When you compete within the Miss America Organization umbrella, you not only have the opportunity to win scholarships to further for your education, we guarantee you will make lasting friendships and have memories that last a lifetime in this life-changing experience.

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Are you the next
Miss Minnesota's Teen?
Contact Megan to learn more!

The Miss Minnesota Teen Competition is a little sister program to the Miss Minnesota and Miss America Scholarship Organizations. The Miss Minnesota Teen Competition has been organized to encourage positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement of our nation’s youth. This competition is intended to encourage and reward the talent, communication skills, community service, and academic achievement of girls between 13 and 18 years of age. (See eligibility requirements below.)

Miss Minnesota’s Teen has many roles during her year of service.  She represents her State Organization, the National Miss America’s Teen Organization, the young women she competed with, and all young people her age, as well as promoting her chosen Platform Issue.  In addition, she prepares to compete at the Miss America's Teen National competition in a location to be announced in July/August. She accepts these responsibilities by always conducting herself in an “Outstanding” manner.
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Miss Minnesota’s Teen may be called upon to appear at a variety of functions throughout her state, where she will be asked to speak, possibly perform her talent, and interact with people of all ages. She sets an example of someone who has passion and initiative regarding her personal platform.

A Miss Minnesota Teen’s Year of Service is an exciting, busy, and important year in her life. She is an exceptional, charismatic young woman who leaves an inspiring and enduring impression on everyone she meets.

Am I Eligible? 

If you're a young woman between the ages of 13-18 and want a life-changing experience, you might be eligible!

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•  Eligibility
• Competition

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Eligibility Requirements

To become a participant for the next competition cycle, you must meet all the criteria below

• For Miss America's Teen, birth year must be 2006-2010.  If older, you'd be eligible to compete for Miss!
• Be a female 
• Be a United States citizen
• Candidates must have residency in Minnesota for 6 months prior to competing in a first local competition. Some local competitions also have geographic restrictions - contact the local director for more information. 
  • Residency is defined as the primary address where you physically live. You may be asked to present proof of residency if you have recently moved.
• Candidates may also enter "at large," which means they can select a title associated with where they live or go to school. There is a fee to compete "at large" and the local title selected must be approved by the Outstanding Teen Director.  Candidates must have residency for 6 months prior to being awarded At-Large title.

Areas of Competition and New Scoring 

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Judging Criteria for the Miss Minnesota's Teen Competition
There are five areas of competition for the Miss Minnesota Teen Competition. They are as follows:

• Judges Interview (9 minutes)
• Talent (90 seconds)
• Health & Fitness
• Evening Gown
• On Stage Question  

Each contestant must also have a Community Service Initiative they will advocate for during their year of service. 
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Private Interview (30% of total score)
Wardrobe:

• Delegates Choice - Fashionable Interview Attire (age appropriate).

Timing:

• 30 second opening, 9 minute Q&A, optional 30 second wrap up or closing statement.

Procedures

• The delegate will be standing at a podium in front of the 5-7 person judging panel.
• Each delegate is introduced and will take her position and immediately present a brief 30-second introduction/Community Service Initiative overview. Once the CSI intro is completed, the panelists begin the interview.
• At (9:30) nine-minute thirty second mark, timekeeper indicates (30) seconds remaining for interview. The Panelist Chair will inform the delegate of remaining time and delegate may choose to use the time to finish her response to the last question or proceed in a closing statement.
• At the 10 minute mark, the timekeeper stands, and the head panelist indicates the interview time is up. Concluding that delegate’s private interview phase regardless of where the response is at. 

Purpose - Allows Insight Into the delegate’s:

• Ability to fulfill the qualifications, responsibilities, duties, and term of the titleholder.
• Personal qualities and attributes relevant to the titleholder position.
• Commitment to her community service initiative.
• 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 and if she is reflective of her generation.  Teens may be asked age appropriate current event questions that are relevant to their generation.

Talent (20% of total score)
Wardrobe

• Delegate’s Choice; should be age appropriate

Timing

• Up to 90 seconds

Purpose

• To underscore the Miss America’s Teen commitment to supporting performance arts education initiatives and women’s individual efforts in dance, music, opera/vocal, drama, magic, oratory and circus arts.

Procedure:

• The organization will present each delegate on stage that will not exceed 90 seconds per delegate.

Performance Talent Requirements:

• Talent must be approved by Miss Minnesota's Teen organization both style and music.

Allows Insight into the delegate’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.

Evening Wear  (20% of total score)
Wardrobe:

• Delegate’s Choice of Evening Wear; should be age appropriate. Can be dress, pantsuit, or what the delegate would wear to a formal function.

