About Our Program

Explore this page to discover why you should sign up for the experience of a lifetime…


SUCCESS • SCHOLARSHIP • SERVICE • STYLE • SISTERHOOD •

SUCCESS • SCHOLARSHIP • SERVICE • STYLE • SISTERHOOD •


Since 2007, we have awarded over $430,000 in scholarships to women in Douglas County.

Expand the dropdown below to see a breakdown of the total scholarships awarded each year from 2012-2025. We are especially proud of our total for this year! Learn more about our impressive Class of 2025 here.

  • 2025 - $41,349

    2024 - $20,493

    2023 - $17,259

    2022 - $18,805

    2021 - $28,490

    2020 - $20,496

    2019 - $17,482.50

    2018 - $26,827

    2017 - $20,992

    2016 - $18,369

    2015 - $28,768

    2014 - $32,314

    2013 - $29,445.90

    2012 - $24,772

  • Our mission is empowering the next generation of women in Douglas County to lead by providing opportunities for college scholarships, personal and professional development, and community service.

  • We believe in fostering a culture of mentorship and cultivating safe spaces for creativity and individuality among developing leaders.

The Miss Douglas County Scholarship Program is a local preliminary to the Miss Oregon Scholarship Program and the Miss America Opportunity.

We host an annual competition and we award an average of $24,704 in scholarships each year to women in Douglas County. A large portion of these scholarships are earned through our Build Your Own Scholarship Program, which allows all candidates to fundraise for their personal scholarship fund and walk away with money for college guaranteed. The rest of these scholarships are earned through competing in our annual competition.

In addition to scholarships, each candidate is competing for the coveted opportunity to serve as one of our brand ambassadors for the upcoming year. The winners of Miss Douglas County, Miss Douglas County’s Teen, Miss Umpqua Valley, and Miss Umpqua Valley’s Teen will go on to compete for the role of Miss Oregon or Miss Oregon’s Teen at the state competitions in Seaside. If they win at their state competition, they move on to compete at the Miss America or Miss America’s Teen competitions in Orlando.

Fun Fact: Teens from Douglas County won their state competitions in 2019, 2023, and 2024. We are so proud of these talented teens who got their start in our program!

To determine each candidate’s aptitude for scholarships and the role of a brand ambassador, all candidates compete in five phases of competition. Each phase is worth a portion of their overall score. A panel of vetted judges score each phase of competition and the auditors carefully tabulate the total scores to determine the outcome of the competition.

  • Candidates in our next competition on March 1, 2026 must meet all the requirements for one of the age divisions listed below. Anyone 18 years old as of the state competition in June 2026 may choose between the two age divisions.

    Miss Candidates

    United States Citizen

    Female

    Between 18-28 Years Old as of State Competition (June 2026)

    Must Reside, Attend School, or Work Full-Time in Douglas County

    Not Currently (Nor Have Ever Been) Married

    No Legal Dependents

    Teen Candidates

    United States Citizen

    Female

    Between 14-18 Years Old as of State Competition (June 2026)

    Reside in Douglas County for at least 6 months prior to date of local competition

    Attend School in Douglas County

    Not Currently (Nor Have Ever Been) Married

    No Legal Dependents

  • We are early in the process of figuring out our timeline for the next program season. The dates for competition weekend are set, but everything else is subject to change. This gives you a general idea of what to expect though.

    If you have any scheduling conflicts, do not let that deter you for participating. We are very flexible with busy schedules because our program is used to working with ambitious and involved young women.

    • December 1, 2025 - Candidate Application Deadline

    • January 4, 2026 - Orientation/Workshop*

    • January 11, 2026 - Rehearsal #1

    • January 18, 2026 - Rehearsal #2

    • January 25, 2026 - Rehearsal #3

    • February 1, 2026 - Rehearsal #4

    • February 7, 2026 - Candidate Sleepover

    • February 15, 2026 - Rehearsal #5

    • February 22, 2026 - Dress Rehearsal #1

    • February 27, 2026 - Dress Rehearsal #2

    • February 28, 2026 - Private Interviews

    • March 1, 2026 - Onstage Competition

Leading up to each annual competition, we host an immersive mentorship program with weekly rehearsals that prepare our candidates for each phase of competition and provide fun opportunities for personal and professional development. Through our activities, all candidates gain invaluable skills that will help them succeed in college and their future careers. Other benefits of the program include meeting like-minded women, making lifelong friends, building confidence, and connecting with your community through service.

There isn’t a single day that passes where I don’t use [the skills] I got from my time with Miss Douglas County.
— Marin Gray, Miss Douglas County 2022

Are you ready to enter your Miss Douglas County era?

