Miss Michigan High School America Pageant
November 29- December 1, 2024
2024 State Competition
Pageant F. A. Q.
1) What is Miss Michigan Elementary Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate America? The Michigan Elementary, Jr. High School, High School, and Collegiate America Pageant is a state preliminary pageant that goes on to compete nationally for the titles of Miss Jr. High School America, Miss High School America, and Miss Collegiate America June 2025. The purpose of the national competition exists to providing personal and professional opportunities for young women. It is their goal to provide outstanding high school, junior high and collegiate girls the opportunity to compete in a pageant system that has the highest of moral values.
Eligibility/ Divisions
2) How are the divisions determined? There are 3 “grade” divisions for the Michigan state pageant. Your grade level determines the division in which you compete in, not your age.
3) What is the breakdown for the divisions (as of Fall 2025)?
The Miss Michigan Elementary America division is for girls in Kindergarten to 5th Grade.
The Miss Michigan Jr. High America division is for girls in the 6th grade to 8th grade.
The Miss Michigan High School America division is for girls in the 9th grade to 11th grade.
The Miss Michigan Collegiate America division is for student in the 12th grade or enrolled at a college, university, graduate school, tech/trade school, or beauty college in Michigan. If you have completed undergrad, you can still enter if you are planning to attend graduate school in the Fall. The Michigan Collegiate contestant must be no older than 27 as of September 1, 2025
4) I am entering the 12th grade, but have to compete in the collegiate division? The National Pageant date and year of reign determines the divisions. The National Pageant will be held in June of 2025. If the Michigan Collegiate titleholder wins the national title, they would reign during their freshman year of college. So yes, the majority of your reign as the Michigan titleholder would be during your senior year. The judges will understand this. Please contact the state office if you still have further questions as to how the age division you are to compete in is determined.
5) Can I enter if I attend school outside of Michigan, but live in Michigan when not attending school, and still compete? With a requirement of at least 2 events a month for the titleholders, it is necessary that you spend the majority of your time in Michigan. Attending school outside of Michigan makes it difficult to meet those requirements. Please speak to the executive directors regarding your individual situation and to receive information about potential pageants in the state you attend school.
Location/ Hotel/ Transportation
6) When is the Michigan State Pageant held? The Michigan state pageant will be held in November 29- December 1. It will now be a 2 day event with registration, a rehearsals, and PJ Party occurring on Saturday evening, Sunday will be rehearsal, interviews and sponsored lunch. Friday will be an optional competition day with early registration and optional competition including talent, speech, photogenic etc.. The final show will be on Sunday.
7) Where is the pageant held? The pageant will be held in Southeast Michigan, exact location will be announced soon
8) Are there any airports nearby? Yes. DTW
9) Is there a host hotel? No. You are not required to stay in a hotel. You are free to travel back and forth from home, or find the cheapest hotel in the are should you need one.
10) Is there a group rate for the hotel? Yes, $139/Night (Please note checkout is 10am on Sunday)
11) Can my family come to pageant weekend? Yes, However, all events (except the main competition will be contestants only. We will have an opportunity for raffles that family can participate in prior to the pageant
12) Do I have to stay at a hotel if I live nearby? No.
13) What are the phases of competition? You will compete in interview, fashion runway, and evening gown.
14) What is the score breakdown? Interview and Evening Gown are worth 40% of your score, Fashion Runway is worth 20%.
15) How is the order of the contestants determined? The contestant order will be completely random. However, the first 10 girls who pay their entry fee can pick their spot in line.
Interview
16) During interview do the contestants stand or sit? Stand, in a panel style interview with all the judges.
17) How long is interview? 5 minutes (Jr High, High, Collegiate), 3 minutes (Elementary)
18) Will there be any political or controversial questions? No, not unless it is brought up by the contestant.
19) What do I wear for interview? An interview dress/sundress/jumpsuit.
20) Are fashion forward shoes okay in interview or should we only wear nude/tan color shoes? Yes, either is fine for interview.
21) Are there examples of what to wear? Yes. Please refer to the handbook for examples.
22) Is there an onstage question or onstage interview portion? This is dependent upon the number of contestants. If there are more than 10 girls within an age group, then yes, there will be an on-stage question
Fashion Runway
23) What do I wear for Fashion Runway? Fashion Runway is a high fashion outfit of choice: Pantsuit, Sundress, High Fashion off the rack, High-Low, or Cocktail. Refer to the handbook for more examples.
24) Can my fashion outfit be a 2 piece? Yes, but MMHSA is a conservative pageant. Please use good judgement.
25) Is there anything I cannot wear? No props, No hats/hairpieces, No denim, no flip-flops. This is an outfit that shows your personal style. You should not be taking pieces on and off
26) Do I need a routine? No full routines. You will be given the competition pattern prior to pageant weekend.
27) Are there any examples of outfits worn? Yes, please refer to your handbook
Evening Gown
28) What do I wear for Evening Gown? Evening gown is your moment to feel like a queen! Evening gowns need to be prom or pageant dressed and age appropriate. The gown must touch the floor in front and in back.
29) What type of dress should junior high girls wear for evening gown? Full or ball gown. Must flare from waist. This is what is required at Nationals. Dress DOES NOT have to have straps; can be a 2-piece ball gown.
30) Can my dress have a slit in it? Jr. High- No, High School- to the knee, Collegiate- Yes
31) Can my evening gown be a 2 piece? Yes, for all age division. The national pageant agreed to let the Jr. High division wear 2-piece gowns, as of this year, as long as they remain ball gowns (start to flare from waist).
32) Are there any colors or styles we have to wear? Styles and colors should fit the girl and her coloring. No specific color or style is required. Many dresses can be interchangeable between the High School and Collegiate divisions. However, keep in mind that High school students need to be “age appropriate” (e.g., no low backs, high slits, or large cutouts, depending on category).
