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| An Official Local Preliminary to Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen |
What is the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant?
The two Miss Gateway titles are two of approximately 30 local preliminary titles that are awarded throughout the State of Missouri that go on to
compete for the title of Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen in June and the opportunity to represent the state at the Miss America’s Outstanding
Teen Pageant, held in January in Orlando, FL. The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant is a sister pageant to the Miss America
Pageant which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2011. Organized in 2005, the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen is designed to encourage
positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community
involvement of our nation’s youth.
Is the Miss America Pageant Different Than Miss USA?
The Miss America Pageant exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture,
politics and their communities. It is recognized for showcasing talent and physical fitness as well as the scholastic opportunities it provides.
Catalina Swimsuits founded the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in 1952 as a marketing tool. It involves the three competitions of
interview, swimsuit and evening gown. Miss USA and Miss Universe is owned by the Donald Trump Organization, while Miss America and
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageants are not-for-profit organizations that are operated at the local and state levels by grassroots
volunteers.
What is the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Title?
Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen is a ‘closed’ pageant with only residents in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County,
Jefferson County, Franklin County, Warren County or Lincoln County eligible to compete. If a contestant resides in the area outlined for Miss
Gateway St. Louis, and meets the eligibility requirements, she must compete for that title.
What is the Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen Title?
Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen is an ‘open’ pageant’ for any eligible contestants from elsewhere within the State of Missouri.
How do I Determine if I am Eligible to Complete?
The basic eligibility requirements are…
Contestant must be at least 13 by October 15, 2011.
Contestant must not be older than 17 by July 31, 2012.
Contestant can not be a graduating senior.
Contestant must be a citizen of the United States.
Contestant must have resided in Missouri at least six months prior to October 15, 2011.
Contestant must be a young lady of the highest moral character, integrity and standards.
Contestant must execute the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Contestant Contract and abide by all agreements and representations therein.
NOTE: Eligibility requirements, including the cutoff age dates, are subject to change by MAOT.
How are Contestants Scored?
Contestants will be scored in five phases of competition during the program. Each member of the judging panel will individually award whole
numbers ranging from 1-10 to each contestant in each individual competition. High and low scores, as in Olympic scoring, are eliminated. This
is the scoring for Miss America local preliminaries:
Talent: 35%
Interview: 35%
Evening Wear: 15%
Active Wear: 10%
On-Stage Question: 5%
Top Five Ballot
After the five phases of competition are completed, the five contestants with the most points for each title will be ranked by the judges in the
order they believe each should finish in the competition. A contestant receiving the first placement on a judge’s score sheet will receive ten
points, the second will receive five points, the third will receive three points, the fourth will receive two points and the fifth will receive one point.
The contestant with the most points accumulated in the Top Five Ranking is awarded the title. The outcome of the pageant is based solely on
the scores from the Top Five Ballot. These points will NOT be added to the scores from the previous competitions.
What Are the Phases of Competition?
Talent - shall be a selection no more than two minutes.
A talent introduction will be written by the production chairperson.
The only piano available at the auditorium is an upright piano.
Live accompaniment music is not allowed.
Contestants may not lip sync, or sing over songs with existing vocals (limited backup vocals are allowed on a track.)
If using an accompaniment track for your talent, it must be cut to the 2:00 minute time length prior to your arrival to compete in the program.
During talent rehearsal, each talent will be timed to ensure it is no longer than the 2:00 maximum length.
Contestants should bring two copies of their accompaniment CD in order to have one as a backup. The accompaniment track should be the
only song recorded on the CD. Please label CDs with your name, type of talent and song selection.
NOTE: The Talent phase of competition provides an insight into the woman’s preparatory and performance skills. Consideration is given to
whether the contestant’s talent section fits these skills and her personality. The Talent competition acknowledges the quality of the talent being
presented, the technical skill level, and the stage presence of the contestant.
Interview - The Private Interview is 6 minutes.
Contestants will stand behind a podium
Contestants will not make an opening statement…the contestant will be introduced and the interview will begin.
