Miss Northwestern Forms and Resources

• Checklist with Due Dates
• Letter of Intent
• Official Entry Form
• Local Contestant Contract
• Talent Clearance Form
• Star Form
• Miss America Contestant Registration
• Rebel Active Wear Order Information
• American Heart Association Information
• Ad Sales Form

Other Required Items

• Birth Certificate
• Headshot (Photoshoot date is TBD and will take place on the NWOSU-Alva campus.)
• Proof of registration as a Miss America contestant (cost is $39.99 and must be paid online). Follow this link for REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS.
• Miss Oklahoma Local Contestant Contract (will be emailed to you at a later date)
• Program Ads (business cards, photos, money, etc.)
• Performance Track for Talent (if applicable).  Mp3 or Mp4 are the preferred formats.
• Ticket Money (must sell at least 10 tickets to the local competition)
• Miss America Rebel Wear for the fitness and health competition (follow this link for ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS).

Community Service Initiative (CSI)

Your Community Service Initiative (CSI) will be your initiative on which you will work, alongside the Miss Local and Miss Oklahoma Organization, during your Year of Service.  This submission allows you to explain to the local judges your subject matter choice, how you choose to advocate for it during your year and the metrics you see for success at the close of your Year of Service.  In addition, it should explain how your advocacy will further the Miss Local/Miss Oklahoma/Miss America Organization mission.  

This page ONE (1) page, singled-spaced document, combined with the Candidate’s Fact Sheet, will comprise your entire application for this job.  The judges will receive exactly what is submitted.   Any items that do not meet the criteria or are submitted after the deadline will not be given to the judges. If your CSI arrives on the day of the deadline, but does not meet the criteria, there will not be time to return it to you; therefore, it will not be given to the judges.  The candidate may explain the lack of judging materials during her interview, if she so chooses.

Miss America's Community Service Initiative (CSI) is an integral part of the interview phase of competition, supporting one fo the branded elements of Miss America as outlined by the "Four Points" of the crown. The "Four Points" are Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success. CSI is specific to the SERVICE point of the crown.

The CSI initiative allows you, as a participating contestant, to showcase and deploy your interests and creativity, to outline a plan or effort to engage within your local community or state existing programs. You may also design your own program for your community or state.

This ONE page submission in san-serif font style of your choice, font sizes from 11-14 only, should include the following:

• A description of your Community Service Initiative passion or interest
• Why you chose this particular initiative
• How you've partnered or will partner with local/state communities to create momentum
• Any social media or marketing strategies that will best support your CSI
• Any activities you have planned or participated in with respect to this CSI

Use of Graphics:

At the local level, you may use "header only" graphics approximately 1/2 inch from the top of the 8.5 x 11 page. Graphics may include existing organizations' logos, taglines, or other creative efforts. You may use bullet points within your long form essay. Your local/state organization may decide to have you submit your CSI single page electronically, via a form rather than a PDF, through a portal, or other options.

Signature and Date:

Please signs and date your submission at the bottom right-hand corner and include your local title (Miss Northwestern). No submissions to be verified without signature.

Due date is October 1st, 2024.  The CSI must be submitted electronically to plfischer@nwosu.edu.  You will also need to submit 7 signed/dated hard copies of your CSI to Paige at Herod Hall 105.

Community Service Initiative (CSI) Example

Name:  Jane Smith
Title:  Miss Local  

Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Inclusiveness

It is imperative that this nation face and embrace its cultural diversity.  While many people have talked about this issue, I believe that most of them have only paid lip service to the true necessity of what needs to be addressed related to this issue.  There is a false truth in merely accepting and tolerating cultural diversity.  I intend to prove that in order to accept and understand people of other cultures; one must be willing to step out of a personal cultural comfort zone and identify the origin of their prejudice.  I will specifically focus on three areas:  Children, Communities, and Businesses.

The title of Miss America, combined with the national media already looking at the surface of this issue, will allow me to create the national awareness that must exist.  Currently, the term “Cultural Diversity” is well known in the halls of institutions of higher learning and, perhaps, even in the public-school classroom because of the need for some to be politically correct.  But, in order for us to make a true change in attitudes and behaviors of Americans, we must move beyond talk and into action and policy changes.

My plan is to motivate the media and to partner with the National Conference for Community and Justice.  This organization has chapters in every major city in the nation and, in many cases, those chapters have community leaders involved who can, with encouragement and challenging, bring this issue out of hiding and into the public light in each of those communities. 

Obviously, the media and the NCCJ already exist.  However, what is lacking is a lightening rod to draw attention to this issue.  This is where the Miss America Organization steps into the lead.  What better role is there for Miss America than to be an agent of change in organizing our nation to accept our differences and to create an environment that values each person on individual characteristics rather than on stereotypes or assumptions? 

For years, Miss America was seen as a young woman who cut ribbons and appeared in parades.  It is time for “Miss America” to step out of the convertible and lead the parade.  Our country’s ethnic make-up is changing rapidly and our citizen’s fear of terrorism can explode already existing, but deeply hidden prejudices.  I want to be the leader that this nation needs. 

