Who can compete in Miss Elkhart County?

To be eligible to compete in Miss Elkhart County, a Miss America preliminary, the young woman must fulfill all of the following requirements:

1. For the Miss competition, you must be a young woman not less than 17 years of age on the date of the local pageant in which you compete, nor more than 24 years of age as of December 31, 2008.
2. You must be single and never have been married.
3. You must be a United States citizen and resident of Elkhart County for at least six months preceding the date of the local pageant; or be enrolled in a college or university and have completed a minimum of 12 hours before competing in a local preliminary competition; or have been employed full-time (at least 40 hours per week) in Elkhart County for at least six months preceding the date of the local pageant in which you wish to compete.
4. You must be of good moral character and never have been pregnant and are not now pregnant. I am not the adoptive parent of any child.
5. You must be free of criminal convictions and do not have any criminal charges pending.
6. You must be free of any involvement in any act of moral turpitude. You must never have performed any act or engaged in any activity which is or could be characterized as dishonest, immoral, immodest, indecent, or in bad taste.
7. You must be in good health and can participate fully and without limitation in any program activities.
8. You must be a graduate of a high school and can produce your diploma as proof thereof upon request or have successfully completed the G.E.D. testing program for high school equivalency and can produce proof thereof upon request or have successfully completed the academic requirements for entry into a four-year college/university degree program.
9. You must develop a community service platform based on a social issue that potentially could be sold nationwide; be specific, not general. Develop a passion for your message. In addition, you must be willing to serve as a spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) - the National Platform of Miss America. For example, Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana is in the CMN Network.
10. Miss Competition Phases: You will participate in a personal interview, talent, evening gown, and physical fitness in swimsuit competitions at the local level. A contestant must possess and display talent in accordance with the rules set forth in the official guide for contestants participating in preliminary pageants; a contestant may either be amateur or professional.