Although additional eligibility rules exist with which contestants must comply, the rules below are designed to assist with determining the eligibility for a contestant to compete in a Miss America’s Outstanding Teen State or Local Competitions, based upon the Age/Education eligibility rules of the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organizations:
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Contestants:

• Must be at least thirteen (13) years of age on the first day of the State Competition in which she competes; and
• Must not be older than seventeen (17) years of age as of July 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes, unless she is 18 years old and has not graduated from high school as of July 31st in the calendar year of the State Competition in which she competes.

For the avoidance of doubt, 13 to 17 year old high-school graduates, as well as 18 year old non-graduates as of July 31st, must compete at MAOTeen level.

​Please note, this change is effective for all contestants who will compete in 2019 State Competitions, which includes all Local Competitions that will send titleholders to compete in 2019 State Competitions. If you have any questions, please contact your respective national office.
 
For further clarification, here are three scenarios:
 
Contestant A:
Current HS senior (will graduate in June 2019)
Date of Birth:  August 2, 2001 (she will turn 18 AFTER July 31, 2019)
She must compete as a TEEN contestant this year.
 
Contestant B:
Current HS senior (will graduate in June 2019)
Date of Birth:  April 11, 2001 (she will turn 18 before July 31, 2019)
She must compete as a MISS contestant this year.
 
Contestant C:
Current HS student (not a senior) who is 18 as of July 31, 2019 but HAS NOT YET GRADUATED from HS, she must compete in TEEN.