The Miss California's Outstanding Teen Competition is held in conjunction with the Miss California Competition, and is the state final for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Competition held in Orlando, Florida.  he first competition was held in 1999. Contestants may compete as at-large contestants, not sponsored by a local pageant, or may be the winner of a local competition. Every local competition has specific geographic eligibility requirements, based on where you live or attend school. However, all of them share the same general eligibility requirements:

• Resident of California for the last six months

• Must be 13 by first competition - local (state for at-large contestants)

• No older than 17 by August 30th

• U.S. Citizen

To find out which local competition(s) you may be eligible for, check our local pageant information page. We accept at-large contestants not sponsored by a local program, as well as winners of local competitions. The entry fee is $400 for local winners and $500 for at-large contestants. In many cases, local pageant committees will assist with payment of the state pageant entry fee. Check with local directors for local competition entry fees.

Academic scholarships are awarded.

At-Large Contestants

You don't have to win a local pageant to compete in the state pageant in June. You can enter as an At-Large Contestant. That just means that you aren't sponsored by a particular local pageant committee. But you compete right along with the local titleholders at the state competition. If you competed in a local pageant, but didn't win, you can still enter the state competition as an At-Large Contestant. And if you haven't entered any local competition, or if there isn't one near you, you can enter as an At-Large Contestant. At-large contestants must turn in Form 101-T and the $500 entry fee by March 31st. For information on competing as an At-Large Contestant, email Mary McCaman, Teen pageant director by clicking here.

Areas of Competition
Contestants in the California's Outstanding Teenager Competition are evaluated in six areas:

Private Interview (30% of total score)

At the local level, each contestant participates in an individual 6-minute interview, which includes a 30-second opening.  Interviews are 8 minutes at the state competition and 10 minutes at the national competition; both include 30-second openings and 30-second closings. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel, and the interview is press-style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, their educational and career goals, 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.  Community Service (platform) is required. 

Academic Achievement (5% of total score)

Academic Judges will review each contestant's resume and official transcripts. Scoring will be based on the following questions….

1. Has this student maintained at least a “B” average during the past academic year?
2. Would her academic achievements place her in the top 10% of your (the judges’) institution?
3. Is she taking Advanced, AP, or IB courses?
4. Does she hold leadership positions in her school and extracurricular activities?
5. Based on the information before you, do you believe this student would meet the description of an “outstanding student”?

On-Stage Question (5% of total score)

Questions will be of a general nature and will be neither platform-related nor something taken directly from the private interview.  The objective is to evaluate the contestant's ability to think on her feet and answer a question of general interest to people her age, including, but not limited to, local, state, and national current events.

Scoring is based on overall first impression and extemporaneous response to an on-stage question, contestant's ability to answer the question in the context in which it was asked, contestant's ability to handle the pressure of speaking on stage in front of an audience, and if young people see her as a role model who is reflective of today's generation.

Lifestyle and Fitness (10% of total score)

Each contestant briefly appears on-stage (up to 30 seconds) modeling sportswear of her choosing that represents something she does to stay fit. The Executive Director of the competition must approve workout attire prior to competition.  Workout attire must be age-appropriate, and typical of what a teenager would wear to workout at the gym.  An example of workout attire includes sweats, leggings or shorts with a tank top or half top and tennis shoes.  Swimsuits and clothing specifically for dance, such as a leotard are not permitted.

Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of strong physical fitness and health, sense of attractiveness and presence, display of energy, charisma and expression, sense of confidence and composure. The fitness of the teen, by the shape of her body, is not being judged. Instead, her level of pursuit and dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is being evaluated.

Talent (35% of total score)

Contestants perform a 2-minute routine of their own choosing. Some possible talents include all types of singing, dancing, gymnastics, instrumental music, dramatic or comedy monologues, baton twirling and ventriloquism. Other talents that can be performed solo on a stage are also possible. Phone or e-mail us if you have a question about your talent presentation. 

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.

Personal Appearance/Poise in Evening Wear (15% of total score)

Each contestant appears on-stage in an outfit of her own choosing, representative of what she would wear to a prom or other formal event/  Although contestants typically wear ball or evening gowns, pantsuits, tea-length dresses and cocktail dresses are all appropriate for this phase of the competition.

Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk, posture, carriage and grace, appropriateness of attire and sense of style, sense of attractiveness, beauty and charm.

Top Five - Final Ballot

From the above 100%, the Top Five Finalists will be named. The Top Five Finalists enter the final round of competition with zero points. The judges will then rank the contestants in the order they individually believe the contestants should finish on a Final Ballot.

Each judge will rank the Top Five contestants on a Final Ballot. A first place vote is worth ten points, a second place vote is worth five points, a third place vote is worth three points, a fourth place vote is worth two points and a fifth place vote is worth one point . The total of the Final Ballots alone will determine the outcome of the pageant. The high and low scores on the Final Ballot will NOT be dropped. All judges’ votes count on the Final Ballot.

E-MAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION
For fastest response, you may contact local pageant(s) directly by phone or e-mail from our local pageant information page. Or use this form to contact Mary McCaman, Executive Director at dmccama@pacbell.net.