Miss Georgia Sweeps Scholarship Program
An Official Preliminary of the Miss America Competition
MANDATORY SERVICE REQUIREMENT
The National Platform for Miss America is the Children’s Miracle Network. All contestants competing in a
local preliminary are required to complete the Service Requirement of raising $100 for the CMN. This is
a tax deductible donation. 40% goes to the Children’s Miracle Network, 30% to the Miss America Scholarship
Fund and 30% to the Miss Georgia Scholarship Fund. Contestants are not required to handle any money. All
fundraising must be done via internet and email. Please visit the official website at www.missamerica4kids.org.
Here you can register and get answers to frequently asked questions. But don’t hesitate to call us if you have
ANY questions. No Miss contestant will be allowed to complete without completing the $100 service
requirement. This is a Miss America rule and is not bendable or flexible. The ABSOLUTE deadline is
Wednesday, February 26, 2014. When you do your donation via e-mail, please be sure to print a copy of
your confirmation.
MANDATORY FULL DRESS REHEARSAL:
A dress rehearsal will be held on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 3:00PM at the Cunningham Center at Columbus
State University. You will have the opportunity to practice your talent one time. That is when we will also do
sound checks.
OPENING NUMBER:
You will NOT be required to learn a dance. There will be basic stage maneuvers for the opening number
followed by individual contestant introductions. Your introduction usually includes your name, contestant
number and platform in some combination. You will introduce yourself and answer your on stage question in
your interview outfit.
PHASES OF COMPETITION:
INTERVIEW (25%): For Miss: The first opportunity the judges have to get to know you is your paper work.
They will receive copies of your material prior to your interview. Be sure the information is correct, spelling is
correct, name of pageant is correct. Interviews are 10 minutes long. When you walk into the room, the judge
who has been designated to ask your first question will begin immediately. The judges will then randomly ask
you questions. You will then be signaled by the head judge that time is up and asked if you have anything you
would like to add. At that point you have 30 seconds to say whatever you would like. This is your choice, but
you may choose to discuss something not covered in your interview or to emphasize a topic already covered.
The topics of questions will vary. Primarily, they will come from your resume and your platform. General
knowledge questions and even current events are “up for grabs.” However, the judges are NOT trying to trick
you. They are trying to get to know you. You should, however, be prepared to explain why you are passionate
about your platform. Do not worry if you have not had a chance to do a lot of work on your platform but you
should have a clear idea of what you would like to accomplish. Dress is contemporary business. This is a job
interview (you are interviewing for the job of one of the Sweeps crowns and possibly Miss Georgia or Miss
America!) but you should still look young/contemporary. If you were able to attend Miss Georgia this year, you
were able to see examples of what the contestants wore during their onstage questions.
ONSTAGE QUESTIONS (5%): You will be asked one question. This will not be limited to your platform but
could be anything from your paperwork. This is not meant to be tricky or difficult, so don’t get stressed out!
This will be done early in the show WHILE YOU ARE IN YOUR OPENING NUBMER OUTFIT.
TALENT (35%): there is a 90 second time limit. Your CDs should be sent to the address below by
Wednesday, February 26. I will travel to Columbus on Thursday, February 27, and will not be able to check
mail for CDs. We will have a dance floor for dancers and a piano, if needed. We will work with the sound
technician on available microphones. In the interest of time and fairness to all, you will be allowed to run
through your talent for a sound check ONE time during dress rehearsal. Since the pageant will closely follow
the rehearsal, there will not be additional times to practice talent. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
CDs (OR HEADSHOTS) THAT CONTESTANTS DO NOT PICK UP AT REHEARSAL OR LEAVE IN
THE DRESSING ROOMS!!!
MISS FITNESS/SWIMSUIT (15%): Your swimsuit MUST be approved (this will be done at rehearsal on
Friday afternoon, February 28. Swimsuits should be in good taste. You may choose a one piece suit or a two
piece suit. Keep in mind that not all body types are best suited for a two piece suit. You may choose to wear
shoes or not. If you choose to wear shoes, we suggest a nude or tan "strappy" sandal. Our hostesses will have
firm grip for your use to keep your suit bottoms from “riding up.” If you do not like firm grip, please bring
your own adhesive. You will use some type of adhesive…this is to save you from embarrassment. If you have
any concerns as to whether your swimsuit is appropriate, bring a second suit. Swimsuits will be approved at
rehearsal on Friday afternoon. The swimsuit walk/presentation will practiced at rehearsal.
EVENING WEAR (15%): Contestants may wear an evening outfit of their choice. This may be either a
gown or pants. Shoes: are your choice but keep in mind that thick, chunky heels are not the best choice for the
glamour and elegance of evening wear. Evening wear walk/presentation will also be [practiced at rehearsal.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Each winner will receive a $250.00 scholarship.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The pageant and interviews will be held at the Cunningham Center at Columbus State University. Your
dressing area will have some mirrors. Please feel free to bring anything you think you might need, just in case.
Following crowning on February 28, the winners will be required to attend the Miss Georgia Forum on March
1-2, 2014. Forum will also be held at Columbus State University. Forum will consist of contestant, parents and
franchise meetings. The Forum party will be held on Saturday night, March 1, 2014. The theme for the party is
The Great Gatsby.
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:
You will receive via e-mail an interview schedule: Please plan to arrive at interview 15 minutes before your
scheduled time.
When you arrive, you should be dressed and ready to enter the interview room. Your first impression with the
judges is your paperwork. Your second impression is your interview and timeliness. Allow yourself ample
time to not be late.
DEADLINES:
Deadline dates are to be received by the deadline not postmarked by the deadline.
If you have any questions regarding the pageant or pageant preparations, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Wanda J. Whitten
Miss Georgia Field Director
29 Nan Lee Drive
Rome, Georgia 30165
706 506-0043(cell) 706 235-0665(home)
Whitten0665@comcast.net or wanda.whitten@HCAHealthcare.com