At-Large Miss PA's Teen Contestant Application

Welcome to the Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen program!

As the official licensee of the Miss America program in Pennsylvania, we are thrilled to bring our scholarship competition to the Appell Center for the Performing Arts this June. Last year, we awarded over $75,000 in scholarships to deserving young women and teens.     

The Miss America’s Teen program is a division of The Miss America Opportunity for young women ages 14-18. Candidates compete in areas such as interview, talent, fitness, and social impact for scholarships to further their education and the chance to represent the nation as Miss America’s Teen.

As part of the Miss America Opportunity, participants in the MATeen program earn educational scholarships at every level of competition. Since its founding in 2005, MATeen has paid over $1.3 million in cash scholarships to 200 colleges and universities across the nation. Last year, Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen was awarded a $8,000 cash scholarship and attends the national competition in January in Orlando, FL.

Join us for an amazing few days in York, PA where in addition to competing for thousands of dollars in scholarships, you will participate in various community events, visit local sites, and be showcased throughout the week! 

-      Deborah Butcher, Executive Director

Miss PA Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

 Eligibility

As a Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen candidate, you must meet the age eligibility requirements:

Miss America’s Teen 14-18 – must be 14 by state competition and no older than 18 at state competition.

Teen Age Criteria- Additional Notes:
Miss America HQ is reinstating the option for 18-year-old contestants to have a ‘pivot’ year to decide whether they would like to compete in the Teen or Miss divisions.

A TEEN must not be more than 18 years old at the FIRST DAY of the State competition and must be at least 14 years of age. To clarify, the date of determining this age criterion remains the first day of the published State competition schedule.

To qualify, you must meet Guidelines set forth by the MATeen Organization State agreement which includes:

·         Complete all remaining program and production paperwork and other requirements. Complete information is found in the contestant’s resource portal. The link will be provided once application is approved.

·         Be available for the following mandatory Events/Dates:

Candidate/Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Orientation
Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9am-3pm
Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., York, PA  17402
A parent/guardian must accompany the candidate to Orientation. Lodging is the responsibility of the candidate’s family.

          (Informative session to learn about the activities and events during competition week, as well as additional development and preparation for the state competition)

Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Competition
June 18-19, 2026 Appell Center for the Performing Arts, York, PA
Lodging: Yorktowne Hotel, York, PA 

Teen arrival is Tuesday, June 16, 2026 and continues with rehearsal day Weds. and competition days of Thursday and Friday. 

A parent/guardian must accompany the candidate to Miss PA Week. Lodging is the responsibility of the candidate’s family. (A block of rooms is held for our teen candidates at the Yorktowne Hotel)

Local Titles

It is necessary for each Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen candidate to have a local title to use during the competition.  Please choose several options for consideration.  They can include your hometown or county.  Please note that a local title may already be in use and the MPSF, Inc. will choose title name. 

Titles will be assigned first come, first served. If none of the two requested titles are available, we will assign an appropriate title based on location in the state. The title will be used in the program book and for onstage introductions. There will be no crown and sash provided, but they can be purchased.

Miss America’s Teen Crowns and Sashes

As an At-Large Candidate competing for the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen, an official Miss America’s Teen/Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Local titleholder crown and sash are available. We do use crowns and sashes during the competition week and encourage all contestants have them, and are recommended for all candidates to represent their communities.  Please indicate if you would like to purchase the crown and/or sash below.

Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Competition Scoring

· Private Interview 30%

· Talent/HERStory™ 20%

· Health & Fitness 20%

· Evening Gown 20%

· On Stage Conversation 10%

Further items of note:

1.   You will be required to cover state competition costs including Production Attire which includes opening number outfit. All remaining wardrobe is the sole responsibility of candidate. This includes: interview, talent, fitness, evening gown, off night evening gown, rehearsal attire, and additional excursion outfits as needed, and shoes and accessories for each wardrobe change listed.

2.   Be committed to volunteering within your community. Provide an official Community Service Impact Essay outlining and detailing your chosen social cause and what you have done and will do to support this cause during your year of service. This will be used during your interview portion of competition.

3.   Create a Factsheet that will be used during your interview portion of competition (see the MATEEN official example on our Teen Contestant Resource Portal). 

4.   Prepare a 90 second talent presentation of your choice that you will present on the prestigious Appell Center for the Performing Arts stage!

5.   Additional requirements including advertising, sponsorships, event tickets to come with full candidate state competition packet. 

If you have questions, please contact Deborah Butcher, Executive Director, Miss PA Scholarship Foundation at debbiebutcher@yorklinks.net.

Additional Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition Events and Competition are optional, but you are encouraged to attend, including the Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Purse Auction on April 17, 2026 at the Yorktowne Hotel.

Please use the link below to register and for payment for the Purse Auction. 

 https://form.jotform.com/240508657783163

 We can’t wait to see you there! 

Payment

The at-large fee of $600 will be due to the Miss PA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. along with the completion of this form. If you are purchasing a crown/sash, please add that to your payment.

All crowns and sashes will be ordered at the close of the at-large contestant window.

Payment can also be made by check and mailed to Miss PA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 180 Rosalia Circle, York, PA 17402.