We are now selecting contestants to participate in this year’s MISS CALIFORNIA USA® and MISS CALIFORNIA TEEN USA® state pageant, the official preliminaries to the prestigious MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® pageants.

FAQ

How is the Miss Californian USA® and Miss California Teen USA® Pageant judged?
Each contestant will be judged in three areas of competition; Interview, Swimsuit and Evening Gown. Judging criteria includes character, poise, confidence and personality.

Is there a talent portion of the competition?
No, there is no performing talent required.
Are you only looking for perfect “10’s”?
Absolutely not! Whether you’re 4 foot tall or 7 foot tall it doesn’t matter. In the swimsuit portion of the competition, the judges will be looking for physical fitness, which includes a healthy and fit body. There’s usually a wide range of body styles and types for the Top 10 Finalists each year. We’re looking for outgoing, intelligent, confident, attractive young women excited to represent the beauty of California.


How does “Sponsorship” work?
Collecting sponsorship is very important. It takes a time commitment on your part. You start with a list of potential sponsors such as friends and family members and their employers, etc. Plan your strategy, and make a plan to succeed! Schedule appointments to collect your sponsorships. When approaching potential sponsors, explain your goals, your desire to improve yourself by attending the Miss California event, the charities you believe in and the scholarship opportunities. Let them know what your experience will entail. This will be extremely beneficial in developing your communication skills. This is an essential characteristic to have if you’re going to be the next Miss California USA or Miss California Teen USA.
Our goal is for contestants to collect 100% of the sponsorship fee. This is a tax-deductible advertising expense for those businesses that assist you with sponsorship. If you work hard on collecting sponsorship, it is possible that you will not incur any expenses out of pocket. In addition, hard working contestants receive material item sponsorships, such as a dress, tanning, a haircut, etc.

If I win, will it interfere with school?
We make school the number one priority! Our program only encourages your success! Almost all of your appearances, celebrity events, and charity work will take place during the weekend and will be scheduled in advance.

Do I have to be a “Pageant Girl” to enter?
Not at all, in fact most of our contestants are newcomers to pageants.

I have to spend too much on outfits!
Not true. You do not need to spend fortunes on swimwear, an interview outfit, and an evening gown. It is most important to find outfits that you will feel confident in and that best suit you and your personality. The personal choice of gowns have spanned from simple, elegant to hand beaded. But it is never the gown that the judges are scoring; it’s the young women wearing it. Again, several contestants have been able to secure a gown sponsor to assist them.

Pageant Eligibility

MISS CALIFORNIA USA CONTESTANTS

• Must be at least 18 and under 27 years of age on February 1, 2009. This is your age at the time you compete at the national competition in 2009 - not your age at the time of the state competition.

MISS CALIFORNIA TEEN USA CONTESTANTS

• Must be at least 14 and under 19 years of age as of February 1, 2009. This is your age at the time you compete at the national competition in 2009 - not your age at the time of the state competition.

• Must never have participated in a previous national MISS TEEN USA Pageant.

• May only compete in one MISS TEEN USA State Pageant (including the District of Columbia) per pageant yearALL CONTESTANTS

• Must not be married, never have been married, and never have had a marriage annulled. Must never have given birth to a child, can not be pregnant or be a parent.

• Must be of good health and moral character.

• Must be a female citizen of the United States and at least one of the following must be true:

1) Must now reside in their state as their permanent and primary residence for a period of at least six (6) months immediately prior to the beginning of their state pageant (although they may have attended college or University elsewhere); or

2) Must have resided in their state as a full-time student at a college or university for one entire semester immediately prior to the beginning of their state pageant, and they are continuing to reside in their state as a full-time student (although they may have spent or be spending the summer in another state).

• Must agree, that if selected to represent their state in the MISS USA or MISS TEEN USA Pageant, they will participate in that pageant, and will abide by all the rules and regulations governing that pageant. If they win the MISS USA Pageant, they must agree to participate in the MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT, and to abide by the rules and regulations governing that pageant.

• No contestant or any member of their immediate family can be employed by Miss Universe L.P. LLLP, any State Director in the MISS USA and/or MISS TEEN USA Pageant system, NBC Inc., or any of its subsidiaries, Ernst & Young, or any of its subsidiaries, Donald J. Trump, Trump Pageants Inc., The Trump Organization, NBC, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliated or related companies. (If contestant or any member of their immediate family is employed by any of the foregoing or any firm or corporation controlled or affiliated with any of them, then they must notify the state director immediately, in writing, so that their eligibility may be determined.

• Must agree that if they win or succeed to the state level title or the national title of MISS USA or MISS TEEN USA, they will not participate in any other pageants during the time they hold any of these titles, unless authorized in writing by Miss Universe L.P. LLLP.

• Must be willing to release, unconditionally and forever, any claim against Miss Universe L.P. LLLP, Its parent and affiliated or related companies and their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and assigns, which they may have by virtue of their participation in their state pageant, or by any use of their name, likeness, voice, and/or biography in connection with their state pageant, including use in promotional and advertising material.

• Must understand and agree that all issues as to eligibility shall be determined by Miss Universe, L.P. LLLP, and they must agree to abide by that determination both as to themselves and other applicants.