Under the leadership of the Miss America Organization, the Miss America’s Teen program aims to “promote scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America’s teens. In order to be eligible to compete, participants ages 13-18, must first compete and win at the local level and then win the state title.

The competition consists of a ten-minute interview in front of a panel of judges, talent, physical fitness, evening wear, and onstage question.