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen has asked contestants to move beyond the traditional ‘pageant suits.” What you wear for interview should
showcase your personality, be appropriate for a professional interview and showcase you as a modern young “it” girl.
NOTE: The Private Interview phase of competition is an opportunity for the judging panel to learn as much as possible about the contestant –
her personal qualities and attributes to be Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen or Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen; her level
of communication skills; her opinions and aspirations; her sense of accomplishment, poise and presence as well as her ability to fulfill the job
responsibilities of the position.
Evening Wear - Contestants will model attire for a formal occasion, traditionally an evening gown.
NOTE: The Evening Wear phase of competition is designed for the judge to assess the contestant’s beauty, poise, grace and commanding
stage presence. The contestant’s total look is considered. Her evening wear (not the value of the evening wear) should compliment the
contestant’s individuality.
Active Wear - By September 1st, the producer will determine what the outstanding teens are to wear for the active wear competition. In the
past, contestants have been asked to wear gym/cheer shorts, white tennis shoes and a shirt has been provided by the pageant.
NOTE: Active Wear is designed to see how well the contestant maintains a lifestyle of good physical health, whether she meets the public
expectation of a titleholder, and whether or not she has the confidence needed to be a titleholder. The contestant’s drive, energy and presence
are to be likewise considered.
On-Stage Question - Each contestant will be asked one on-stage question that may originate from their resume, pertain to their platform or be
a general question.
NOTE: The On-Stage Interview phase of competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her interests, opinions
and aspirations.
How is the Judging Panel Selected?
Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen has set criteria for the selection of a local preliminary judging panel. Criteria includes:
A local judging panel may have five, six or seven members.
At least one member of the panel must be a novice judge, having never judged in the Miss America Organization.
A judge can not judge more than four locals or two state pageants within a competition year.
Auditors are required to be from the legal, financial or accounting field.
What is a Platform?
Contestants are required to have a platform issue to which they are committed and deeply involved. Current local and state titleholders serve as
advocates for a wide array of community issues including: eating disorders, rape education prevention, HIV and AIDS awareness,
volunteerism, breast cancer awareness, mentoring, American Red Cross, youth self-development, internet safety, and domestic abuse and
dozens of other issues. Contestants are asked to submit responses to three questions related to their chosen platform issue and their volunteer
efforts. It is important for contestants to be passionate and knowledgeable about their platform issue, and to have real experience doing
volunteer and community service work as judges will ask related questions during the interview competition.
What Awards & Scholarships are Offered?
In 2011, the awards package for the Miss Gateway Outstanding Teen and Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen included savings bonds,
gifts, and discounts at Gateway sponsors for photography and gowns. The awards package for the 2012 pageant will be finalized by September
15, 2011 and will be posted on the program’s web site. Miss Gateway St. Louis 2012 and Miss Gateway to the West 2012 will compete for
additional prizes and savings bonds in the 2012 Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.
What are the Responsibilities of a Gateway Titleholder?
The 2012 titleholders will have responsibilities to the local program. They may include meeting scholarship and program sponsors, making
special appearances, public speaking and performing, as well as working with their platforms in the St. Louis community. They will also begin
preparing to compete for the title of Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2012. Preparation may include mock interviews, wardrobe review, talent
assistance and physical fitness/workout regime. The 2012 titleholders will also be required to attend Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Orientation
tentatively set for March 25, 2012. The Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will tentatively be held June 2-9, 2012, in Mexico, MO. The
contestant winning the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2012 title will immediately begin working with the state Board of Directors to start
preparing for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant to be held in August, 2012, in Orlando, FL.
What is the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen National Platform?
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids by raising funds for 170 children’s hospitals across
North America, including two in St. Louis: Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The 170 hospitals affiliated
with CMN help 17 million children each year – kids with cancer, birth defects, pediatric AIDS, accident traumas and every affliction imaginable.
These children’s hospitals are there 24 hours a day to provide state-of-the-art care, cutting edge research and community outreach that benefit
children in every state in the U.S.
