Over $13,000 in Scholarships!
Miss America qualified judges will select winners based on the following criteria:
• Private Interview (30% of Score)
• On Stage Conversation (10% of Score)
• Health & Fitness (20% of Score)
• Talent / HERStory™ (20% of Score)
• Evening Wear (20% of Score)
The winners and runners-up will receive:
• Miss South Florida Fair:
- $5,000 Scholarship to Palm Beach Atlantic University
- $5,000 Scholarship to her College of choice
- $1,000 Cash Award
- Entry into the Miss Florida 2026 Competition
- Official Miss America Crown and Sash
• Miss Palm Beach County:
- $5,000 Scholarship to her College of choice
- $1,000 Cash Award
- Entry into the Miss Florida 2026 Competition
- Official Miss America Crown and Sash
• Over $1,500 in Scholarships, Cash, and other prizes for the runners-up.
How To Become A Candidate:
DISCLAIMER: If you have held the title of Miss South Florida Fair or Miss Palm Beach County, you must wait at least two (2) years before returning to compete. In addition, per a change in Miss America Rules, you cannot hold a title more than one time.
Each year, thousands of young women participate at the local, state and national levels, culminating in the selection of 52 National Finalists who compete for the title of Miss America. One of them could be you!
To become Miss America, a Candidate must first enter and win a local Competition, like the Miss South Florida Fair / Miss Palm Beach County Scholarship Competition. She then competes in the Miss Florida Competition and, if she wins, will represent Florida at the Miss America Competition. This process requires hard work, talent, and personal commitment. As a State titleholder, a Candidate may only compete once at the National Miss America Competition.
We will be awarding over $13,000 in Scholarships and Cash at our Local Competition which will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the 2026 South Florida Fair.
Miss America "Miss Program" Eligibility Requirements:
- Be no younger than 18 years of age as of 09/01/2026 and no older than 28 years of age as of 09/30/2026.
- Be a legal resident for a minimum of 120 days (09/19/2025) immediately preceding the Local Competition (01/17/2026), full-time in person employee (full-time defined as an average of no less than 40 hours per week for a single employer) for a minimum of 120 days (09/19/2025) immediately preceding the Local Competition (01/17/2026), or a full-time student for a minimum of 120 days (09/19/2025) (full-time student status as determined by the school) at an accredited college or university by the Local Competition (01/17/2026), within one of the following Counties: Broward, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee or Palm Beach.
- Be a citizen of the United States of America.
- Pay an annual $49.99 Subscription Fee to Miss America once accepted into the MSFF / MPBC Program.
- Obtain a sponsor as a Candidate in the MSFF / MPBC Program.
- Be able to commit to a minimum of six (6) rehearsals between Saturday, January 3, 2026, and Thursday, January 15, 2026.
- Be in reasonably good health to meet the job requirements.
- Be able to meet the time commitment and job responsibilities set forth by the local, state and national competition(s) in which you compete.
- Have a performing arts talent as defined by the Miss America Organization and be an amateur and not under contract with any talent agency or professional agent.
- Be a single female with no legal dependents, and, during her Year of Service, will not get married, will not get pregnant, and will not become the adoptive or custodial parent of any child.
We look forward to having you as part of our Program!