FYI… This post was originally written on June 23, 2016… It has since been updated to reflect new dates and information for this year’s National Sweetheart Pageant in 2017…
Hey Junkies!!!
Miss America in now enforcing a previous rule within their contracts – and specifically names the National Sweetheart pageant – as a pageant that their local titleholders can no longer associate with (or even promote). There’s been LOTS of misconceptions out there about the Miss Sweetheart Pageant – So I’m going to take a moment and explain a few things in this post.
First – Here’s the latest update from the folks in Hoopeston…
Now… If you haven’t read your MAO local contract lately – Here’s what it says regarding the National Sweetheart Pageant…
2.7.3. Other Competitions. If I win, I will continue to hold the title of Miss _______________ until my successor is selected or appointed. I agree that, during my service in that role and until after the scheduled completion of the full term of the position of Miss _______________ for which I was selected, I will not associate in any way with, promote, perform, judge or become a contestant or participant in any other regional, national or international competition or preliminary competition of a similar nature to the National Finals, including but not limited to the National Sweetheart Pageant/Competition in Hoopeston, Illinois. I also represent that I am not a contestant, participant or titleholder in any other regional, national or international competition or local or state preliminary competition of a similar nature to the National Finals.
Therefore, when I put these 2 things together, here are a couple of scenarios in which YOU CAN participate in the National Sweetheart Pageant…
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SWEETHEART IF…
– You aren’t holding a local title as of August 30th. Maybe you did hold a title this year – but you’ll be passing on your local crown between now and August 30th. If so, you can go to Sweetheart.
– You come from a state where you didn’t “win” a local title in a local pageant. Instead, you were given a local title in order to compete at your state (several states do this RI, CO, WY, etc…). If you come from a state where you didn’t “win” a local pageant against other ladies – you’re fine to go to Sweetheart.
– If you won a “sweeps” title to get to your state pageant, and you’re not required to hold that title, or crown someone else at next year’s sweeps pageant, then you’re fine to go to Sweetheart.
– If you’ve previously been a local titleholder – But you ‘sat out’ this year. Maybe you even plan to enter a local pageant and go back to your state in 2018. As long as you don’t win a local title by August 30th, you can go to Sweetheart.
– If you’ve aged out of the Miss America system and are still under the age of 26, and always heard great things about the National Sweetheart pageant, you can go to Sweetheart (as long as you don’t currently hold a local title).
– If your local title will not be crowning another titleholder this year (I’m Miss Mason Dixon line, but my director is no longer volunteering and nobody will be continuing the pageant), then you’re fine to go to Sweetheart.
– If you’ve already attended Sweetheart, but you’re still under the age limit of 26, AND you weren’t a contestant last year (2016), you can go back to Sweetheart again!
– If crowning your successor is not important to you (I’m not necessarily recommending this – I’m just saying it’s an option), you can relinquish the local title you hold right now, and go to Sweetheart.
And there you have it!
There may be additional scenarios where you can go to Sweetheart (I’m not saying these are the only situations) – but these are a few ways we came up with in order to get you thinking. If you have additional questions, contact the National Sweetheart Pageant ASAP! The deadline for submitting your application is coming up quickly! The deadline is July 3rd – Which is right around the corner!
Once again, here are the details…
Application/Paperwork Deadline = July 3rd
Arrival = August 30th
Prelims = September 2nd
Finals = September 3rd
If you have questions – Go to hoopestonjaycees.org. ASAP.
For the record, I was in Hoopeston last year at the 2016 National Sweetheart Pageant. It was an incredible experience to be back at Sweetheart after more than 20 years away! If you’d like to read about the reasons why I wanted to go back – check this out. Perhaps it will help you decide if applying to Sweetheart is right for you.
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again –
For me personally, NOTHING brought me closer to my love for the Miss America Organization, than my experience at the National Sweetheart Pageant.
If you can go – I highly encourage you to invest in your own future.
#BigJunkieLove
Carrie Lakey
Hello! What about if you are an outgoing Teen contestant from the MAOTeen organization? I just gave up my MAOTeen state title this last weekend. If I register to compete at the Sweetheart pageant, will I forfeit my eligibility to compete for Miss America some day?
GREAT QUESTION! The answer is no – you will not forfeit your eligibility. Any outgoing Teen contestant, who is not required to crown a new winner (or already has crowned a new winner) is eligible for Sweetheart, as long as you don’t win a local title before Sept 2nd – And as long as you meet the 19 year old age requirement. 🙂
Just a thought: if you give up your local title to go to Sweetheart, that would most likely be a problem if you intend on competing in the MAO system again. The contract states “until after the scheduled completion of the full term” of your title. So even if you give up the title, they can say you’re breaking contract if you register as a contestant before your local crowns the next girl.
That being said, thank you for posting this! The National Sweetheart org is so important and I hope it can continue without the MAO contestants feeding into it like they used to. 🙁
Agreed! As I said above, it’s not necessarily recommended. Good to have an additional explanation 🙂
I honestly don’t know why MAO have done this. I’ve heard only the most amazing things about Sweetheart and I know so many past contestants – including many USA contestants – who still have the most incredible relationships with their Sweetheart sisters. What do they gain by prohibiting girls from participating?
Hello Carly! Thanks for your message – I believe this is a situation where MAO felt the need to enforce “all or nothing” despite the long-standing tradition with Sweetheart. You and I believe there could have been a workable solution, but perhaps the MAO lawyers/contract designers, did not. It is unfortunate.
Hi!
So I am wanting to go to sweetheart this year.
I plan to continue to go to Miss America System locals and compete. I don’t have a title now…. is there a rule that If Ive participated in NSP and then go to for MOA locals?