Apply to join our Class of 2026 early and enjoy these benefits over the summer:

  • Start earning scholarships on July 1st when our Build Your Own Scholarship Program launches

  • Attend fun group outings in July-August to connect with our titleholders and get inspired by the sisterhood

  • Receive mentorship from our titleholders and program directors starting now!


Phases of Competition

Below is a breakdown of each phase of competition. Additional guidance and resources are provided to our candidates after they have completed their registration through the Miss America website.

 

Private Interview - 30%

  • Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice - Stylish/Age Appropriate Interview Attire

  • Timing: 30-Second Introduction/CSI Overview, 9-Minute Q&A, 30-Second Wrap-Up/Closing Statement

  • Description: Each candidate will provide a Fact Sheet and Community Service Initiative (CSI) Statement for the judges to review in advance. Templates will be provided for these documents. During the private interview, the judges will ask each candidate questions.

  • Purpose: The judges are trying to determine each candidate’s qualifications, intelligence, charisma, authenticity, and ability to serve as a role model, commit to their CSI, and fulfill the duties of a brand ambassador.

  • Looking for examples? Watch Miss America interviews on Pageants Live (Subscription Required)


Performing Arts Talent/HER Story - 20%

  • Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice – Performance Arts Talents or HER Story Presentation

    Timing: Up to 90 Seconds

  • Description: Each candidate will captivate the audience with a talent performance or personal narrative. Candidates may use music, props, or other creative means to enhance their storytelling experience or talent performance.

  • Purpose: This serves to underscore the Miss America Opportunity’s commitment to performance arts education initiatives and women’s individuals efforts in the arts.

  • Looking for examples? Watch the Top 11 in Talent at Miss America 2025.


Health and Fitness - 20%

  • Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice of Rebel Athletic’s Curated Styles for Miss America Organization (or similar red athletic wear)

  • Timing: Each Candidate Will Not Exceed 20-30 Seconds

  • Description: Each candidate will complete a pre-blocked, high energy stage routine with movement and posing to showcase her commitment to health and fitness initiatives. No props are allowed.

  • Purpose: Discipline and commitment to being physically healthy is a key to success in all other areas of life and the rigors of representing the Miss America Opportunity.

  • Looking for examples? Watch the Top 11 in Health & Fitness at Miss America 2025.


Evening Gown - 20%

  • Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice of Evening Wear - Appropriate for Red Carpet

    Timing: 45-60 Seconds

  • Description: Each candidate will present her sense of style during an elegant runway/stage experience set to music.

  • Purpose: The role of brand ambassadors may include attending galas, fundraisers, and other formal events that require posing for press photographers, modeling in fashion shows, and promoting fashion designers who partner with the Miss America Opportunity.

  • Looking for examples? Watch the Top 11 in Evening Gown at Miss America 2025.

Fun Fact: Candidates are allowed to borrow competition wardrobe from our extensive collection of dresses and shoes. There are hundreds of options in a variety of sizes and styles. Renting from our “closet” is a budget friendly option that helps keep our program accessible.


Onstage Conversation - 10%

  • Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice - Stylish/Age Appropriate Interview (Re-Wear Private Interview Outfit)

  • Timing: Up to 20 Seconds

  • Description: Each candidate will be asked a question onstage and they will have 20 seconds to respond.

  • Purpose: This allows each candidate to interact with the judges and the audience, while highlighting her intelligence, charisma, commitment to community service, and aptitude for the role of a brand ambassador.


Our Team


Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions? Please submit them here. We want to help!

  • If you compete on March 1, 2026 and win… a lot happens!

    • You receive a crown, a sash, and one of these titles for 2026: Miss Douglas County, Miss Umpqua Valley, Miss Douglas County’s Teen, or Miss Umpqua Valley’s Teen.

    • You advance to the state competition and compete for Miss Oregon or Miss Oregon’s Teen in June 2026.

      • Miss Oregon week is in Seaside and usually runs from Sunday-Sunday. Candidates check in on Sunday, complete their private interviews on Monday or Tuesday, compete in preliminary competitions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and then the final competition is on Saturday. Candidates will be in rehearsals all week during the day. There are special events and activities during the week too. There is a Miss Oregon parade and a scholarship luncheon on Saturday, parties before and after the shows each night, and activities for Shining Stars. Miss Oregon week is often described as a once in a lifetime experience and we will be there to help you every step of the way. The winners of Miss Oregon and Miss Oregon’s Teen will advance to compete at Miss America and Miss America’s Teen in Orlando, Florida!

    • You have the opportunity to serve the Douglas County community and act as one of our brand ambassadors until we crown the next titleholders in March 2027.

      • We have a few events that we expect our titleholders to volunteer at every year, such as the Douglas County Fair in August and the Festival of Trees in December. There are also several parades that our titleholders usually ride in, like the Veteran’s Day Parade in November and the Graffiti Cruise in July.