In 2007, Miss America was named a goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. In the new partnership, Miss America continues to
promote her personal platform, but also help raise awareness and funds for CMN. The new partnership reaches all levels of the Miss America
Organization, including the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. Service, one of the four points of the crown, has always been important
to contestants striving for the opportunity to be Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.
To build on this, all Outstanding Teen contestants are now required to set up a profile page on the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen /
Children’s Miracle Network web site. While it is the hope that each contestant at the local level will fundraise for CMN, it is NOT a
requirement to enter a local preliminary and there is NO minimum amount o fundraise.
The fundraising is done in three easy steps…
1. Each contestant must log onto to maoteen4kids.org create her personal fund raising web page.
2. Once registered, contestants have the option to e-mail friends and relatives and ask for donations to support Children’s Miracle Network
and the Miss America Scholarship Fund using a simple pre-formatted e-mail system.
3. Friends and relatives will then log on to their contestant’s personal fund raising web page to make secure online donations using a credit
card or check.
Local directors will be required to verify that any contestant who has entered their local Outstanding Teen preliminary has set up her profile. All
contestants must set up their profile through the maoteen4kids web site prior to October 15, 2011 to compete for a Gateway Outstanding Teen
title.
What is the Cost of Entering the Gateway Outstanding Teen Pageant?
The entry fee to compete for the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen and Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen titles is $100. The
biggest expense of entering the pageant may be the wardrobe requirements. It does not matter how much a contestant spends on an interview
outfit, swimsuit or evening gown. What counts is how well the wardrobe fits and shows the contestant’s personality and her contemporary style.
If you should win one of the Gateway titles, there are additional expenses to prepare for Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen. Wardrobe reviews
will be held to determine if changes in wardrobe for the state competition are recommended, thus additional money may need to be budgeted
for purchasing a new evening gown, for example. There will also be production wardrobe (including, but not limited to, active wear and opening
production number) that each contestant will need to purchase. In the past, those production costs have been about $300.
How do I Enter as a Contestant?
Watch for information coming summer of 2012
The two Miss Gateway titles are two of approximately 30 local preliminary titles that are awarded throughout the State of Missouri that go on to
compete for the title of Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen in June and the opportunity to represent the state at the Miss America’s Outstanding
Teen Pageant, held in January in Orlando, FL. The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant is a sister pageant to the Miss America
Pageant which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2011. Organized in 2005, the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen is designed to encourage
positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community
involvement of our nation’s youth.
Is the Miss America Pageant Different Than Miss USA?
The Miss America Pageant exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture,
politics and their communities. It is recognized for showcasing talent and physical fitness as well as the scholastic opportunities it provides.
Catalina Swimsuits founded the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in 1952 as a marketing tool. It involves the three competitions of
interview, swimsuit and evening gown. Miss USA and Miss Universe is owned by the Donald Trump Organization, while Miss America and
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageants are not-for-profit organizations that are operated at the local and state levels by grassroots
volunteers.
What is the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Title?
Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen is a ‘closed’ pageant with only residents in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County,
Jefferson County, Franklin County, Warren County or Lincoln County eligible to compete. If a contestant resides in the area outlined for Miss
Gateway St. Louis, and meets the eligibility requirements, she must compete for that title.
What is the Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen Title?
Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen is an ‘open’ pageant’ for any eligible contestants from elsewhere within the State of Missouri.
How do I Determine if I am Eligible to Complete?
The basic eligibility requirements are…
Contestant must be at least 13 by October 15, 2011.
Contestant must not be older than 17 by July 31, 2012.
Contestant can not be a graduating senior.
Contestant must be a citizen of the United States.
Contestant must have resided in Missouri at least six months prior to October 15, 2011.
Contestant must be a young lady of the highest moral character, integrity and standards.
Contestant must execute the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Contestant Contract and abide by all agreements and representations therein.
NOTE: Eligibility requirements, including the cutoff age dates, are subject to change by MAOT.
How are Contestants Scored?
