In order to be eligible to participate in the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition or Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Program, you must first win a local competition. Local competitions such as Miss Butler County and Miss Butler’s Teen serve as preliminaries to Miss Pennsylvania.
To become a local (November 2024) or state (June 2024) participant for the Competition Cycle 2026, competing as a State Titleholder at nationals (January 2026), you must meet the criteria shown below:
Meets age criteria as shown below at first day of state competition (June 2025) in which she competes:
*Miss: be at least 18, but no older than 27.
Teen: be at least 14, but no older than 17.
**Pivot Year (no older than 18): Miss America HQ is reinstating the option for 18-year-old contestants to have a ‘pivot’ year to decide whether they would like to compete in the Teen or Miss divisions. Once decided you may not change divisions until the next cycle, however, this mid-cycle reinstatement will allow for contestants that are 18 and currently registered as ‘Miss’ to elect to compete as Teen. This may however effect your eligibility for some some in-kind scholarship opportunities that specify ‘incoming freshman’ should you currently be enrolled in college.
Be a US citizen and work, live, or go to school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (at least 6 months prior to date of first competition, or one semester for full-time students enrolled in an accredited public, private or home schooling program.
Be a female, single (unmarried) and without legal dependents.
Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements.
Be able to meet the time commitment and job responsibilities.
Meets character criteria as set forth by the Miss America Organization.