This nation needs this issue addressed now and through the already existing NCCJ and its local and state organizations combined with the power of Miss America, we can make a concrete difference now, which will change the direction and the future of our nation.

__________________________
Signature/Date

Local Contestant Interview Fact Sheet Information

This is your opportunity to demonstrate to the judges why they should consider you for the job at your local and for the job of Miss Oklahoma.  This one-page fact sheet, combined with the CSI, will comprise your entire application for this job.  The judges will receive exactly what is submitted.

Instructions for Contestant's Interview Fact Sheet

• Fact sheet - one (1) page only - single sided
• San serif fonts in sizes 11-14 only
• Margins to be set at standard 1"
• Single line spaced, typed responses
• May not include any attachments
• May not include any graphics or photos
• The following must be included on your fact sheet:
  • Name
  • Local Title
  • CSI
  • School Attending or Graduated

Please see sample below.

Due date is October 1st, 2024.  The interview fact sheet must be submitted electronically to plfischer@nwosu.edu.  You will also need to submit 7 hard copies of your fact sheet to Paige at Herod Hall 105.

Competition and Judging

Scoring Percentages for Local Competition

• Private Interview = 30%
• Talent/HERStory = 20%
• Fitness and Health = 20%
• Evening Gown = 20%
• On-Stage Conversation (Question) = 10%

Private Interview

• Wardrobe: Contestant's choice - stylish interview attire (age appropriate)
• Miss interviews are 10 minutes long, which includes a 30-second opening statement. Teen interviews are 8 minutes long, which includes a 30-second opening statement.
• Procedures:
  • A podium will be used; the contestant will be standing during the interview.
  • Each contestant is introduced by a Miss Northwestern committee member and will take her position and immediately present a brief 30-second introduction/CSI overview.  Once the CSI/intro is completed, the panelists will begin the interview.
  • For Miss interviews, at the 9 minute and 30 second mark, the timekeeper will ring a bell to indicate 30 seconds remaining for the interview. The contestant may choose to use the time to finish her response to the last question or proceed with a closing statement.
  • For Teen interviews, at the 7 minute and 30 second mark, the timekeeper will ring a bell to indicate 30 seconds remaining for the interview. The contestant may choose to use the time to finish her response to the last question or proceed with a closing statement.
• Purpose - allows insight into the contestant's: 
  • Ability to fulfill the qualifications, responsibilities, duties, and term of the titleholder.
  • Personal qualities and attributes relevant to the titleholder position.
  • Commitment to CSI.
  • Ability to express her own beliefs in an authentic and relatable manner.
  • Sense of accomplishments/goals above and beyond the fact sheet.
  • Spontaneity, intelligence, sense of humor, charm, and charisma.
  • Authenticity and ability to answer questions in a conversational, unrehearsed manner.
  • Ability to serve as a role model; reflective of her generation.

Talent/HERStory

• Wardrobe: Contestant's choice
• Timing - up to 90-seconds
• Talent must be approve by local director.
• Purpose - allows insight into the contestant's
  • Preparatory, performance, or storytelling skills.
  • Overall presentation skills and ability to deliver a captivating presentation.
  • Interpretive ability and entertainment value relative to the category of performance art.
  • Stage presence, on-stage personality, and personal connection to her story.
  • Allows a look at the totality of the performance elements of on-stage presentation.
  • Ability to capture the attention of an audience while performing on-stage.

Fitness and Health

• Wardrobe: Miss America RED Rebel Wear - specific information on the required outfit will be communicated by Paige Fischer.
• Procedures:
  • The organization will present each contestant in a pre-blocked, high energy stage routine with movement and posing.
  • Each contestant will not exceed 20-30 seconds.
  • No props are allowed.
• Purpose:
  • This phase of competition is where the contestant showcases her commitment to health and fitness initiatives. A contestant's discipline and commitment to being physically healthy is a key to success in all other areas of life, and the rigors of representing the Miss America or Miss America's Teen program as a national titleholder.
  • Contestant should exhibit energy, confidence, and a commitment to health and fitness.

Evening Gown

• Wardrobe: Contestant's choice of evening wear that is appropriate for a red carpet event.
• Allows Insight into the Contestant's
  • Ability to capture attention on stage and individual stage presence.
  • Comfort, confidence, and composure.
  • Overall impression of ability to represent the Miss America or Miss America's Teen Organization at a high-profile event.
  • Scoring is based on how the contestant carries herself/performs in this phase of competition, not on the actual gown she is wearing or the perceived cost of that gown. 

On-Stage Conversation (Question)

• Wardrobe: You will wear the same outfit you wear for the opening number for the on-stage conversation (question).
• Question: This will be a single question asked on-stage regarding the contestant's community service initative (CSI).  The response from the contestant should not be longer than 20 seconds.
• Allows Insight into the Contestant's:
  • Commitment to the service point of the crown.
  • Unique perspective on community service and its local impact.
  • Desire to create interest in her community service initiatives.
  • Brings the interview to the stage in an interactive, engaging way to showcase each contestant.
  • Highlights intelligence, personality, charisma, and aptitude for the titleholder's opportunity.
  • Allows a look at the sense of composure in presenting ideas on-stage.
  • Allows a look at interactivity with the panelists and the audience.