Miss Northwestern Forms and Resources

• Checklist with Due Dates
• Eligibility Form
• Letter of Intent
• Official Entry Form
• Local Candidate Contract
• Talent Clearance Form
• Star Form
• Miss America Candidate Registration

Other Required Items

• Birth Certificate
• Headshot (Photoshoot date is TBD and will take place on the NWOSU-Alva campus.)
• Health Insurance Card
• Proof of Miss America Candidate Registration ($35 fee) and Proof of Miss America Local Candidate Registration ($75 fee)
• Miss Oklahoma Local Candidate Contract (will be emailed to you at a later date)
• Program Ads (business cards, photos, money, etc.)
• Performance Track for Talent (if applicable).  Mp3 is the preferred format.
• Ticket Money (must sell at least 10 tickets to the local competition)

Social Impact Initiative

Your Social Impact Initiative (formerly the Platform) will be your initiative on which you will work, alongside the Miss Local and Miss Oklahoma Organization, during your Year of Service.  This submission allows you to explain to the local judges your subject matter choice, how you choose to advocate for it during your year and the metrics you see for success at the close of your Year of Service.  In addition, it should explain how your advocacy will further the Miss Local/Miss Oklahoma/Miss America Organization mission.  

This page ONE (1) page, singled-spaced document, combined with the Candidate’s Resume, will comprise your entire application for this job.  The judges will receive exactly what is submitted.   Any items that do not meet the criteria or are submitted after the deadline will not be given to the judges. If your Social Impact Statement arrives on the day of the deadline, but does not meet the criteria, there will not be time to return it to you; therefore, it will not be given to the judges.  The candidate may explain the lack of judging materials during her interview, if she so chooses.

1. Go to the word processing program of your computer.
    
2. Start a “new” document.
    
3. Set margins for 1" on all four sides.  The font style may not be any smaller than “10” and no larger than “12” point type using the Times New Roman font style. 
    
4. With the justification set for left, type “Name:” in bold.  Following the colon (:), hit the space bar twice.  Then, type your name. 
    
5. Then, move to the next line and type “Title:” in bold.  Following the colon (:), hit the space bar twice.  Then, type your state title.
    
6. Double space down.  Set your justification to “center”.  Then type in bold and underline the title of your Social Impact Statement.
    
7. Double space down.  Write what you feel is critical for the judges to know about your social impact statement and why it is necessary for you to have the job of Miss America to promote this issue.  What you write will be what the judges know about your statement, your role in successfully dealing with this issue, and the role the Miss America Organization may play in your plan.
    
8. This essay may include some of the following items (this is not to be meant as an exhaustive list):
   • A clear definition of the platform and the specific issues you wish to address
   • A plan on how you have or will create awareness of the platform
   • The way in which you have or will change attitudes regarding the issue
   • The way in which you have or will change behaviors related to this issue
   • The way in which your platform issue will move the Miss America Organization forward
   • Your media plans
   • Your marketing strategy
   • How you propose to fund your ideas/plans
   • Any significant accomplishments you have made in regard to your issue
      
9. At the bottom of the page, set the justification to the right.  Type a line of 26 spaces.  Below that line, type Signature/Date and after printing sign and date the document.  If you forget to sign and date, we will need to return the document to you as it cannot be accepted without your signature.  

It is important that you sign and date the original document and required copies as shown in the attached sample prior to submitting.

Due date is October 3rd, 2022.  The social impact initiative must be submitted electronically to plfischer@nwosu.edu.  You will also need to submit 7 signed/dated hard copies of your social impact initiative to Paige at Herod Hall 105.

Social Impact Initiative Example

Name:  Jane Smith
Title:  Miss Local  

Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Inclusiveness

It is imperative that this nation face and embrace its cultural diversity.  While many people have talked about this issue, I believe that most of them have only paid lip service to the true necessity of what needs to be addressed related to this issue.  There is a false truth in merely accepting and tolerating cultural diversity.  I intend to prove that in order to accept and understand people of other cultures; one must be willing to step out of a personal cultural comfort zone and identify the origin of their prejudice.  I will specifically focus on three areas:  Children, Communities, and Businesses.

The title of Miss America, combined with the national media already looking at the surface of this issue, will allow me to create the national awareness that must exist.  Currently, the term “Cultural Diversity” is well known in the halls of institutions of higher learning and, perhaps, even in the public-school classroom because of the need for some to be politically correct.  But, in order for us to make a true change in attitudes and behaviors of Americans, we must move beyond talk and into action and policy changes.

My plan is to motivate the media and to partner with the National Conference for Community and Justice.  This organization has chapters in every major city in the nation and, in many cases, those chapters have community leaders involved who can, with encouragement and challenging, bring this issue out of hiding and into the public light in each of those communities. 

