The Miss America Organization’s contestant age eligibility requirements are based on a calendar year, not a pageant cycle, and remain unchanged. In order to be eligible to compete in a local or state competition, a contestant cannot be older than twenty-four (24) years of age on December 31st the year she could be chosen to represent her state in the National Finals.
In order to meet age eligibility requirements to compete in local competitions for the State Competition, a contestant must be at least 17 years of age and her birth year can be no earlier than 1992.