A monthly publication of news and updates of the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition, Inc., an official licensee of the Miss America Organization

November 2021

Greetings from our 2021 Miss Georgia 

Hi everyone! It’s been an incredibly busy four months since I was crowned Miss Georgia 2021, and I’ve loved every second of it. I’ve put more than 11,000 miles on my Miss Georgia Kia Sorento, aka Magnolia or Maggie, while traveling the state and attending more than 75 appearances. I have had a blast working at local preliminaries, speaking at schools, emceeing community choice awards, and promoting the Miss America Organization. I love this job more than I could have ever imagined!

One of my favorite parts of my year so far was being able to support Megan at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in July. I couldn’t be prouder of her! Getting to be Megan’s big sister is the greatest honor and I so enjoy cheering her on in all she does. I also met my Miss America sisters for the first time in Orlando and had a wonderful time reconnecting with them at Miss America Orientation in September. I learned so much about the Miss America Organization and had fun exploring Mohegan Sun! It’s hard to believe that in less than two months, I’ll be competing at the 100th Miss America Competition.

Now, I’m excited to be focusing all efforts towards getting ready for Miss America. I’m hard at work on my talent at the dance studio most mornings.  I am steadily watching the news and listening to political podcasts every chance I get; and I am promoting Reach Out and Read through social media. I am very excited to promote childhood literacy on the national stage alongside the wonderful work that the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition Organization does. I cannot wait to put my best foot forward at Miss America and am honored to be representing Georgia at the national level. Thank you for your continued support!

Upcoming Local Competitions

Miss Georgia Gives Back

Reach Out and Read Raffle

As Karson prepares for the last month before Miss America, she wants to make a big impact on her Social Impact Initiative and the state organization's platform.

Reach Out and Read is a thirty year old program that focuses on improving literacy rates in the state of Georgia.  It is promoted and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Over the past year, the Miss Georgia Competition Organization has raised over $10K led by our own Mary Wilhelmina Hodges.  Karson aspires to have $30K raised by the end of  2021 through raffling off the Georgia Bulldog Football adorned with rhinestones valued over $4000.  Do not miss your opportunity to commemorate the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs with this beautiful football!   Winner of the raffle will be drawn at the On To Miss America Extravaganza on December 5th.  Tickets are $20 a piece.  You do not have to be present to win.

To support Karson with her Social Impact Initiative, please click on the button below.

Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen

Hello Miss Georgia Family!   As I write this update I am approaching the five month mark of my year of service as Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen. It doesn’t seem possible that five months have already passed. From the minute I was crowned, it has been a whirlwind of excitement, hard work, learning and getting acquainted with so many wonderful people. Here are a few highlights to date from my first five months as your Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen!

The most exciting part of the first five months has been competing at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition in Orlando. It was the best week of my life and just being there was a dream fulfilled. Winning the preliminary evening gown/on-stage question award and finishing third runner-up was just icing on the cake! I am thrilled that I left Orlando with an additional $3,500 in scholarship money, (bringing my total to over $11,000 in total earned through the Miss America Organization). I share this victory with so many people who worked tirelessly to see me succeed. I am so grateful for the BEST state board and Executive Director (Trina) who walked with me every step of the way and did not waste one minute in starting the preparations for MAOT; for a teen director (Tammy) who kept me in front of every deadline and put together amazing panels for mock interviews in preparation for MAOT; for a first class support system (Andrea Pitts, Wanda Whitten, The Cobb Board, my family, among many others); the most amazing sponsors - those that made sure I looked like a million bucks in Orlando, (Matt & Meredith Boyd, Joel @ Hello Gorgeous and Keith @ Lasting Impressions) and those who made sure I knew how to articulate my thoughts and feelings in the best way possible (Bill Alverson & Chris Saltalamacchiato). Georgia is indeed blessed with the best of the best to support their state representatives at the national level, and I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to represent Georgia this year. 

One week after leaving Orlando, I moved to Statesboro to put my scholarship money to good use as a first year college student at Georgia Southern University! It has been an adjustment but I am enjoying this new phase of my life. I have spent many weekends traveling to local competitions across the state along with an appearance at the homecoming game at my alma mater, Calhoun High School, singing the National Anthem and visiting with the people who have supported my endeavors for years. My hometown is the best and it is a privilege to be able to say I am from Calhoun, GA. 

It would be hard to top the last four months of my journey, but I am certainly going to try! Last month I had the opportunity to be a guest on a new podcast by the Stop The Bleed Coalition, so if you want to catch my discussion about my social impact initiative, subscribe to the Stop The Bleed Podcast. It is scheduled to air very soon! Secondly, I loved the Instagram Live Sessions that Mary Wilhelmina did during her year of service, so I will be starting “Mondays with Megan” to introduce the Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen Class of 2022 to all of you. Follow my year of service on social media - instagram @maoteenga and find me on Facebook - Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen. 