Contestants will be scored in five phases of competition during the program. Each member of the judging panel will individually award whole
numbers ranging from 1-10 to each contestant in each individual competition. High and low scores, as in Olympic scoring, are eliminated. This
is the scoring for Miss America local preliminaries:
Talent: 35%
Interview: 35%
Evening Wear: 15%
Active Wear: 10%
On-Stage Question: 5%
Top Five Ballot
After the five phases of competition are completed, the five contestants with the most points for each title will be ranked by the judges in the
order they believe each should finish in the competition. A contestant receiving the first placement on a judge’s score sheet will receive ten
points, the second will receive five points, the third will receive three points, the fourth will receive two points and the fifth will receive one point.
The contestant with the most points accumulated in the Top Five Ranking is awarded the title. The outcome of the pageant is based solely on
the scores from the Top Five Ballot. These points will NOT be added to the scores from the previous competitions.
What Are the Phases of Competition?
Talent - shall be a selection no more than two minutes.
A talent introduction will be written by the production chairperson.
The only piano available at the auditorium is an upright piano.
Live accompaniment music is not allowed.
Contestants may not lip sync, or sing over songs with existing vocals (limited backup vocals are allowed on a track.)
If using an accompaniment track for your talent, it must be cut to the 2:00 minute time length prior to your arrival to compete in the program.
During talent rehearsal, each talent will be timed to ensure it is no longer than the 2:00 maximum length.
Contestants should bring two copies of their accompaniment CD in order to have one as a backup. The accompaniment track should be the
only song recorded on the CD. Please label CDs with your name, type of talent and song selection.
NOTE: The Talent phase of competition provides an insight into the woman’s preparatory and performance skills. Consideration is given to
whether the contestant’s talent section fits these skills and her personality. The Talent competition acknowledges the quality of the talent being
presented, the technical skill level, and the stage presence of the contestant.
Interview - The Private Interview is 6 minutes.
Contestants will stand behind a podium
Contestants will not make an opening statement…the contestant will be introduced and the interview will begin.
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen has asked contestants to move beyond the traditional ‘pageant suits.” What you wear for interview should
showcase your personality, be appropriate for a professional interview and showcase you as a modern young “it” girl.
NOTE: The Private Interview phase of competition is an opportunity for the judging panel to learn as much as possible about the contestant –
her personal qualities and attributes to be Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen or Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen; her level
of communication skills; her opinions and aspirations; her sense of accomplishment, poise and presence as well as her ability to fulfill the job
responsibilities of the position.
Evening Wear - Contestants will model attire for a formal occasion, traditionally an evening gown.
NOTE: The Evening Wear phase of competition is designed for the judge to assess the contestant’s beauty, poise, grace and commanding
stage presence. The contestant’s total look is considered. Her evening wear (not the value of the evening wear) should compliment the
contestant’s individuality.
Active Wear - By September 1st, the producer will determine what the outstanding teens are to wear for the active wear competition. In the
past, contestants have been asked to wear gym/cheer shorts, white tennis shoes and a shirt has been provided by the pageant.
NOTE: Active Wear is designed to see how well the contestant maintains a lifestyle of good physical health, whether she meets the public
expectation of a titleholder, and whether or not she has the confidence needed to be a titleholder. The contestant’s drive, energy and presence
are to be likewise considered.
On-Stage Question - Each contestant will be asked one on-stage question that may originate from their resume, pertain to their platform or be
a general question.
NOTE: The On-Stage Interview phase of competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her interests, opinions
and aspirations.
How is the Judging Panel Selected?
Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen has set criteria for the selection of a local preliminary judging panel. Criteria includes:
A local judging panel may have five, six or seven members.
At least one member of the panel must be a novice judge, having never judged in the Miss America Organization.
A judge can not judge more than four locals or two state pageants within a competition year.
Auditors are required to be from the legal, financial or accounting field.
What is a Platform?
