Pageant Introduction:
Hello, and welcome to our website! We trust that our site will provide you additional information that will answer many of your questions. Each year we work to provide a fair environment in which young women have the opportunity to compete not against others, but against themselves. We trust the pageant encourages the contestants to build self-confidence, individual pride, and a greater self-awareness.
The focus for this program is to provide an opportunity for young women to better themselves; the pageant encourages the contestants to gain self-awareness, self-confidence, individual pride, and greater social awareness. Each contestant should be able to improve their ability to communicate effectively, to speak in front of people comfortably, and to stand up for what they believe in. We encourage our contestants to find causes or issues they feel strongly about, and to become involved in those organizations that speak closest to their hearts. Each young lady who enters has different ideals and goals and strives hard in their personal quest for excellence.
We are pleased that a majority of contestants each year have never participated in a pageant and they find it to be a rewarding and worthwhile experience. Many contestants have won their first time out, and many others return because of the positive experience they had in our program. We like to think that each young woman walks away from our program a little more ready to deal with the world around her, and more importantly, the world ahead of her.
Our philosophy for the Miss Maryland USA & Miss Maryland Teen USA program is not about encouraging young women to "win" a pageant, but to encourage young women to develop life skills that will ultimately help them win in life by being their personal best in everything they do.
Pageant Weekend:
While our program places an emphasis on excellence, achievement and personal growth, we also strive to make the pageant experience FUN! The pageant is a three-day event, and will be held November 7 - 9, 2008, in North Bethesda , MD.
FRIDAY
On the first day, our Teen and Miss delegates will check-in and then have their Preliminary Interview. During the interviews, each contestant has the opportunity to meet individually with the entire judging panel for approximately three minutes. Each contestant has the opportunity to convince the judges she is right for the job of MISS MARYLAND USA or MISS MARYLAND TEEN USA.
The contestants enjoy getting to know the pageant staff and other participants. The contestants will also begin rehearsals on arrival day because we put on a high quality production. Rehearsals with our staff in the hotel’s main ballroom are also being held concurrently that afternoon. We bring in a choreographer and a producer who work to make the rehearsals productive, but fun. As a result, the shows are always incredible! The day concludes with dinner and a group meeting before bed check.
SATURDAY
After breakfast, the contestants will have the opportunity to listen to a motivational speaker who will once again drive home the message of becoming your personal best. Saturday morning and afternoon is spent in rehearsals which prepares them for that day’s stage shows - the Miss Maryland Teen USA presentation show and the Miss Maryland USA presentation show. During the Presentation Show, each contestant is 'presented' to the judges in the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competitions. By now the pressure is off, and the day ends with a dinner and evening of fun, dancing, and making new friendships.
SUNDAY
The third day begins again with rehearsals and concludes with the final competitions. At the end of each of the final shows, we will have a new Miss Maryland USA & Miss Maryland Teen USA for 2008. The winner of MISS MARYLAND USA will advance to the nationally televised MISS USA pageant, and the winner of the MISS MARYLAND TEEN USA title will advance to the MISS TEEN USA pageant. Should MISS MARYLAND USA go on to win MISS USA, she would then advance to the ultimate contest ... the internationally televised MISS UNIVERSE Pageant.
Pageant Competition:
Each Contestant will compete in three equal phases of preliminary competition: Friday’s interview, plus Saturday’s swimsuit and evening gown. The results from these preliminary phases of competition are added up, and the contestants with the highest composite scores become semi-finalists. The number of semi-finalists will be determined by the total number of contestants in the competition and is typically between 10 and 15. Scoring is based on the following:
- Interview : Preliminary interviews are conducted individually in front of the entire judging panel. You will have a two to three-minute interview with the panel of 5 or 7 judges. It's very comfortable and conversational. Contestants are scored on their communication skills, and personality. They are NOT scored on their opinions or personal beliefs.
- Swimsuit : Each contestant is evaluated on her physical fitness, stage-presence and overall impression.
- Evening Gown : Each contestant is evaluated on grace, poise, style, stage presence, the confidence with which she carries herself and overall-impression. Judges are instructed to evaluate the contestant, not the dress she is wearing.
Preliminary results are tallied and audited on Saturday night after the show concludes. On Sunday, the MISS MARYLAND USA & MISS MARYLAND TEEN USA Final Competition kicks off with the opening production number followed by the parade of evening gowns. Soon after, the semi-finalists are announced and they will again compete in swimsuit and evening gown and the judges will narrow the field to a group of five finalists. One final on-stage question for the remaining Top-5 will be conducted by the Emcee. They will then appear on stage for group judging and have a spotlighted “Final Look” when each judge will independently select their winner, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, 3rd runner-up, and 4th runner-up in each age group. These events lead up to the crowning of the new Miss Maryland USA and Miss Maryland Teen USA! All contestants will participate on stage several times during the show. Even if they are not selected as Semi-Finalists, there will be several other honors to award that evening.
Pageant Wardrobe:
Each contestant will need rehearsal clothing (sweats, sweatshirts, jeans, tennis shoes, etc.) in addition to a fun outfit to wear to the Saturday night dinner and dance. The required competition and stage wardrobe is as follows:
- Private Interview : Business style suit or dress. Pantsuits are acceptable.
- Swimsuit: Contestants choose their own swimsuit. TEEN contestants are required to wear a solid colored one-piece suit, however, MISS contestants may chose between a solid colored one or two-piece suit. Adequate coverage is required; Brazilian cuts and thongs are not allowed. Swimsuits may be any appropriate style, and design, and there are no color restrictions. Although we ask that the suit be solid in color, there may be a small embellishment or trim of another color.
- Evening Gown : all contestants must have a full-length evening gown of their choice. The style, design, and color are up to you. It can be elaborate, or very simple. Choose something that makes you feel beautiful. Your gown should represent YOUR own personality and taste. Remember that you can look like a million bucks without spending a million bucks! Teens are encouraged to wear gowns that reflect a more youthful style and look than the Miss contestants
- Opening Production Number : MISS contestants will wear a cocktail dress in that is either solid black, solid white or a black & white print with any shoe of your choice. TEEN contestants will wear a pair of black Capri pants with white “Ked” style sneakers and a T-shirt provided by the pageant.
Examples of approved wardrobe styles can be seen here... MISS or TEEN
How to Enter:
After reviewing all of the information on our website, if you have an interest in becoming a contestant, please click on the Apply Today starburst under the menu bar and follow the instructions. There is NO fee required to apply. Once we receive your application, it will be forwarded along with all other pertinent information to the pageant committee. If your application is approved, you will need to participate in either a personal interview, or a phone interview before being accepted as an official contestant. This truly could be the chance of a lifetime, so don't delay, apply today!
Conclusion:
Hopefully, our website has provided you with a sense about our program and the many opportunities it offers. We hope it has answered most of your questions about the pageant competition as well. Nevertheless, we realize there is no way we can adequately convey answers to all of your questions, or our genuine passion for this program without speaking to you in person. Please, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here for YOU! We sincerely hope you will decide to become a part of our "pageant family!"
