Kaylah Walton
The organization behind the Miss America competition has revealed that over $300,000 in scholarships will be available during the upcoming Miss America 2025 and Miss America for Teens events, set to take place in Orlando, Florida.
Preliminary and final events were scheduled from December 28 to January 5, featuring competitions held at the Walt Disney Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center, including the debut talent competition titled “Miss America Has Talent” on January 2, 2025.
Introducing the new Miss America 2025
Each year, the historic Miss America competition, celebrating over a century of tradition, grants over $5 million in scholarships to aspiring young women nationwide, in addition to resources provided through various local and state events.
The title of Miss America 2025 will enable the winner to travel as an ambassador for the brand, along with a $50,000 scholarship for their education.
Similarly, the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2025 will also secure a $50,000 tuition scholarship for any accredited institution or a four-year scholarship at the University of Alabama, well-known for its popular “Bama Rush” phenomenon on TikTok.
Competition eligibility criteria
To qualify for Miss America, participants must be aged 18 to 28, whereas the age group for Miss America’s Teen is 14 to 17.
Contestants must be single and childless, a standard supported by former champions like Grace Stanke and Camille Schrier, who have discussed this policy in recent interviews with Business Insider.
The competition includes a talent component, alongside rounds of evening wear, interviews, and fitness. Notably, the swimsuit competition was dropped in 2018, and scoring criteria have shifted to de-emphasize physical appearance.
Scholarships offered by Miss America
Since 1945, Miss America has been at the forefront of providing scholarships for women.
This year, over $250,000 will be distributed in tuition scholarships across the Miss America 2024 and Miss America’s Teen pageants.
The winner of Miss America stands to gain $60,000 for tuition, while the teen winner can either obtain $60,000 for an accredited college or select a four-year scholarship to the University of Alabama.
