Miss Georgia Sweeps Scholarship Program

An Official Preliminary of the Miss America Competition

Welcome to the 2015 Miss Georgia Sweeps Pageant. The information below should answer questions you have about competing. Please read very carefully and follow instructions as indicated.

Depending on the number of contestants we have (4 per crown required by Miss America) we will award 2-3 titles.

The following are required:

MANDATORY SERVICE REQUIREMENT

The National Platform for Miss America is the Children’s Miracle Network. All contestants competing in a local preliminary are required to complete the Service Requirement of raising $100 for the CMN. This is a tax deductible donation. 40% goes to the Children’s Miracle Network, 30% to the Miss America Scholarship Fund and 30% to the Miss Georgia Scholarship Fund. Contestants are not required to handle any money. All fundraising must be done via internet and email. Please visit the official website at www.missamerica4kids.org. Here you can register and get answers to frequently asked questions. But don’t hesitate to call us if you have ANY questions. No Miss contestant will be allowed to complete without completing the $100 service requirement. This is a Miss America rule and is not bendable or flexible. The ABSOLUTE deadline is Wednesday, Marc 4, 2015. When you do your donation via e-mail, please be sure to print a copy of your confirmation bring to rehearsal.

MANDATORY FULL DRESS REHEARSAL:

A dress rehearsal will be held on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 3:00PM at the Cunningham Center at Columbus State University. In the dressing room, we will have full length mirrors and clothes racks. You may want to bring a make-up mirror. You will have the opportunity to practice your talent one time. That is when we will also do sound checks.

OPENING NUMBER:

You will NOT be required to learn a dance. There will be basic stage maneuvers for the opening number followed by individual contestant introductions. Your introduction usually includes your name, contestant number and platform in some combination. You will introduce yourself and answer your on stage question in your interview outfit.

PHASES OF COMPETITION:

INTERVIEW (25%): For Miss: Interviews are 10 minutes long. When you walk into the room, the judge who has been designated to ask your first question will begin immediately. The judges will then randomly ask you questions. You will then be signaled by the head judge that time is up and asked if you have anything you would like to add. At that point you have 30 seconds to say whatever you would like. This is your choice, but you may choose to discuss something not covered in your interview or to emphasize a topic already covered. The topics of questions will vary. Primarily, they will come from your resume and your platform. Remember this is the first impression the judges get of you. Please update any previously used paperwork in other pageants and be sure to check carefully for typos and grammatical errors. General knowledge questions and even current events are “up for grabs.” However, the judges are NOT trying to trick you. They are trying to get to know you. You should, however, be prepared to explain why you are passionate about your platform. Do not worry if you have not had a chance to do a lot of work on your platform but you should have a clear idea of what you would like to accomplish. Dress is contemporary business. This is a job interview (you are interviewing for the job of one of the Sweeps crowns and possibly Miss Georgia or Miss America!) but you should still look young/contemporary. If you were able to attend Miss Georgia this year, you were able to see examples of what the contestants wore during their onstage questions.

ONSTAGE QUESTIONS (5%): You will be asked one question. This will not be limited to your platform but could be anything from your paperwork. This is not meant to be tricky or difficult, so don’t get stressed out! This will be done early in the show WHILE YOU ARE IN YOUR INTERVIEW OUTFIT.

TALENT (35%): there is a 90 second time limit. Your CD and one spare should be brought to rehearsal. The CD should contain only your musical selection. We will have a dance floor for dancers and a piano, if needed. We will work with the sound technician on available microphones. In the interest of time and fairness to all, you will be allowed to run through your talent for a sound check ONE time during dress rehearsal. Since the pageant will closely follow the rehearsal, there will not be additional times to practice talent. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CDs (OR HEADSHOTS) THAT CONTESTANTS DO NOT PICK UP AT REHEARSAL OR LEAVE IN THE DRESSING ROOMS!!!

MISS FITNESS/SWIMSUIT (15%): Your swimsuit MUST be approved (this will be done at rehearsal on Friday afternoon, March 6, 2015. Swimsuits should be in good taste. You may choose a one piece suit or a two piece suit. Keep in mind that not all body types are best suited for a two piece suit. You may choose to wear shoes or not. If you choose to wear shoes, we suggest a nude or tan "strappy" sandal. Our hostesses will have firm grip for your use to keep your suit bottoms from “riding up.” If you do not like firm grip, please bring your own adhesive. You will use some type of adhesive…this is to save you from embarrassment. If you have any concerns as to whether your swimsuit is appropriate, bring a second suit. .

EVENING WEAR (15%): Contestants may wear an evening outfit of their choice. This may be either a gown or pants. Shoes: are your choice but keep in mind that thick, chunky heels are not the best choice for the glamour and elegance of evening wear. Evening wear walk/presentation will also be [practiced at rehearsal.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Pageant winners will receive a $250.00 scholarship.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The pageant and interviews will be held at the Cunningham Center at Columbus State University. Following crowning on March 6, the winners will be required to attend the Miss Georgia Forum on March 7-8, 2015. Forum will also be held at Columbus State University. Forum will consist of contestant, parents and franchise meetings. The Forum party will be held on Saturday night, March 7, 2014.

The theme for the party is TV DIVAS.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

You will receive via e-mail an interview schedule: Please plan to arrive at interview 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

When you arrive, you should be dressed and ready to enter the interview room. Your first impression with the judges is your paperwork. Your second impression is your interview and timeliness. Allow yourself ample time to not be late.

DEADLINES:
Via Email: March 3, 2015

--Resume
--Platform Essay
VIA Email: March 3, 2015

--Headshots (color preferred)

TO RHEARSAL: MARCH 6, 2015
--Talent CDs
--Signed and notarized contract

If you have any questions regarding the pageant or pageant preparations, please do not hesitate to contact me:

Wanda J. Whitten

Miss Georgia Field Director

29 Nan Lee Drive
Rome, Georgia 30165

706 506-0043(cell) 706 235-0665(home)

or (preferred)