HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The next Miss Wallace State Interest Meeting will be held at the Burrow Center Recital Hall located at 801 Main St. NW, Hanceville on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. The first was held Aug. 24.
Miss Wallace State 2027 will earn a full tuition scholarship.
Participants must be female, a U.S. citizen, never married and have no criminal record. They must also maintain a 2.75 GPA or higher with six credit hours in fall and spring.
“It’s not a beauty pageant, it’s a scholarship program,” Wallace State Success Advisor Candice Fomby shared.
The competition will consist of several phases:
Private interview
This will count for 30% of a contestant’s score. Each contestant will go into a room with a panel of judges and speak about themselves and their community service initiative.
“It is 30%. They are 10 minutes long, but you’ll go in, have a 30-second introduction, you’ll talk about yourself and your CSI, and then that’s when the questions will start with the judges,” Fomby said.
Health and fitness
“We are doing music from ‘Top Gun,’ so if you want to be practicing your health and fitness walk. You can throw something on from there, or even your evening gown. That’s what we’re going to be using,” she said.
Advisors note that while a Rebel Athletic set is not required, any red athletic top and bottom will be necessary for this portion.
Fomby emphasized, “And one thing I will say about any phase of competition: whatever you wear, make sure it’s appropriate and fits you well.”
This portion will contribute to 20% of the total score.
“The judges are looking for a contestant’s confidence and comfort on stage, while getting a look into their commitment to health and fitness,” Fomby explained.
On-stage conversation
Fomby said this is a continuation of the private interview and the contestants will be asked questions about their community service initiative. This will count for 10% of the total score.
Talents and her story
For this phase, Fomby noted that contestants can display their talents. Participants in the first meeting had talents ranging from piano to baton twirling to flute to dancing. This will count for 20% of the total score.
There is also an opportunity for contestants to sing and to tell their story, though the latter is not a requirement.
Any talents should ideally be pre-approved, especially those containing music choices, to ensure they are appropriate.
Evening gown
Fomby told the audience, “Evening gown, that’s 20%. You get to wear your evening gown of your choice. You’re going to be judged not on the dress, but how you represent yourself in the dress. And then on stage, that is 10% of your total score.”
She also noted, “You do have to register with Miss America to be able to be a contestant in any local preliminary, and it is $49.99 for the first time that year. So if you decide to compete with us, you only have to do that once.”
This year will also be Miss Wallace State’s 50th Anniversary so whomever is crowned will be the winner of the celebratory year.
Fomby made a point to acknowledge the true meaning behind the competition: “One of my goals for Miss Wallace State is to be like a family. Whether you win or not, we will be cheering you on for whatever you do next.”
The Miss Wallace State paperwork deadline is Sept. 21 and can be accessed online at https://misswallacestateorganizationregistration.canva.link or picked up at the Sept. 10 meeting.
For more info, email lioncentral@wallacestate.edu or call 256-352-8236.
