Miss Coastal Bend

Miss Coastal Bend is scored in accordance with the official Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competition guidelines. This page outlines the key criteria and phases of competition scoring to ensure objectivity and fairness for every contestant.

Scoring Phases

1. Private Interview (35%)

The private interview is designed to assess a contestant’s ability to communicate, express her viewpoints, and demonstrate knowledge of current events, social issues, and personal platform. Judges will evaluate:

• Communication Skills: Articulation, clarity, and the ability to answer questions effectively.

• Content: The depth of knowledge and passion for her platform or cause.

• Personality & Poise: How well she presents herself and interacts with others.

• Confidence: Her ability to handle challenging questions or controversial topics.

Scoring Range: 1-10 points for each element, with 1 being the lowest (ineffective) and 10 being the highest (outstanding).

2. Talent (35%)

The talent phase allows contestants to showcase their skills in various areas, such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or other performances. Judges should focus on:

• Skill Level: The technical ability and difficulty of the performance.

• Stage Presence: Confidence, poise, and connection with the audience.

• Creativity & Uniqueness: Originality and the ability to stand out.

• Execution: Precision and overall quality of the performance.

Scoring Range: 1-10 points, where 10 represents a flawless performance and 1 indicates a lack of preparation or skill.

3. Evening Wear (20%)

In the evening wear phase, contestants are judged based on their grace, confidence, and poise while wearing formal attire. Judges should not focus on the gown itself but rather how the contestant presents herself in it.

• Poise & Elegance: How well she carries herself and her confidence in formal wear.

• Personality: How her presence shines through in this phase.

• Appropriateness: The suitability of her attire for the event and her overall image.

Scoring Range: 1-10 points, with higher scores reflecting grace, confidence, and self-assurance.

4. On-Stage Question (10%)

The on-stage question phase evaluates how well a contestant can think on her feet and express herself publicly. Questions typically revolve around current events, social issues, or personal platforms.

• Clarity & Communication: How well she answers the question in a concise, clear manner.

• Content: The depth of the response and her understanding of the topic.

• Confidence: Her ability to handle pressure in front of a live audience.

Scoring Range: 1-10 points, where 10 represents a strong, thoughtful response under pressure.

Overall Scoring Guidelines

Objectivity is Key

Judges are expected to evaluate each contestant fairly, without any personal bias related to race, religion, background, or political stance. Each contestant should be judged solely on the competition's performance criteria.

Points System

Each phase of the competition is assigned a percentage weight. Judges must use the 1-10 scoring scale for each phase, where:

• 1-3: Needs improvement, underwhelming performance.

• 4-6: Average, met the basic expectations but lacked standout qualities.

• 7-9: Above average, demonstrated impressive skill or presentation.

• 10: Exceptional, delivered a flawless or nearly flawless performance.

Confidentiality

Judges are required to maintain complete confidentiality throughout the competition process. The scores and feedback you provide should not be shared or discussed with anyone outside the official scoring and auditing team.

Example of a Scoring Breakdown

Contestant A

• Private Interview: 8/10 (Excellent communication, but room for deeper content)

• Talent: 7/10 (Strong performance, slight execution errors)

• Evening Wear: 9/10 (Carried herself with grace and confidence)

• On-Stage Question: 6/10 (Nervous response, but answered adequately)

Total Score:

The total score will be calculated by factoring in the weight assigned to each phase. For example:

Private Interview: 8 (35%) = 2.8 Talent: 7 (35%) = 2.45 Evening Wear: 9 (20%) = 1.8 On-Stage Question: 6 (10%) = 0.6

Final Score: 7.65

Fairness and Impartiality

To ensure a transparent and impartial judging process, keep the following in mind:

• No Comparisons: Judge each contestant individually, based on her own merits and performance, rather than comparing her directly to other contestants.

• Follow the Criteria: Always stick to the established scoring guidelines for each phase of the competition.

• Avoid External Influence: Stay clear of any attempts to sway your scoring or influence your judgment outside of the competition criteria.

Questions or Concerns?

If at any time you have questions about the scoring process or feel uncertain about a particular contestant, you can consult the Miss America Competition Scoring Coordinator for clarification. Your role is to ensure that each contestant is judged fairly and that the integrity of the competition is upheld.

Thank you to our judges for their commitment to maintaining the high standards of the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competitions.