch the floor in front and in back.

27) Are Jr. High contestants required to wear a ballgown? 

• YES. Must flare from waist. This is what is required at Nationals. Dress DOES NOT have to have straps; can be a 2-piece ball gown.

28) Can my dress have a slit in it? 

• Jr. High - No
• High School - to the knee
• Collegiate - Yes

29) Can my evening gown be a 2 piece? 

• Yes, for all age division. The national pageant agreed to let the Jr. High division wear 2-piece gowns as long as they remain ball gowns (start to flare from waist).

30) Are there any colors or styles we have to wear? 

• Styles and colors should fit the girl and her coloring. No specific color or style is required. Many dresses can be interchangeable between the High School and Collegiate divisions. However, keep in mind that High school students need to be “age appropriate” (e.g., no low backs, high slits, or large cutouts, depending on category).

31) Do we have to spend thousands of dollars on your dress to win? 

• NO! Many contestants even borrow dresses from other pageant girls, wear their prom dress, or buy dresses from resale groups!

32) Do you have any examples of evening gowns? 

• Yes, contact us for examples.

33) Are rehearsals mandatory? 

• Yes. Unless previously approved by the director, all rehearsals are mandatory to ensure each contestant knows what to expect on pageant day.

34) Are rehearsals open to family and friends? 

• No, only approved staff are allowed in rehearsals.

35) What is the attire for rehearsal? 

• Rehearsal clothes should be cute and casual. Photos will be taken throughout rehearsals. List of what to wear will be posted in the contestant Facebook group closer to the pageant weekend.

36) Can I wear my hair in rollers/pin curls the day of the pageant, during rehearsal? 

• Yes, there will be time to prepare for the pageant throughout rehearsal and prior to the show, but it may be easier to already come with your hair curled/pinned up.

37) Can we have our cell phones at rehearsal? 

• Yes. However, they are only to be used at designated times. This is your weekend to meet new girls, have fun, and prepare for the pageant. Phone use during rehearsal time is disrespectful to the staff working with you.

38) Can we take pictures during rehearsal and backstage at the pageant? 

• We encourage you to document your weekend and to post to your social media sites at designated times. No photos are to be taken inside the dressing rooms, as we want to keep the privacy of all the girls who may be changing.

39) Will we have chaperones? 

• There will be multiple staff members chaperoning the contestants during the weekend. Contestants must let staff know where they are going and communicate with respect.

40) Can Jr. High Contestants wear makeup? 

• Yes. Please make sure makeup is age appropriate.  

41) Will there be makeup and hair artist at the pageant? 

• You may use the hair and makeup artists on the vendor list we will provide, use your own, or get yourself ready. These artists will be available to hire and listed on our Facebook contestant group page. 

42) Do we have to hire a makeup artist? 

• No, you do not need to hire a makeup artist. Many contestants and/or their parents are great at doing their own makeup.

43) Will there be time to get ready between rehearsal and the pageant? 

• Yes. Contestants will be given time to get ready.

44) Will there be any extra events during pageant weekend? 

• Yes. We want the girls to bond and have a great pageant experience. We will be hosting a welcome party on Friday night.  

​45) Will food be provided? 

• Contestants will be released for meals on their own or with family. No meals will be provided by the pageant.

46) What are we wearing for opening number? 

• Each contestant will be asked to wear a cocktail dress or jumpsuit.  Elementary contestants will need a light pink cocktail or jumpsuit for opening number. Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate contestants will need a hot pink cocktail or jumpsuit for the opening number. Please be age appropriate in your selections and know that you will be doing movements in them on stage.

47) Do we have to be dancers to grasp the opening number? 

• No. The opening number will be mainly walking patterns, some basic movements, and introductions. No dance experience is necessary. This portion is not judged.

48) Will we know the walking patterns prior to pageant weekend? 

• Yes. A video and/or diagrams will be sent out at least one month prior to the pageant.

49) Will there be top finalists? 

• A top finalist number will be determined based on the number of contestants in each category.

50) How many runner-ups will be awarded? 

• Number is dependent on the number of contestants. It will range from 0-4.

51) Will tickets be available to purchase at the venue? 

• Yes! They will also be available for presale in the weeks leading up to the pageant!

52) Can parents and family take pictures in the audience, during the pageant? 

• We ask, as a courtesy, that no photography be taken during the pageant. We have professional photographers that will be capturing the show, and all the events, for purchase at a very reasonable rate.

53) How do I order photos? 

• Photo packages will include registration, interview, rehearsal, party, and show pictures. GREAT DEAL!! Order form is included in the contestant packet or will be available pageant weekend.

54) Can my supporters bring signs to support me? 

• Yes! They may have signs, but we ask that they are courteous to those around them. Everyone wants to see the show! They may be asked to lower them if disturbing the audience or photographer/videographer view. NO noisemakers of any kind are allowed!

55) Can my supporters wear buttons to support me? 

• Yes! Buttons are allowed! We recommend contacting @msbuttonco on Instagram to purchase contestant buttons!

55) Will a chaperone/helper be allowed backstage during the pageant? 

• For elementary contestants, one female family member/chaperone will be allowed to come back stage at two designated times (after opening number and after fun fashion) to help their contestant change outfits. Once the contestant is changed, they must head back out to the audience.
• For Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate contestants, no. We are giving them an opportunity to watch the show! We will have numerous staff members on hand to assist with the contestants needs backstage. One female family member/chaperone is allowed to assist with gathering your items, after the pageant is completed. All contestants are required to stay backstage until the end of the pageant.

56) Can I just leave after the pageant? 

• Queen, court, and all award winners will need to stay to take photos onstage. All other contestants are welcome to gather their items to leave the theater. A parent or guardian MUST check out all minors with designated staff member.

57) Will I get my scores after the pageant? 

• Yes. We will be glad to give you the feedback of the judges. We will be emailing you your scores and comments.