The scoring process for Junior Miss can seem complicated, but it’s really pretty simple. There are five categories contestants are judged in: Scholastics, Interview, Fitness, Talent, & Self-Expression.
The first portion of judging is Scholastics. Scholastics is 20% of the overall score. This portion of scoring happens with a separate panel of academic professional judges before contestants even arrive to the competition. They are looking at your grades, standardized test scores, honors/AP classes, and GPA.
The next portion of the competition is the interview, 25% of the overall score. The interview happens usually the day of or day before the competition. Each contestant is interviewed individually with a panel of 5 judges. They ask questions about the contestant’s biography, goals, opinions, current events, etc. They are looking for confidence in the contestant’s answers, poise, proper grammar, and professionalism. You don’t have to know every detail about current events, it’s just important to know where you stand and what your opinion is. This is the judges’ chance to actually get to know the contestants personally. The judges panel consists of professionals from various backgrounds and diverse groups.
The final night of the competition, contestants are judged in the remaining categories. Fitness is 15% of the total score. In a small group, contestants perform a pre-choreographed aerobic/fitness routine on-stage. Judges are not focusing on the participants physical appearance; they are looking for stamina, strenght, agility, and muscle tone.
After fitness, contestants are judged in Talent (25% of the total score). Talent can range from playing a musical instrument, dancing, doing a sign language demonstration, monologe, sports routine, painting, etc. Judges look at your ability and talent level, appropriateness of selection, and costume.
The last portion of the judging process is called Self-Expression (15% of total score). Self-Expression is the part where contestants answer a question on stage. Judges are looking at how you carry yourself on stage, confidence, and poise under pressure.
After the judging process is complete, scores are tallied and judges go into deliberation. The winner of the local program advances to the state competition. If its a state program, the winner attends Nationals in Mobile, AL. Judging is the same at every level- from locals to nationals.
One important thing to remember about the judging process is that Junior Miss is not about physical beauty. The judging process is designed to award the girl who is the most well-rounded and excels in every aspect. The average GPA of contestants who make it to the national level is often above 3.75. Many contestants receive top scores on the ACT / SAT. They are attending top universities such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT. In addition, Junior Miss contestants often participate in numerous community service projects and organizations. They are often top performers in their area of talent. Past Junior Miss’s include: Diane Sawyer, Deborah Norville, Deborah Messing, Kim Bassinger, and more.
