Community Service

"I first became interested in a local competition because I didn't have any money for school. Then I found out about the talent and interview portion of the competition and thought the Miss America program was a good way for me to build life skills. Then I learned about the platform issue, and the fact that I could be a part of a worthy cause really convinced me to compete."

Angela Perez Baraquio
Miss America 2001

The Miss America Organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of unique nationwide community-based programs. On an annual basis, Miss America state and local titleholders, along with the Organization's network of volunteers, participate in more than 12,000 community service projects, providing in excess of 500,000 service hours to worthy causes.

In the 1940s, the Organization enlisted the support of the national Jaycees Organization to assist with state and local competitions, giving them a decidedly community-service oriented focus.

In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept, which requires each contestant to choose an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our country. Once chosen, Miss America and the state titleholders use their stature to address community service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues. Since 1989, Miss America titleholders have appeared at thousands of public speaking engagements and charitable events to generate awareness for a variety of causes, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, character education, literacy, etc.

The National Community Service Scholarship was established in 1994 as part of the Miss America initiative to embrace community service as one of the qualities and attributes of Miss America. The Miss America Organization added the $5,000 National Community Service Scholarship to recognize women at the state level who demonstrate service to their community in exemplary fashion. These winners are eligible for the National award unless they capture their state title.

Today, Miss America is a global advocate for social and political issues that touch everyone's lives. Though it is Miss America herself who fills the spotlight during her year of service, the Miss America Organization is built on a vast network of grassroots support--individuals and communities who believe that service in ones community is a means to show patriotism as well as a way to gain depth of character.

Contestants at all levels of the Miss America program--from the local organization in Anytown, USA to the national telecast in Atlantic City--are required to clearly define a social issue to which they are sincerely committed and for which each will be an activist during her year of service. Reflecting the range of contestants with different backgrounds and viewpoints, the platforms are as diverse and varied as America itself.