Optional Competitions

Contestants can compete with a 3 minute on stage talent of their choice. Judges will be looking for presence, entertainment value, confidence and poise under pressure. All talent presentations will be stopped at the 3-minute mark.  

Fee: $135

MAT Points: 2

Award: Overall Talent winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $250.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Runway competition in which Contestant wears black t-shirt; blue jeans and heeled shoe. Our judge will be looking for poise, confidence, personality, a natural comfortable walk, and stage presence. 

Fee: $135 

MAT Points: 2

Award: Overall Top Model winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $250.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Outfits should reflect high fashion and unique ensembles that show your personal style.  Think fun, up beat and fashion forward.  This optional will take place on a closed set.  You will be judged on your photo posing skills and your ability to follow instruction from the photographer.  You bring the positive attitude and we’ll supply the music.  As an added bonus, you will receive the photos on a disc with the digital rights to the photos. 

Fee: $135

MAT Points: 2

Award: Overall Super Model winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $200.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Contestants will have 90 seconds to perform a commercial, scene, or monologue of their choice. Judges will be looking for entertainment value, performance quality, and poise.  

Fee: $135

MAT Points: 2

Award: Overall Actor winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $250.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Walk the runway in an off the rack outfit of your choice. Our judges will be looking for poise, confidence, personality, a natural comfortable walk, and stage presence. Outfits should reflect something casual that you could wear in an everyday capacity.  

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Casual Wear  winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Everything is possible in pink. Contestants can rock the runway in their favorite pink outfit in this fun modeling competition. (No swimsuits or props).  Our judges will be looking for personality, confidence, stage presence and originality.

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Pink Possible winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Contestants will model resort wear or a 1 or 2 piece swimsuit in a walking pattern of their choice. Each contestant is evaluated on her physical fitness, stage-presence, and overall impression. 

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Resort Wear or Swimsuit winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Contestants will model fitness attire of their choice. Can be one or two pieces with shorts or legging/long pants. Midriff may be shown or covered. Walking pattern is also choice of contestant. Each contestant is evaluated on her physical fitness, stage-presence, and overall impression. 

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Fun fitness winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Judges will be looking for age appropriate and natural styling, complimentary grooming, ability to easily recognize contestant and overall photo quality and presentation. 

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Photogenic winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Contestants will submit a collection of 7-10 photos in a portfolio. Photos may be either 5x7 or 8x10 and can be either color or B&W. There must be a minimum of one full body shot and one headshot in the collection.  

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Portfolio winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Showcase your public speaking skills in this competition. Contestants may select a topic of their choice to perform a speech up to 2 minutes long. Judges will be looking for professionalism, content, and a confident delivery.  

Fee: $75

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Speech winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $150.00 Cash Award. Divisional Winners will receive a Commemorative Award.

*Must have 3 contestants entered for cash prize to be awarded.

Our People's Choice program understands that friends and family members like to help their contestant advance to the crown. Votes for America's Fan Favorite will result in her being crowned Miss American Darling™. Votes are earned through donations in support of contestant which contestant collects throughout her reign and submits to the office, votes made online when People's Choice is on national website (approximately 30 days before nationals), after $300 donation level is reached for the Miss American Teenager Foundation all other donations are used towards calculating People's Choice results. Each dollar donated is equivalent to one vote.

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall People's Choice winner for the entire pageant in addition to a Commemorative Award and Crown will receive:

*Invitation to our National Royalty Trip (Accommodations, Activities and Food is paid for  winer only not chaperone)

*Invitation to participate in a Fashion Week

*Full Registration & Required Delegates Package Fees Paid to Nationals 2026

*$250 Gift Certificate to the Miss American Teenager Boutique  

The delegate with the most votes per division will secure an automatic spot as a semi-finalist for the national pageant.

Our Cover Girl program recognizes contestants who take the extra step to promote the Miss American Teenager Pageant in their local communities through the sale of advertisement for the program book. Earn amazing prizes, gain valuable public speaking skills, and take home a national title with this competition.

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1

Award: Each contestant that sells 10 or more full page ads will be awarded the Miss American Hostess™ title and will receive a Commemorative Award sash, and Crown. The one contestant from the entire pageant with the most ad sales (minimum of 15 pages) will be the Overall Cover Girl winner for the entire pageant and will receive a Commemorative Award, Sash and Crown, $200.00 cash award and an invitation to attend the National Royalty Trip .   

Submit a 250-500 word essay on “How you make a difference in the world.” 

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1

Award: Overall Fred Wright's Make a World of a Difference winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award and $250.00 cash award.   

Best local or national media coverage, such as newspaper articles or television interviews.

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1/2

Award: Overall Media Award winner for each division will receive a Commemorative Award.   

Contestants who choose to enter this optional will need to submit service hours for verification of award level as outlined by the national program. 

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1/2

Award: Each Presidential Volunteer winner will receive an official letter from the President of the United States and a commemorative pin. 

Contestants who choose to enter this optional will need to complete the Academic Achievement Form. This form as well as a copy of the report card/transcript will need to be turned in at registration.  

Fee: FREE

MAT Points:  1/2 

Award: Overall Academic Achievement winner for each division will receive a Commemorative Award. 

Contestants who choose to enter this optional will need to submit a resume which should be turned in at registration. 

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 1/2  

Award: Overall Best Resume winner for each division will receive a Commemorative Award. 

Contestants who choose to enter this optional will submit recommendations of possible female contestants that are between the ages of 10-19 years for possible entry in the pageant. Recommendation should be turned in at registration. 

Fee: FREE

MAT Points:  1/2 

Award: Overall Most Recommendations winner from the entire contest will receive a Commemorative Award and gift.

Selected by the other delegates as most friendly, welcoming and sisterly.

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 0 

Award: Overall Congeniality winner for the entire pageant will receive a Commemorative Award. 

Contestants who have made appearances in their communities throughout the year of their reign are eligible for this award. Must complete at least 3 appearances during reign in sash & crown to qualify. 

Fee: FREE

MAT Points:  1/2   

Award: Each delegate will receive a Commemorative Award. 

The Pageantry Spirit Award reflects the true meaning of competition, that of personal growth and character development. Selected by the pageant staff.

Fee: FREE

MAT Points: 0 

Award:  Overall Pageantry Spirit Award winner will receive the official Plaque.  

 *No entry is needed since all contestants, volunteers and staff members will be considered for this ward. 

Contestant that has the highest score for area of competition or is chosen by the judges as the best.

• Interview
• Fun Fashion
• Evening Gown 
• Smile 
• Hair
• Eyes

Fee: $15 Each or All for $75

MAT Points: 0

Award: Each winner for each division will receive a Commemorative Award. 

The American Excellence Award will be presented to the contestants who earn at least 4 MAT Points from optional competitions they participate in during the week of the national contest. It will be a great keepsake award for all of your efforts. Simply add the total number of MAT Points from the Optionals you participate in and submit them on the form provided. 

Fee: FREE 

Award: Each winner will receive a Commemorative Award.