1. What is the Miss Virginia Elementary, Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate America Pageant?

The Virginia Elementary, Jr. High School, High School, and Collegiate America Pageant is a state preliminary pageant and the Virginia state winners in these divisions will compete nationally for the titles of Miss Elementary America, Miss Jr. High School America, Miss High School America, and Miss Collegiate America in June/July 2026 in Little Rock, AR. Our national competition aims to create wonderful personal and professional opportunities for young women. Our main goal is to offer outstanding high school, junior high, and collegiate girls the chance to participate in a pageant system that upholds the highest moral values. (Virginia Elementary winners are not "required" to attend Nationals - see below).

​

2. How are the divisions determined?

There are three divisions for the Virginia Jr. High, High & Collegiate girls. Your grade level as of Fall 2025 determines the division in which you compete at the Virginia state pageant, not your age.

 

• Jr. High America division is for girls in the 5th grade to 8th grade.

• High School America division is for girls in 9th grade to 11th grade.

• Collegiate America division is for students in the 12th grade or enrolled at a college, university, graduate school, tech/trade school, or beauty college in Virginia. This can be both in person or online. The Virginia Collegiate contestant must be no older than 28 as of June 1, 2026.

 

There are 4 divisions for the Virginia Elementary contestants.

 

• Kindergarten (Pre-k as of Fall 2025)

• Junior Elementary (Kindergarten & 1st Grade as of Fall 2025)

• Elementary (2nd & 3rd Grade as of Fall 2025)

• Senior Elementary (4th & 5th Grade as of Fall 2025)​

​

​3. Are home schooled students allowed to compete?

Of course! Home schooled students are welcome. Just register in your respective division. If you have any questions about which grade your child belongs in, just message us. 

​

4. If I am entering the 12th grade, why must I compete in the collegiate division?

The National Pageant date and year of reign determine the divisions. The National Pageant will be held in June of 2026. If the Virginia Collegiate titleholder wins the national title, they will reign during their freshman year of college. So yes, most of your reign as the Virginia titleholder would be during your senior year. The judges are aware of these details. 

 

5. For the virginia elementary winners, do they move up a division at nationals?

At the National pageant, all Virginia Elementary will compete at Nationals in the grade they will be entering after Nationals. The National Pageant is held in June 2026, so the division they compete in at Nationals is their grade as of Fall 2026. This is because if the Virginia titleholder wins the national title, they will reign during their next year of school. 

​​​​​​

6. Will there be a People's Choice Competition?

Yes! Information coming soon!

​

7. Are the elementary state winners required to attend and compete at nationals in little rock, arkansas?

No, the Virginia Elementary queens crowned at the state pageant are not required to attend or compete at Miss Elementary America Nationals in June 2026. But, it is going to be a super fun week and we would love to have the Virginia Elementary queens compete if they can!

​

8. Do the Virginia Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate winners get their entry fee paid to Nationals?

Yes! Our new Miss Virginia Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate America winners will have their entry fee PAID to Nationals in Little Rock, AR.

​

9. Do the Virginia Elementary Winners get their entry fee paid to Nationals?

Per the National office, our Virginia Elementary winners are not required to compete at the National competition unlike our Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate winners, so their Nationals fees are not prepaid for them like they are for the older girls. However, if our Virginia Elementary winners choose to attend Nationals, we may sponsor a portion of their National fee.

​

10. Can I enter if I attend school outside of virginia but live in virginia when not attending school?

Yes. If you do not live in Virginia but are enrolled in a Virginia school online, you are still eligible to compete. Please verify with the state directors. 

​​

11. Do I have to attend all rehearsals and events?

Yes. Many of the pageant events will begin early and run late. Attending all pageant weekend events is mandatory, and punctuality is highly important. We expect you to be on time.

​

12. Am I required to stay at the host hotel?

No. All of our official pageant events will be taking place at the Gaines Theater and Freeman Center at Christopher Newport University. No official events will take place at the hotel, so you are not required to stay there.

 

13. What are the phases of competition?

You will compete in Interview, Fun Fashion Runway, and Evening Gown.

 

14. What is the score breakdown?

Interview and Evening Gown are each worth 40% of your score. Fun Fashion Runway is worth 20%. 

​

15. During the interview, do the contestants stand or sit?

Stand in a panel-style interview with all the judges.

 

16. How long is the interview?

5 minutes for the Junior High, High School, and Collegiate contestants. For the Elementary contestants, it is 2 minutes. 

​

17. What do I wear for interview?

A nice interview dress, jumpsuit, or suit. 

  

18. Are fashion-forward shoes okay in the interview, or should we only wear nude/tan color shoes?

Yes, either is fine for interview.

