Become a Miss Marin County Contestant
Click here for Marin County's Outstanding Teen Information

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Age & Education
  • Candidate (1) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age as of July 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes; (2) Must be a high school graduate or equivalent (G.E.D.) by July 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes; (3) Must not be older than twenty-five (25) years of age as of December 31st of the year of the State Competition in which she competes.
  • For the avoidance of doubt, a candidate cannot turn twenty-six (26) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she will compete at state.
  • For avoidance of doubt, 13 to 17 year old high school graduates, as well as 18 year old non-graduates as of July 31st, must compete at MAOTeen level (see Teen Eligibility requirements below).
Citizenship
  • Must be a citizen of the United States of America
Additional Miss Program Requirements
  • Candidates must meet all additional requirements pursuant to the Miss America State and Local Application & Agreement:  Full Miss Program Requirements
  • Be able to attend Miss California Orientation in April 2022 (dates TBA) and the Miss California Competition in late June 2022 (dates TBA) 
​Residency
  • ​Meet ONE of the three geographic eligibility requirements below for Marin County

Step 2: Review the Phases of Competition

Private Interview (35% of total score)
At the local level, each contestant participates in an individual 6-minute interview.  Interviews are 8 minutes at the state competition and 8 minutes at the national competition.  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 is required on the local level.

Talent (35% of total score)
Contestants perform a 90 second 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.

On-Stage Interview/Social Impact Pitch (15% of score)
Each contestant will answer a question on-stage and present her social impact initiative.  Question asked 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.

Red Carpet (15% of score)
Each contestant appears on stage in an evening gown of her own choosing; something appropriate for her age. Contestant will then model.  Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality, stage presence, walk and posture, appropriate of attire, sense of attractiveness, 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.Contestant will then model.  Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality, stage presence, walk and posture, appropriate of attire, sense of attractiveness, 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.

Step 3: Fill out our Candidate Registration Form 

Located on this page of our website.

Step 4: Register at MissCalifornia.org

To be an official candidate, you must also visit the Miss California website and register before the first day of Miss Marin County rehearsal. The registration fee is $35.00. 
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After you register on the Miss California website,  be sure to follow up with our Executive Director, Michele Moser at (415) 883-7138 or michele@hcamgmt.com to let her know you have completed this step as well.