      • Beyond a handful of required events, our titleholders are empowered to make their year of service their own. We often talk about the legacies that our titleholders leave behind. Titleholders have the opportunity to inspire others with their service and their leadership style. As a potential candidate, we challenge you to think about the kind of leader you want to be and brainstorm creative ideas to promote our program. You can accomplish anything if you are passionate about it.

  • You absolutely do not need experience to be successful in our program. We welcome newbies with open arms! Our whole program is actually structured so you can join with no experience and be prepared by competition day.

    We are a mentorship program and our goal is to help you become the best version of yourself. Every candidate is paired with a mentor to offer support and guide them through the program. This is your designated person for questions and extra help outside of rehearsals. We host weekly rehearsals leading up to the competition so you can practice every phase of competition and get individual help from our volunteers. You will receive mock interviews, talent run-throughs, walking practice, and help with paperwork. Rehearsals are also a lot of fun because you get to spend them with our titleholders and your fellow candidates. That is where the sisterhood comes in!

    You can expect to gain a lot as a first-time candidate. You will make new friends, gain confidence and new skills, earn scholarships, and feel more connected to your community. Our program is unique because of the amount of scholarships we give away ($41,349 in 2025) and the amount of time that our volunteers will invest in helping you. We believe it is worth taking that leap to apply and become a candidate. Our class of 2026 may be the best one yet!

  • We strongly believe that nobody should have to spend money to earn scholarships, which is why we strive to make our program as affordable and accessible as possible for our candidates and their families. However, Miss America does require a couple expenses that we must enforce at the local level.

    Below is a breakdown of what you can expect to spend as a candidate in our next program:

    • Club Miss America Membership Fee - $49.99

      • You can think of this as a registration fee assessed by the Miss America Opportunity. They require this fee to officially register as a candidate in a local competition.

    • SpotFund Fundraising Requirement - $30

      • This is not technically an expense for you, but the Miss America Opportunity requires candidates for local competitions to fundraise a minimum of $30. We recommend sharing a link to the fundraising page you create on social media and asking for donations.

    • Competition Wardrobe - Price Varies

      • We highly encourage candidates to borrow competition wardrobe from our program’s extensive collection of dresses, shoes, and other items. Our “closet” includes hundreds of items in a variety of sizes and styles. We receive new donations all the time, including high-quality designer dresses, so you can always count on our closet for competitive wardrobe options. We assess a small rental fee to help us cover the closet maintenance costs, like dry cleaning and repairs.

      • Rebel Athletic has a partnership with the Miss America Opportunity, so they want all candidates to wear items from a specific clothing line during the Health and Fitness category of competition. The items in that clothing line range from $35-$290 each and the cheapest possible outfit is $80. We believe that is too expensive to be a requirement, so we will not stop you from ordering a similar athletic outfit in red from Amazon or another retailer. If you go that route, please send us a photo before you order it so we can confirm it looks similar enough. We have a few Rebel Athletic outfits in our program’s closet that may be available for rent too.

    • Tickets to the Show - Price Varies

      • Your family and friends can purchase tickets to watch the competition in person on March 1, 2026. We offer a discount for tickets purchased online in advance and then the price goes up a little at the door. All seating is reserved. In 2025, we charged $22.50 online and $25 at the door. We also offer a livestream option, which is usually $25 per screen.

    As you review this list of anticipated expenses, please keep in mind that this experience is an investment in your personal and professional development. Our goal is for you to walk away with scholarships, leadership skills, and the confidence to accomplish your educational and career goals. The sky is the limit with our Build Your Own Scholarship Program. You can start fundraising on July 1st and walk away with money for college guaranteed. In 2025, every candidate earned scholarships and the average amount earned was over $2,000. The benefits of participating outweigh the costs if you are willing to put in the work. We promise!

  • Your success in the program is directly proportional to the effort that you put into it. The candidates that earn the most scholarships are not lucky. They are the young women who make the most of this opportunity. They invest time fundraising through our Build Your Own Scholarship Program so they can walk away with money for college guaranteed. They are actively engaged in preparing for the competition and dedicated to becoming the best they can be. Your time as a candidate will be busy and exciting and fulfilling, because it is an investment in yourself. For your efforts, you will walk away with scholarships, new friends, confidence, leadership skills, and more.

    Our more straight forward answer is that candidates can expect the biggest time commitment in January and February 2026. We hold weekly rehearsals on Sunday afternoons. The annual competition is March 1, 2026 at 2:00pm. You will also need to attend dress rehearsal on Friday evening and complete your private interview with the judges on Saturday. We have a few other optional activities during January and February too. We definitely recommend preparing on your own before January. You should have your talent and your community service initiative picked out before the first practice. We encourage you to reach out to us for help with that!