Contestants are required to have a platform issue to which they are committed and deeply involved. Current local and state titleholders serve as
advocates for a wide array of community issues including: eating disorders, rape education prevention, HIV and AIDS awareness,
volunteerism, breast cancer awareness, mentoring, American Red Cross, youth self-development, internet safety, and domestic abuse and
dozens of other issues. Contestants are asked to submit responses to three questions related to their chosen platform issue and their volunteer
efforts. It is important for contestants to be passionate and knowledgeable about their platform issue, and to have real experience doing
volunteer and community service work as judges will ask related questions during the interview competition.
What Awards & Scholarships are Offered?
In 2011, the awards package for the Miss Gateway Outstanding Teen and Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen included savings bonds,
gifts, and discounts at Gateway sponsors for photography and gowns. The awards package for the 2012 pageant will be finalized by September
15, 2011 and will be posted on the program’s web site. Miss Gateway St. Louis 2012 and Miss Gateway to the West 2012 will compete for
additional prizes and savings bonds in the 2012 Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.
What are the Responsibilities of a Gateway Titleholder?
The 2012 titleholders will have responsibilities to the local program. They may include meeting scholarship and program sponsors, making
special appearances, public speaking and performing, as well as working with their platforms in the St. Louis community. They will also begin
preparing to compete for the title of Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2012. Preparation may include mock interviews, wardrobe review, talent
assistance and physical fitness/workout regime. The 2012 titleholders will also be required to attend Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Orientation
tentatively set for March 25, 2012. The Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will tentatively be held June 2-9, 2012, in Mexico, MO. The
contestant winning the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2012 title will immediately begin working with the state Board of Directors to start
preparing for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant to be held in August, 2012, in Orlando, FL.
What is the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen National Platform?
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids by raising funds for 170 children’s hospitals across
North America, including two in St. Louis: Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The 170 hospitals affiliated
with CMN help 17 million children each year – kids with cancer, birth defects, pediatric AIDS, accident traumas and every affliction imaginable.
These children’s hospitals are there 24 hours a day to provide state-of-the-art care, cutting edge research and community outreach that benefit
children in every state in the U.S.
In 2007, Miss America was named a goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. In the new partnership, Miss America continues to
promote her personal platform, but also help raise awareness and funds for CMN. The new partnership reaches all levels of the Miss America
Organization, including the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. Service, one of the four points of the crown, has always been important
to contestants striving for the opportunity to be Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.
To build on this, all Outstanding Teen contestants are now required to set up a profile page on the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen /
Children’s Miracle Network web site. While it is the hope that each contestant at the local level will fundraise for CMN, it is NOT a
requirement to enter a local preliminary and there is NO minimum amount o fundraise.
The fundraising is done in three easy steps…
1. Each contestant must log onto to maoteen4kids.org create her personal fund raising web page.
2. Once registered, contestants have the option to e-mail friends and relatives and ask for donations to support Children’s Miracle Network
and the Miss America Scholarship Fund using a simple pre-formatted e-mail system.
3. Friends and relatives will then log on to their contestant’s personal fund raising web page to make secure online donations using a credit
card or check.
Local directors will be required to verify that any contestant who has entered their local Outstanding Teen preliminary has set up her profile. All
contestants must set up their profile through the maoteen4kids web site prior to October 15, 2011 to compete for a Gateway Outstanding Teen
title.
What is the Cost of Entering the Gateway Outstanding Teen Pageant?
The entry fee to compete for the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen and Miss Gateway to the West Outstanding Teen titles is $100. The
biggest expense of entering the pageant may be the wardrobe requirements. It does not matter how much a contestant spends on an interview
outfit, swimsuit or evening gown. What counts is how well the wardrobe fits and shows the contestant’s personality and her contemporary style.
If you should win one of the Gateway titles, there are additional expenses to prepare for Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen. Wardrobe reviews
will be held to determine if changes in wardrobe for the state competition are recommended, thus additional money may need to be budgeted
for purchasing a new evening gown, for example. There will also be production wardrobe (including, but not limited to, active wear and opening
production number) that each contestant will need to purchase. In the past, those production costs have been about $300.
How do I Enter as a Contestant?
Watch for information coming summer of 2012
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