Criteria for Scoring
The Miss Delaware and Miss America Programs insist on the PROFESSIONAL HONESTY of all judging panels. Each judge has been entrusted with the preservation and perpetuation of the goals, objectives, and spirit of the Miss America Organization. The new Miss Delaware should possess the following "Qualities and Attributes." She is a woman sensitive to her environment and caring about some of the "troublesome issues" facing the world, who works in a defined way toward possible solutions and who wants to use her crown and its celebrity to make a difference in the world where she has chosen to be a role model. She is an accomplished woman whose achievements distinguish her as one of the "Best of Today's Women. She is a leader by virtue of her experiences and an independent, eloquent communicator with the "courage of her convictions." She should be a physically attractive woman of both face and figure, and should have a confident and commanding presence. Considered both talented and intelligent, she should be a woman of drive, energy, charisma, expression and health.

Judging Phases
Talent Competition - Talent performance is the single aspect that sets the Miss America system apart from all other pageants. The disproportionate scoring of this phase of competition demonstrates the pageant's concern for excellence in the presentation of talent. The talent phase is not intended to be an end in itself, but rather an insight into the woman's preparatory and performance skills. It is not to be compared with professional performance on stage or television. Our judges will score each talent performance on interpretive ability, technical skill and stage presence. They will score within the framework of each individual presentation with no comparative judging.

Private Interview - The 10 minute Private Interview is an opportunity to learn as much as possible about each contestant - her qualities and attributes to be Miss Delaware, her commitment to advance herself as a role model, her ability to express and distinguish her beliefs, and her ability to fulfill the job responsibilities of Miss Delaware. The judges will look for overall "first impression," sense of accomplishments and a confident, commanding presence. They will evaluate each contestant's personality, personal appearance and attractiveness. They will look for validated opinions and responses as well as communication competencies. Questions may deal with the contestant s 'platform" issue, community service, world affairs, ambitions and goals, and other personal interests.

Evening Wear - The Evening Wear phase of competition is designed for the contestant to project both her personality and beauty "across the footlights." The contestant's total look is considered. The judges will again look for an overall "first impression," sense of confidence, stage presence and personality. Carriage and grace, beauty and sense of attractiveness will also be considered. Each contestant must respond to on-stage questions which should be answered with poise and sincerity

Physical Fitness in Swimsuit - Swimsuit is designed to allow the judges to see that the contestant maintains a figure that reflects good physical fitness and health. Overall "first impression" is again considered as well as poise, confidence, and beauty.

Official Scoring
In view of the importance stressed by the Miss America Program that the new Miss America be an articulate and effective communicator, the evaluation process now includes segments called ON-STAGE INTERVIEW. On a preliminary night, contestants will be required to answer both a "General Type and a Platform" question. These answers are not scored apart from but are factored into the overall evaluation of the contestant in evening wear. The Private Interview scores will be carried over into the final night of competition.

The final night 'Top Ten" will compete in Talent, Evening Wear, and Swimsuit. Auditors will provide the Top Five" finalists based on the five highest cumulative scores. These finalists will then participate in a "Discussion" which is similar to the national finals. Each finalist will be asked a "General" followed by a Platform' question. The judges will score these answers on a 1 through 10 basis which will count as 10% of the contestants final score.

Scoring Values - Single Night State Pageants Preliminary
Interview 25%
Evening Wear 20%
On Stage Question 5%
Talent 35%
Swimsuit 15%
Final Ballot 10%

Preliminary Nights of a Multi-stage Pageant
Interview 25%
Evening Wear 20%
On Stage Question 5%
Talent 35%
Swimsuit 15%

Final Night of a Multi Stage Pageant
Composite 30%
Swimsuit 20%
Evening Wear 20%
Talent 30%
Top Five - FINAL BALLOT