Choreography:

• Choreography and timing will be rehearsed competition weekend

Purpose:

• Delegate will publicly present her sense of Style wearing an outfit in a fashion suitable for an appearance as  Miss Minnesota's teen. Part of a titleholder’s role is to attend galas, fundraisers, awards shows, and other formal events. This often involves walking a red carpet, posting for the press photographers, modeling in fashion shows, promoting various national fashion designers who partner with Miss America or Miss America’s Teen programs.

Allows Insight into the delegate’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 delegate 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 Question (10% of total score)
Wardrobe

• Delegate to be in Opening Number Apparel

Purpose:

• This question will be asked immediately following any opening presentation/choreography. This will be the first phase of competition.

Questions:

• The preliminary conversation question will be a single question asked onstage regarding the Delegate’s Community Service Initiative (CSI)

Timing:

• Response should not be longer than 30 seconds.

Allows Insight into the delegate’s:

• Commitment to the Service point of the crown.
• Unique perspective on community service and it’s 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 delegate.
• 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.

Health & Fitness (20% of total score)
Wardrobe:

• Delegate’s choice of fitness outfit of black bottoms and athletic top with tennis shoes. Bottoms can be shorts, pants, capri, or skirt. Sleeve length can be decided by Delegate. Tops must be athletic tops and should not look like swim suits.

​Procedure:

• The organization will present each delegate in a pre-blocked stage pattern. Video will be sent out.

Purpose:

• This phase of competition is where the delegate showcases her commitment to health - physically and mentally - and health initiatives.  This phase will include the emcee reading a statement written by the delegate  on her experience with self-care, health goals, and mental well being. A delegate’s discipline and commitment to being healthy is a key to success in all other areas of life, and the rigors of representing the Miss Minnesota’s Teen program as a State titleholder.

Allows Insight Into:

• The delegate’s comfort and confidence level on stage.
• The delegate’s overall impression of health and commitment.
• On stage presentation and energy, comfort in front of an audience, confidence.
• The delegate’s spontaneity, and lack of “robotic” stage presentation.
• Ability to determine if delegate could serve as national ambassador.

Judges to evaluate the following:

• Overall First impression of a Dynamic Presence, Radiates Health, High Energy, Engaging Vitality and a Sense of Confidence.

Scholarships & Awards 2023

Miss Minnesota's Teen 2023 receives a prize package valued at over $30,000:

• $3,000 educational scholarship
• Miss Minnesota's Teen Crown,  Sash, Pin, and Crown Box*
• Trip to Compete for Miss America's Teen 
• Kwik Trip Sponsorship (monthly)
• National Headshot by Paula Preston Photography 
• Lifestyle photo shoots by: Tiger Lily Photography; JoybyJoy Photography; and Jared Fessler Photography
• Consulting and Preparation services by: Giselle Ugarte; Stephanie Butler Consulting; Sarah Wall-Beckman; Legacy Group
• National Wardrobe Allowances by The Pageant Shop and Regalia Magnificent Apparel and 
• MMNOT Jacket & Leggings courtesy of Pro Biz Sports
• 2 Custom crystal Clutches & Business Card holder by Niki Lassiter
• 3 Private Training sessions with Adam Spiker, Personal Training
• Custom Airbrush Tan throughout the year
• Hair (cut & color) plus 3 blowouts by Gianna Capuzzi 
• Dream Duffle Luggage​
• Dance Studio Space for rehearsal/practice by Lorenz Dance & Tumbling

*These awards were underwritten (in order listed) by our former Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teens:
Bella Grill '22, Rachel Weyandt '15, Giselle Ugarte '05, Emily Schumacher '17

​Competition Placement Scholarships
Miss Minnesota’s Teen:  $3,000
1st Runner Up:      $1,000
2nd Runner Up:    $ 750
3rd Runner Up:     $ 500
4th Runner Up:     $ 400

Competition Awards
​Eden Webb Top Interview Award $250 
Dr Glen Harman Overall Talent $250
Cali Weddle Evening Gown Award $250
Rachel Luchsinger On Stage Question $100
Glenn Harman Non-Finalist Talent Award $250
                                                                   
​Special Awards
Chantal Wilson Scholastic Award $300
Mary Swenson Confidence &  Poise Award $200
Gabi Hebl Confidence and Joy Essay Award $300
Lorenz Dance & Tumbling Studio Talent Essay Award $125
Lorenz Dance & Tumbling Studio Congeniality Award $125
Joel Mathison Producer's Award $200