Thank you for continually supporting me on this journey. Whether you’re a titleholder, director, sponsor or other volunteer, I am forever indebted to you for your kindness, generosity and love. 

On To Miss America Extravaganza

To order tickets to the On To Miss America Extravaganza, please follow the link below.

Miss America Organization Increases Candidate Eligibility

The Miss America Organization is excited to announce an increase in age eligibility for candidates in the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition!

Miss America Candidates

Miss America competition maximum age for candidates increases to twenty-six (26) years old from twenty-five (25) by December 31st in the state competition year.

Must be at least nineteen (19) years of age on December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes.

Must not be older than twenty-six (26) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes 

For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn twenty-seven (27) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State Competition. (Calendar Year defined as January 1st through December 31st).

For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot be eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition. If the candidate is eighteen (18) years of age on December 31st in the year she could compete at the State Competition, then she must compete in the MAOTeen program, unless she meets the Grandfather Clause below.

 Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Agreements ONLY: Since age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) are eligible to compete in the Miss program, as long as the candidate is also a high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022

Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect for the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Candidates

MAOTeen competition maximum age for candidates increases to eighteen (18) years by December 31st from seventeen (17) years old by July 31st. 

Must be at least thirteen (13) years on the first day of the State Competition in which she compete

Must be no older than eighteen (18) years of age as of December 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she could compete

For the avoidance of doubt, Candidate cannot turn nineteen (19) years of age at any time during the calendar year in which she could compete at the State MAOTeen Competition (January 1st through December 31st). 

Grandfather Clause for 2022 State and Local Candidate Agreement ONLY: 

Since the age eligibility was revised after the start of the 2022 state & local competition season, Candidates who are: 1) eighteen (18) years of age on or after July 31, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (the year of the State Competition) may choose to compete in either the MAOTeen or Miss programs, as long as candidate is also a 2) high school graduate or equivalent by July 31, 2022.  Note, this grandfather clause will not be in effect in the 2023 State & Local Competition season.

Exception: Since Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Utah did not hold competitions in 2021, if the Candidate exceeds the 17-year-old age eligibility in 2022, she is hereby "grandfathered" to continue competing in only these state’s MAOTeen  Competitions as well as the 2022 Miss America's Outstanding Teen Competition as long as the Candidate is not 19 years old on December 31st, 2022.

If you do not understand or have a question, please call Trina Pruitt.

https://www.missamerica.org/sign-up/

Join Slack

Slack is a messaging app for our organization that connects candidates, directors, board members, families and fans of Miss Georgia to the information they need.   This app is used throughout the year especially during Miss Georgia Week.  Depending what your role is with our organization will depend on which channels you will be assigned.  

This app may be used on your desktop and/or mobile phone.  If you would like to join the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition Slack site, please text Trina Pruitt at 706.881.0166.  You will be text a link to join through your mobile phone.  Afterward, you can load Slack on your desktop.

Spotfund

It’s time for America’s Choice! This is your chance to vote for Karson Pennington who is a second year doctoral student in Political Science.  Karson exemplifies the qualities of Miss America as a leader, servant, and role model for young women. Miss America is offering a $5,000 scholarship to the winner to help her advance her education and achieve her life and career goals.

To vote for Karson, click on the button below. Each dollar donated equals 1 vote, so the candidate with the most donations will win the America’s Choice scholarship. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, she will be recognized on-stage during the Preliminary Competition at Mohegan Sun in December.

Voting has no impact on placement in the Final Night Competition. As a 501(c)4 nonprofit under IRS regulations, all donations to The Miss America Organization are not tax-deductible.

2022 Local Titleholders will have the opportunity to create their Spotfund accounts with Trina Pruitt.  Before joining a Spotfund conference call, local candidates must have the following items completed:

1.  Headshot uploaded with no crown

2.  A YouTube Account created

3.  A thirty second video of the candidate explaining why they compete in the Miss America Organization.  The candidate's Social Impact Initiative may be included in this video.  This video must be uploaded to the YouTube Account.

4.  A short written narrative introducing yourself, explaining  your Social Impact Initiative, and why you are a part of the Miss America Organization.

2021 Local Titleholders CANNOT use their Spotfund accounts from this past Miss Georgia Competition.  A new account must be created with the new link.  The link will be given to the candidate when she joins the Spotfund Zoom call.  This call will be scheduled in the next two weeks.

Be on the lookout for the following:

1.  Announcement of the 2022 Miss Georgia Competition

2.  Changes coming to the Miss Georgia Forum Weekend

3.  More Local Competition dates including Virtual Sweeps and Sweeps

Headshots by Matt Boyd and Hair/Makeup by Meredith Boyd

Inspired by Mere