To participate in the 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 the Miss DC competition. She may not turn 27 by the end of the calendar year in which she competes for the Miss DC title. For the 2023 Miss DC competition, contestant must be born AFTER December 31, 1995 and BEFORE June 13, 2005.  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 90 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 location was established within 90 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 2023 Miss DC competition, contestants must be able to prove residency on or before March 14, 2023.
  • 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 acceptance to a DC-based university and 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 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 32 hours per week) for at least 60 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 2023 Miss DC competition, contestants must be able to prove employment on or before April 15, 2023.
  • 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 never have been married.
  • A contestant must never have been pregnant and is not now pregnant nor the adoptive parent of any child.
  • A contestant must never have performed any act or engaged in any activity or employment that is or could reasonably be characterized as immoral or indecent.
  • A contestant must not use or consume any illegal controlled dangerous substances or abuse the use of alcohol or other dangerous substances.
  • A contestant must never have been convicted of any crime and does not have any criminal charges pending.
  • A contestant must be in reasonably good health and able to participate fully in any program activities.

​In order to assure that the eligibility requirements are adequately met, you must bring this form and copies of relevant documentation to your Preliminary Workshop. Only after successfully providing this information will you be permitted to continue with the workshop.
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If you are interested in receiving more information about becoming a contestant in the Miss America program, please send an e-mail to MissDCAmerica@aol.com.