Obviously, the media and the NCCJ already exist.  However, what is lacking is a lightening rod to draw attention to this issue.  This is where the Miss America Organization steps into the lead.  What better role is there for Miss America than to be an agent of change in organizing our nation to accept our differences and to create an environment that values each person on individual characteristics rather than on stereotypes or assumptions? 

For years, Miss America was seen as a young woman who cut ribbons and appeared in parades.  It is time for “Miss America” to step out of the convertible and lead the parade.  Our country’s ethnic make-up is changing rapidly and our citizen’s fear of terrorism can explode already existing, but deeply hidden prejudices.  I want to be the leader that this nation needs. 

This nation needs this issue addressed now and through the already existing NCCJ and its local and state organizations combined with the power of Miss America, we can make a concrete difference now, which will change the direction and the future of our nation.

__________________________

Signature/Date

Local Candidate Resume Information

This is your opportunity to demonstrate to the judges why they should consider you for the job at your local and for the job of Miss Oklahoma.  This one-page resume, combined with the Social Impact Initiative, will comprise your entire application for this job.  The judges will receive exactly what is submitted.

Instructions for Candidate's Resume

• Resume - one (1) page only - single sided
• In the style/format candidate feels best reflects her in interviewing for the job of Miss Northwestern
• Color can be used on your resume
• No photos or pictures on your resume
• Suggestion: Print on white, ivory, or light grey copy paper (20, 22, or 24 weight paper).  Indicate number of printed resumes needed or if candidate can submit by email, local will make color copies of the resume.
• Use any style font - but nothing less than 10 point
• The following must be included on your resume:
  • Name
  • Local Title
  • Social Impact Initiative
  • Talent
  • School Attending or Graduated

The following are only suggestions and/or ideas for your resume.  Create a resume that best reflects who you are, your accomplishments, and qualifications to successfully fulfill the duties of the role of Miss Northwestern.  The following ideas do not have to appear in this order or even be used.  Again, these are ONLY suggestions.  Required items on your resume: Name, Local Title, Talent, Social Impact Initiative, and Schooling.

Suggestions Include:

• Highest educational standing
• Major/minor
• Scholastic achievements/honors/leadership roles/college or high school
• General goal or objective in competing as it relates to becoming Miss Northwestern or Miss Oklahoma or as it relates to career ambitions
• Activities/accomplishments
• Skill sets: leadership, strong communication skills, motivational speaker, strong organizational skills, fundraising, social media, bi-lingual
• Interests: traveling, scrapbooking, yoga, white water rafting
• Anything that relates to your abilities to carry out the duties of Miss Northwestern or Miss Oklahoma
• You can include websites that relate to your social initiative.
• Be creative - sell yourself - be honest - don't embellish.

Due date is October 3rd, 2022.  The resume must be submitted electronically to plfischer@nwosu.edu.  You will also need to submit 7 signed/dated hard copies of your resume to Paige at Herod Hall 105.

Competition and Judging

Scoring Percentages for State and Local Competitions

• Private Interview = 35%
• Talent = 35%
• On-Stage Interview/Social Impact Pitch = 15%
• Red Carpet = 15%

Private Interview

• A podium will be used.
• Interview begins immediately and continues until the 9 minutes and 30 seconds timing mark.
• Candidate is given 30 seconds to give a closing statement during this phase of competition and leave the judges with her final statement.
• If discussion ends before the 30 seconds are up, then the interview ends.

Talent Competition

• The time limit for the talent competition is 90 seconds. Nothing longer will be accepted, and this will be strictly enforced! Candidates should plan a performance that will not exceed this limit.

On-Stage Interview/Social Impact Pitch

• The on-stage interview/social impact pitch phase of competition is a continuation of the private interview.  The judge who asked the first question in the candidate's private interview will ask the on-stage interview question to the candidate.
• The candidate's response for the on-stage interview question is limited to 20 seconds.
• Immediately following the on-stage interview, the candidate will deliver a 10 to 20 second social impact pitch, which at her discretion can include a statement on the initiative's importance, her work and plans with the initiative, or other information.  
• The candidate's social impact pitch should be sincere and compelling, and the candidate should be the "total package" by encompassing natural grace, poise, and a sense of conviction.

Red Carpet

• Red carpet allows a look into how the candidate exhibits her own personal style, attitude, personality, grace, presence, and confidence in evening wear or whatever a candidate would wear at a formal red carpet event.
• The candidate’s total look is considered.  Her evening wear (not the value of the evening wear) should complement the candidate’s individuality.