1. Overall first impression
2. Qualities and Attributes
3. Knowledge and Understanding of her Platform Issue - in a manner of national public interest
4. Ability to fulfill job responsibilities
5. Sense of accomplishments (above and beyond statement of achievements on fact sheet)
6. Confident and commanding presence
7. Personality, appearance and attractiveness
8. Validated opinions and responses (in context)
9. Communication (speech, vocabulary and grammar)

Other important points to remember, each contestant will stand behind the podium and address the panel of five judges.  The contestant will be given 45 seconds to make an opening statement of her choice.  The judges will then begin asking contestants questions.  The question and answer portion will be 10 minutes and 30 seconds (5 minutes and 30 seconds for Teen).  Then the contestant will be given 45 seconds to make a closing statement of her choice.  Judges will then award the contestant an overall score on a scale from 1 to 10.  The high and low score will be discarded for each contestant and the rest will be averaged.

Interview questions could be based upon the following:

1. Opening statement
2. Fact sheet
3. Relevant issues facing women
4. State issues relevant to the contestant
5. Role and responsibilities
6. Current events
7. Career goals and personal ambitions
8. Education
9. Talent
10. Platform

A contestant may respond to a question with "I don't know" and the contestant is to wear "business attire" that is appropriate for her age and for a job interview.

Talent (30%)

Talent is not an end in itself, but rather an insight into the contestant's preparatory and performance skills.  The talent competition acknowledges the quality of the performance, the technical skill level, stage presence and the interest and entertainment value.  The judges will score each contestant on a scale from 1 to 10 at the conclusion of her talent performance.  The high and low scores will be dropped and the rest will be averaged by the auditor.

The following is a list of specific scoring criteria:

1. Selection & Performance (distinguishes personality & skill)
2. Interpretive ability: Technical skill level (execution, technique, synchronization, and control)
3. Stage Presence (on-stage personality)
4. Total of all elements (including costume, props, music, voice, use of body and choreography)
5. Did you enjoy the presentation?

Each contestant is allowed two minutes to perform her talent selection and talents should not exceed this time limit.  Talent can include anything from singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, baton twirling, gymnastics, acting, martial arts demonstration, magic acts, or any other type of performance.  Props must be small enough for the contestant to carry herself.  No talent that could inflict injury is allowed and no live animals are allowed onstage.  If you have more specific questions, please contact the directors.

Physical Fitness in Swimsuit/Sportswear (10%)

This phase of competition is designed to see how well the contestant maintains a lifestyle of good physical fitness, emotional and intellectual health.  Her sense of confidence, attractiveness, and presence must be considered in the scoring.

Here are specific criteria the judges will look for:

1. First impression
2. Attractiveness and presence
3. Lifestyle statement of strong physical, emotional, and intellectual health
4. Walk, posture, poise and grace
5. Sense of confidence and composure
6. Display of energy, charisma and expression
7. Qualities & Attributes

Contestants in the Miss division may choose to wear either a one or two piece swimsuit.  Either type must be modest and all swimsuits are subject to the approval of the pageant committee.  Teen contestants will wear sportswear consisting of a solid color t-shirt, white shorts, white shoes and socks.  Contestants will be on-stage no longer than 35 seconds in their swimwear/sportswear.  The contestant should wear a shoe with a reasonable size heel for comfort.  Contestants will not be on-stage in a group in their swimsuits/sportswear.  Judges will score each contestant immediately after she has modeled her swimsuit on a scale of 1 to 10.  The high and low scores will be dropped and the rest will be averaged by the auditor.

Evening Wear (10%)

This competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her compelling charm, presence and personality.  Her beauty, sense of style, composure and allure must be projected across the footlights.  The contestant's total look is to be considered.  The evening wear (not the value of it) should compliment the young woman.

Judges will be evaluating on the following criteria:

1. Overall first impression
2. Sense of Confidence
3. Personality and Stage Presence
4. Walk, posture, carriage and grace
5. Sense of style and appropriateness of the evening wear
6. Beauty, sense of attractiveness and charm
7. Qualities & Attributes

During this phase of competition each contestant will also be asked on-stage questions (one general and the other platform related).  The answers to these questions will be considered as part of the score for the final phase of competition, overall composite score.

Overall Composite (10%)

This score is designed to evaluate the contestants overall performance in all competitions and whether or not she should be the winner.  Extemporaneous responses to on-stage interview question(s) are included in this evaluation as are Qualities & Attributes and Job Responsibilities.  Judges award both the evening wear score and the overall composite score at this time.  Both count for 10% each.  They are both scored on a scale from 1 to 10 and the high and low in both phases is dropped and the rest are averaged. 

Once the scores have been calculated, the winners and runners-up will be named.  Ties will be broken as follows:  The contestant with the highest score in Interview will be given the higher placement, if both contestants are tied in interview then talent scores are used to break the tie, followed by evening wear and then swimsuit.  Unless a tie exists in all four phases of competition judges do not reballot.  Should a tie exist in all four phases of competition each judge is to be given a listing of the contestants who are tied and each judge indicates individually who they feel should be awarded the higher position.