To participate in the Miss District of Columbia competition, a contestant must fulfill the following requirements:
 
2025 Rules for Becoming a Miss DC Contestant (Download the form here)

To participate in the 2025 Miss District of Columbia competition, a contestant must fulfill the following requirements:

​A contestant must be 18-28 years of age to participate in the Miss DC competition. She must be at least 18 on the first day on which she is a contestant in any  phase of competition. She may not turn 29 by the end of the calendar year in which she competes for the Miss DC title. For the 2025 Miss DC competition, contestants must be born AFTER December 31, 1996 and BEFORE June 21, 2007. A copy of the contestant’s birth certificate must be provided to the Miss District of Columbia Organization.

In order to participate in the Miss District of Columbia competition, a contestant must reside in; be enrolled in and attending classes on a full-time basis at an accredited college/university in or a graduating high school senior in; or be employed in on a full-time basis, the District of Columbia (DC suburbs of Maryland and Virginia do not suffice).
If she is claiming eligibility to participate in the Miss District of Columbia competition based upon her residence in the District of Columbia, a contestant must have been a resident of the District of Columbia for at least 60 days prior to the Miss District of Columbia competition. A contestant must provide proof of this residency in the form of a driver’s license, automobile registration, current lease, or other official document that establishes residency. If her residency at this address is established as less than 60 days preceding the Miss District of Columbia competition, she must provide proof of previous residency in the District of Columbia. A contestant must agree to provide the Miss District of Columbia Organization with any additional information or documents that may be required to determine her residency in the District of Columbia if her residence is relevant to her eligibility. For the 2025 Miss DC competition, contestants must be able to prove residency on or before April 21, 2025.

If she is claiming eligibility to compete based upon her status as a student in the District of Columbia, a contestant must provide proof of enrollment to physically attend classes as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours for undergraduates and at least 9 credit hours for graduate students). A contestant may also be a student at a high school at which she is a graduating senior in the District of Columbia. She must provide transcript(s) or an acceptance letter to a DC university as proof of eligibility.

If she is claiming eligibility to compete based upon her employment in the District of Columbia, a contestant must have been employed in the District of Columbia on a full-time basis(at least 30 hours per week) for at least 30 days immediately prior to the Miss District of Columbia competition. She must present payroll statements or a letter from her employer to this effect. For the 2025 Miss DC competition, contestants must be able to prove employment on or before May 21, 2025.

Whatever type of eligibility she is claiming, the eligibility must be maintained through the Miss District of Columbia competition. 

A contestant must be female.
A contestant must be a U.S. citizen.
A contestant must not ever have been married and may not marry during her year of service.
A contestant may not currently be pregnant or become pregnant during her year of service.
A contestant must be in reasonably good health and able to participate fully in any program activities.

2025 CONTESTANT ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS for Miss District of Columbia
In order to assure that the eligibility requirements are adequately met, please provide the following information (both this signed/dated checklist and copies of supporting documents that we may keep – NOT originals) by no later than March 24, 2025.

REQUIRED INFORMATION
ALL the following are required for everyone:
Copy of state-certified birth certificate (verification of applicant’s identity and age)
Legible copy of current U.S. driver’s license/government issued photo ID (verification of applicant’s identity)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
One (1) of the three (3) following groupings of eligibility proof must be provided. Please select one category below and provide the required elements for that category.

_____I am choosing to prove eligibility by my Residency (Resident for at least 60 days immediately prior to date of Miss DC competition). Please circle below the letter, which indicates the type of proof you are submitting and attach copies at least two (2) of the following items:

A) Legible copy of District of Columbia driver’s license
B) Auto registration (in the applicant’s name)
C) Voter’s registration card (in the applicant’s name)
D) Registrar’s letter of validation including address (for the applicant)
E) Lease (in the applicant’s name)
F) Current utility bills (in the applicant’s name)
G) Federal income tax return (in the applicant’s name; financial information may be deleted)
H) State income tax return (in applicant’s name; financial information may be deleted)

(Note: Contestants must physically live within the DC city limits. Contestants may be asked to provide updated proof of residency closer to the date of the Miss DC competition to ensure that the 60-day requirement has been met and that the contestant is still a DC resident.)

_____I am choosing to prove eligibility by my Educational Status. Contestant must provide a letter of acceptance or transcript indicating that she is a full-time student in Washington, DC. (Note: Contestants must physically attend school within the DC city limits. Online classes or classes at satellite campuses outside the District of Columbia do not satisfy the requirement.) Contestants may be asked to provide updated proof of educational status closer to the date of the Miss DC competition.)

_____I am choosing to prove eligibility by my Employment (Please provide one or the other of these items):
Copies of pay stubs (including DC business address) from employer covering at least since May 21, 2025, indicating full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week at a company/organization with offices in Washington, DC.

Letter from employer on company/organization letterhead verifying full-time employment at least since May 21, 2025, of at least 30 hours per week at a company/organization with offices in Washington, DC. (Note: Contestants must physically work within the DC city limits.)

Contestants may be asked to provide updated proof of employment closer to the date of the Miss DC competition to ensure that the 30-day requirement has been met and that the candidate is still employed in DC.)

VERIFICATION OF ACCURACY
____________________    ___________________      ______________
Printed  Name                       Signature                              Date
 
 
Revised: June 21, 2024

If you are interested in receiving more information about becoming a contestant in the Miss America program, please send an e-mail to [email protected].