​

19. What do I wear for Fun Fashion Runway?

Fun Fashion Runway is a high-fashion outfit of choice: Pantsuit, High Fashion off-the-rack, High-Low, or Cocktail dress.

​

20. Can my fun fashion Runway outfit be a two piece?

Yes, but it must be age appropriate. No two-piece for Elementary contestants.

 

21. What should I not wear for fun fashion Runway? 

No props, no hats/hairpieces, no denim, no flip-flops. This is an outfit that shows your personal style.

​

22. What do I wear for Evening Gown?

Evening gown is your moment to feel like a queen! Evening gowns need to be prom or pageant dresses and age-appropriate. The gown must touch the floor in front and in the back. Elementary contestants: No glitz gowns or cupcake styles.

 

23. Are Junior High contestants required to wear a ballgown?

YES. It must flare from the waist. This is what is required at Nationals. 

 

24. Can my dress have a slit in it?

 

• Junior High: No 

• High School: Slit to the knee only 

• Collegiate: Yes, but tasteful

​

 

25. Can my evening gown be a two-piece?

Yes, only for Junior High, High School, and Collegiate divisions. As of this year, the national pageant agreed to let the Junior High division wear 2-piece gowns as long as they remain ball gowns (start to flare from the waist).

 

26. Are there any colors or styles we have to wear?

Styles and colors should fit the girl and her coloring. No specific color or style is required besides Junior High and Elementary contestants must wear floor length ball gowns. Many dresses can be interchangeable between the High School and Collegiate divisions. However, remember that High school students need to be “age appropriate” (e.g., no low backs, high slits, or large cutouts).

​​

27. Are there optional competitions?

The only optional competition we offer is Photogenic. It is not a requirement to compete in Photogenic and it has no bearing on your overall score for the Virginia title.

​

28. Are rehearsals mandatory?

Yes. Unless previously approved by the directors, all rehearsals are mandatory to ensure each contestant knows what to expect on pageant day.

​

29. Are rehearsals open to family and friends?

Kindergarten contestants are allowed one parent to sit in on rehearsals. Other than that, only approved staff and contestants are allowed in rehearsals.

​

30. What is the attire for rehearsal?

Rehearsal clothes should be cute and casual. 

​​

31. What do I wear to the party?

Check back for info after we have revealed the party theme!

​

32. Can we have our cell phones at rehearsal?

Yes. However, they are only to be used at designated times. We kindly ask that you refrain from using your phone while we are rehearsing.

 

33. Can we take pictures during rehearsal and backstage at the pageant?

We encourage you to document your weekend by posting to your social media at designated times. There are absolutely NO photos taken inside the dressing rooms, as we want to keep the privacy of all the girls who may be changing.

​

34. What are the make-up rules?

Elementary Contestants may not wear makeup during interview. They may wear light natural makeup during stage competitions. Junior High, High School, and Collegiate contestants may wear age appropriate make-up for all phases of competition. 

​

35. Will there be makeup and hair artists at the pageant?

There will be hair and makeup artists available to book. Contact information will be provided. However, it is not required to have professional hair and makeup. You may get yourself ready. 

​

36. Will there be time to get ready between rehearsal and the pageant?

Yes. Contestants will be given time to get ready.

 ​

37. Can parents and family take pictures in the audience during the pageant?

No. We will have a designated photographer and videographer who will be capturing all photos and videos during competition. For those reasons, there will be no photography or videography allowed in the ballroom during competition. Photo and video packages will be available for purchase from the vendors.

 

38. Will a chaperone/helper be allowed backstage during the pageant?

Yes. One female family member/chaperone can assist backstage with outfit changes. Once the contestant is changed, we ask that you leave the backstage area.

 

39. Will I get my scores after the pageant?

Yes. We will be providing the judge's comments as we feel that they are important to the growth of the contestant. We will be emailing you your scores and comments.

​

40. Can I still compete at Nationals if I don't win the Virginia title?

If you do not win the Virginia title you have the option of attending Nationals as a "nickname title" such as "Old Dominion" or "Cardinal State". You cannot bypass the state pageant and go directly to Nationals as a nickname title. You MUST compete at the state pageant to qualify to compete at Nationals.

​

41. If I win a state title, when is the national pageant?

Here is the link to the National Pageant website for more information: https://www.americashighschoolpageant.com/​

​

42. When is the deadline to enter the virginia state pageant?

December 1, 2025.

​​

43. Do I need a show ticket?

Yes. You MUST physically have your show ticket/wristband on you to enter the auditorium for the pageant show.  Tickets for parents/family are not included with pageant registration and must be purchased separately. Everyone over the age of 3 must have a ticket. ​

​

​Still have questions?? just ask us! 

​

​

​

​

​