Eligibility

Age Eligibility for 2025-2026 NH program year

 

For the 2025-2026 Local and State Program Year (which is also known as “Miss America Cycle 2027” because that is when the winners of our local/state will compete at Miss America) the age eligibility is:

 

Miss Candidates:  18 to 28 years old.  Must be at least 18 by the state competition and no older than 28 at the state competition.  The state competition for age criteria is April 29, 2026.

 

Teen Candidates:  14 to 18 years old. Must be at least 14 and no older than 18 by the state competition.  For the age criteria the Teen state competition is April 29, 2026.

 

 

Geographic Eligibility Area for Miss Greater Derry & Teen

 

Assuming all candidates meet the residency/full-time student or full-time employee Miss America eligibility requirements, Miss Greater Derry will accept contestants from the following geographic area:

 

All towns or cities within a 25-mile radius of Derry measured by “straight line distance.” See www.distance-cities.com.

 

Those outside of the 25-mile radius are eligible (but still in NH) if the contestant graduated from one of the following high schools:

1. Pinkerton Academy

2. Londonderry High School

3. Windham High School

4. Salem High School

5. Arts Academy of NH (formerly known as Granite State Arts Academy)

6. The Next Charter School

7. Any other charter school located contiguous to the Town of Derry.

 

Note:  the contiguous towns or cities to Derry are:

Londonderry, Windham, Hampstead, Auburn, Chester, Atkinson, Salem, Sandown.