33) Do we have to spend thousands of dollars on your dress to win? NO! You can find state and national quality dresses for less than $200. Many contestants even borrow dresses from other pageant girls or wear their prom dress.
34) Do you have any examples of evening gowns? Yes, refer to the handbook for examples.
Rehearsal
35) Are rehearsals mandatory? Yes. Unless previously approved by the directors, all rehearsals are mandatory to ensure each contestant knows what to expect on pageant day.
36) Are rehearsals open to family and friends? No, only approved staff/ makeup artist are allowed in rehearsals.
37) What is the attire for rehearsal? Rehearsal clothes should be cute and casual. Photos will be taken throughout rehearsals. List of what to wear will be posted in the contestant Facebook group closer to the pageant weekend.
38) Can I wear my hair in rollers/pin curls the day of the pageant, during rehearsal? Yes, there will be time to prepare for the pageant throughout rehearsal and prior to the show, but it may be easier to already come with your hair curled/pinned up.
39) Can we have our cell phones at rehearsal? Yes. However, they are only to be used at designated times. This is your weekend to meet new girls, have fun, and prepare for the pageant. Phone use during rehearsal time is disrespectful to the staff working with you.
40) Can we take pictures during rehearsal and backstage at the pageant? We encourage you to document your weekend at post to your social media sites, at designated times. No photos are to be taken inside the dressing rooms, as we want to keep the privacy of all the girls who may be changing.
41) Will we have chaperones? There will be multiple staff members chaperoning the contestants during the weekend. Contestants must let staff know where they are going and communicate with respect.
Hair and Makeup
42) Can Jr. High Contestants wear makeup? Yes. Please make sure makeup is age appropriate. Judges want to see the girl. Small lashes are ok, if the contestant wants to wear them.
43) Will there be makeup and hair artist at the pageant? Yes! More information will be provided in the pageant handbook.
44) Can I bring my own makeup artist? In your hotel room, yes! But not back stage or in dressing room.
45) Will there be time to get ready between rehearsal and the pageant? Yes. Contestants will be given time to get ready. Girls will have the opportunity to go back to the hotel room for touchups.
Pageant Weekend Events
46) Will there be any extra events during pageant weekend? Yes. We want the girls to bond and have a great pageant experience. New events this year! Details will be announced soon.
47) Will food be provided? Contestants will be released for meals on their own or with family, most of the time. We will be providing some snacks and goodies during the weekend. Water will be available outside the rehearsal room, on pageant day. Lunch will be provided on pageant day.
Pageant Info
48) What are we wearing for opening number? We are asking that each of our contestants select a WHITE, RED or BLUE cocktail dress depending on age division. Please be age appropriate in your selections and know that you will be doing movements in them on stage. We ask that each contestant wear nude heels with their opening number selection. Elementary Contestants will wear blue, Jr. High, High and Collegiate divisions will wear white.
49) Do we have to be dancers to grasp the opening number? No. The opening number will be mainly walking patterns, some basic movements, and introductions. No dance experience is necessary. This portion is not judged.
50) Will we know the walking patterns and opening number prior to pageant weekend? Yes. A video and/or diagrams will be sent out at least one week prior to the pageant.
51) Are there any other awards to be given? Yes! There will be a photogenic, Class Favorite (Congeniality), and Community Service Awards given for each division, depending on size of division. The photogenic award is judged from the program book photo. None of the extra awards given will have any bearing on the overall pageant competition.
52) Will there be a top 10? A top 10 will be determined based on the number of contestants in each category.
53) How many runner-ups will be awarded? Number is dependent on the number of contestants. It will range from 0-4.
54) Will tickets be available to purchase at the venue? Yes. Additional tickets will be available at the door. The cost of the tickets are $25 each.
55) Can parents and family take pictures or video, in the audience, during the pageant? We ask, as a courtesy, that no video or flash photography be taken during the pageant. We have professional photographers and videographer that will be capturing the show, and all the events, for purchase at a very reasonable rate.
56) How do I order photos or a video? Photo packages will include interview, rehearsal and show pictures. GREAT DEAL!! Order form will be available in the contestant group page. Video will be separate from video purchase. More info, about video orders, to follow.
57) Can my supporters bring signs to support me? Yes! They may have signs, but we ask that they are courteous to those around them. Everyone wants to see the show! They may be asked to lower them if disturbing the audience or photographer/videographer view. NO noisemakers of any kind are allowed!
58) Will a chaperone/helper be allowed backstage during the pageant? No men! You may have 1 female person backstage if they are actively helping you get ready. Only until call time.
59) Is there an AD page? Yes, please refer to pageant handbook for more details
60) Are there additional fees outside of the entry fee? Tickets to watch the show are $25. There will also be people's choice voting for $2 per vote and a contestants auction table.
61) Can I just leave after the pageant? Queen and court photos will need to stay to take photos onstage. All other contestants are welcome to gather their items to leave the theater. A parent or guardian MUST check out, all minors, with designated staff member.
62) Will I get my scores after the pageant? Yes. We will be glad to give you the feedback of the judges. We will be emailing you your scores but we will not be giving out comments.
63) Is there a non-compete clause? If you were to win the title of Miss Michigan Junior High, High School, or Collegiate America, you will not be permitted to compete in any other pageant during your year of service, without prior authorization from the state directors. Furthermore, you may not compete in a similar style pageant, which goes on to a state or national level, prior to competing at Miss Jr. High, High School & Collegiate America Pageant in June 2025. The title of “Miss Michigan Junior High, High School, or Collegiate America” supersedes any other title that you may hold at the time of the competition (Please speak to us if you hold a current title so we can discuss your individual situation.)