Scholarship Organization
Become a Delegate
DEADLINE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, 2026 (11:59PM)
Step #1 - Accept Responsibilities
Before you register to be a delegate in this competition, it is important that you can commit to the following
base-line responsibilities that will be expected of you in the case of you winning one of these local titles.
-
ALL-DAY ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION FOR STATE HEADSHOT SESSION - LIKELY TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 1ST (2026).
-
PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS OF BEING A TITLEHOLDER, THE ORGANIZATION, SPONSORS, AND MORE.
-
ALL LOCAL TITLEHOLDERS ARE REQUIRED TO RAISE $300 FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION BEFORE THE STATE COMPETITION.
-
OCCASIONAL SPONSOR VISITS, EVENT APPEARANCES, COMPETITION PREP SESSIONS, ETC. (WORKING AROUND YOUR SCHEDULE)
-
ALL-WEEKEND ATTENDANCE FOR THE STATE ORIENTATION SPRING KICK-OFF MARCH 20TH-21ST (2027) IN PEORIA, IL.
-
ALL-WEEK ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION FOR THE STATE COMPETITION JUNE 7TH-12TH (2027) IN MARION, IL.
Step #2 - Check Age Eligibility
Miss Eligibility
Ages 18-28
Must be NO OLDER than 28 on
September 30, 2027, and
NO YOUNGER than 18 on Sept 1, 2027.
Teen Eligibility
Ages 14-18
Must be no YOUNGER than 14 by
September 1, 2027 and
NO OLDER than 18 on Sept 30, 2027.
Miss America HQ allows the option for 18-year-old contestants to have a ‘pivot’ year to decide whether they would like to compete in the Teen or Miss divisions. Additionally, once an 18-year-old decides on the division she may compete in, she may not change divisions until the next cycle. Please proceed to your applicable State online application.
Step #3 - Check Title Eligibility
Many local competitions in the Miss America Scholarship Organization award multiple titles when given the opportunity. This allows the organization to provide scholarships to more young women as well as give the candidates a better chance to have the opportunity to compete at the state competition. We will be giving out 2 titles per age category, 4 in total:
Miss Fox Valley, Miss Geneva, Miss Fox Valley's Teen, and Miss Geneva's Teen.
Local competitions have the option to specify their titles as either "open" or "closed". To put it simply, open titles can be won by anyone in the state, and closed titles can only be won by those that meet the specified criteria - usually geographically. Our Fox Valley titles are "open" and our Geneva titles are "closed". For more information about how this works, continue reading on.
Open Titles
Miss Fox Valley
Miss Geneva
& Miss Fox Valley's Teen
You must meet at least ONE of these
criteria to qualify to win this title:
-
Be a resident of Illinois.
-
Be a full-time employee in Illinois.
-
Be a full-time student in a college or university located in Illinois.
Closed Titles
Miss Geneva's Teen
You must meet at least ONE of these
criteria to qualify to win this title:
-
Geneva High School Student
-
Geneva High School Alumni
Common Misconceptions
You do not have to pick one title to compete for. Everyone is automatically in the running for each title they qualify for. If you qualify for the closed competition, you have a shot at both titles, and if you only qualify for the open title, you have a shot at just the 1 title. As titleholders, both are seen as equals - you will not learn who scored more points.
*In the event that there are not any eligible delegates in a closed category, it will be switched to an open title. This DID happen this year, impacting only the MISS GENEVA title which has now been moved to the "Open" section.*
Step #4 - Miss America Membership
First, you must register through the Miss America website to become a member of the organization, allowing you to become a
local competition delegate. This membership will allow you to compete at as many local competitions throughout this entire season
that you are eligible for. This membership will cost $49.99. This is a requirement of every local candidate across the country.
There are 3 steps for this registration process: 1. Join Club America. 2. Sign your delegate agreement. 3. Get your SpotFund Link.
As part of the Miss America Organization’s national partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), each candidate
competing in a local competition is required to participate in a fundraising initiative benefiting the AHA through Spotfund.
Through the link you acquired during your Club America registration, begin raising a minimum of $30 for the AHA.
Share your donation link with friends, family, and over social media!
Step #5 - Local Registration Form
Once you have completed the Miss America Membership (Club America) 3-Step registration process above, please complete the Local Competition registration using the link below. When selecting your local competition, make sure to select"Miss Fox Valley". This is where you will provide your contact information, talent information, talent audio track (if applicable), school information, and SpotFund link.
Step #6 - Local Registration Fee
Once you have completed the Local Competition registration form above, please submit your $150 delegate registration fee. These registration fees help cover event and organizational overhead, as well as state competition fees for the winning titleholders.
Make sure to include "Fox Valley Registration for (your full name)" in the description/memo of payment to ensure I know who's payment is who's!
*This fee is non-refundable after October 11th, 2026!*
Zelle or PayPal: arielabeverly@gmail.com
Step 7 - Acquire Rebel Athletics Set
In recognition of Miss America’s partnership with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® movement, all delegates are required to wear red athletic apparel selected exclusively from the official Miss America x Rebel Athletic collection. This partnership helps raise awareness of women’s heart health while reinforcing the organization’s mission of empowering young women to lead healthy, balanced lives.
*There are also several Facebook groups made exclusively for resale of pieces from this collection!*
The outfit that you choose can be reworn year after year at both the local AND state level!
Step #8 - Prepare Delegate Files
As soon as possible, start preparing all of your delegate files. These include your Community Service Initiative (CSI) Statement,
Delegate Fact Sheet, Official Headshot, etc. Instructional resources are provided below. If you're not sure where to begin or just want to talk through some ideas and have some one-on-one help, sign up for a free prep session with Ariel Beverly! The sign-up is linked below.
Step #9 - Wardrobe & Preparation
As soon as possible, start gathering your remaining competition wardrobe pieces and practice for all of your phases of competition! This includes studying your own candidate paperwork, interview preparation, talent practice, walking practice, etc. Resources are provided below.
If you're not sure where to begin and want to have some help, sign up for a free info session with Ariel Beverly! The sign-up is linked below.
Step #10 - Submit Delegate Files
As soon as possible, complete this form below where you will submit all of your delegate files.
Including Community Service Initiative (CSI), Fact Sheet, Headshot, Wardrobe preview photos, talent track file, etc.
Step #11 - Invite Friends & Family!
As soon as possible, start recruiting friends, family, co-workers, everyone you know, to attend the competition!
Step #12 - Campaign for
People's Choice Voting!
The People's Choice competition is a way to financially support the program's scholarship fund, but also a
way to award cold, hard, cash to the contestant that has the most votes in their name!
During the week leading up to the competition, voting will be available online, $1 per vote.
Each purchased general admission ticket ($20) will be worth 20 votes for a chosen contestant.
In-person voting will also take place at the competition where cash and digital payments are accepted, $1 per vote.
The winner will be announced before crowning!