Looking into the pageants, they seem very similar. But sometimes, they are very different from each other, ranging from requirements to basics. The significant pageant of America is Miss America and Miss USA.
They are two different events. Although they seem like the same event, they are not. Both pageants host the show for young women to earn the crown and the title. However, they are not the same event.
Key Takeaways
- Miss America focuses more on talent and community service, while Miss USA focuses more on physical appearance and modelling skills.
- Miss America has a scholarship program, while Miss USA does not.
- Miss America contestants must be single, while Miss USA contestants can be married or divorced.
Miss America vs Miss USA
Miss America is a pageant where contestants win a scholarship program along with a six-figure salary. The contestants are judged 50% on talent, and there is less focus on beauty. Miss USA is a beauty pageant where contestants are judged solely on outward appearances. The winner of Miss USA will represent their country in the Miss Universe competition.
Miss America is a pageant as well as a scholarship program, and talent covers 50% of the significant factor in the pageant. The organization claims that the contestants are not judged on their outward appearance.
The winner of the contest also gets a six-figure salary during her reign for almost 365 days with the title.
Miss USA is wholly a pageant based on appearance. The contest includes the swimsuit portion as well, unlike Miss America. However, it has strict requirements for entry. And the winner of Miss USA represents the country in the Miss Universe as well.
The competition doesn’t end at the Miss USA pageant.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Miss America | Miss USA |
|---|---|---|
| Pageant | Miss America is a pageant that has a scholarship program. | Miss USA is a beauty pageant. |
| Type | Miss America is a non-profit organization | Miss USA is a profit organization |
| Age requirement for contestants | The contestants are between 17 to 25 years old in Miss America. | The contestants are between 18 to 28 years old in Miss America. |
| Talent portion | There’s a talent portion in the competition. | No, there’s no talent portion in the competition. |
| Advancement after winning | The competition ends after winning the Miss America title. | The Miss USA winner advances to Miss Universe to represent her country. |
| Consideration of outward appearance | The organization claims that they don’t consider outward appearance in the competition. | It does. |
| Prize | The winner of the Miss America receives a 50,000USD scholarship with a six-figure salary throughout her tenure | The winner of the Miss USA receives gifts from sponsors, wardrobe consultation and clothes, skin and hair services, a one-year scholarship to New York Film Academy, a modeling portfolio, a salary, and an apartment in New York during her tenure. |
What is Miss America?
Miss America is a nationally recognized pageant that has an additional component to it. A scholarship is provided to young women as well as a title. It happens annually and is open to women in the USA between the ages of 17 to 25 years.
Unlike Miss USA, there’s no swimsuit portion in the competition. The organization claimed that the competition is based on talent rather than outward appearance.
Moreover, With a 50,000 USD scholarship, the winner receives a six-figure salary for almost 365 days tenure with the title. Also, Miss America has to travel a lot, almost 20,000 miles a month. Traveling every 24-48 hours.
However, spreading awareness about the specific issue is also a part of the tenure. The significant motive of Miss America was to assist in young women’s career and their lives.
The main conditions are that women be between the ages of 17 and 25, be citizens of the United States, and be in excellent health, as well as meet specific “character qualifications.”
Ranging factors and features are different from each other in Miss America and Miss USA from eligibility to rounds. Furthermore, there’s no advancement of the competition after winning Miss America, unlike Miss USA.
What is Miss USA?
Miss USA is a beauty pageant that is held annually for women between 18 to 28 years old. It has no talent competition and is purely based on physical appearance.
In addition to that, it is a for-profit company, unlike Miss America. Many women participate in both Miss America and Miss USA, but they are different competitions with different purposes. Although there are some similarities, they are two different events.
There’s no talent competition in the Miss USA, unlike Miss America. Furthermore, there’s a swimsuit portion in Miss USA but not in Miss America. Besides, the winner advances to Miss Universe to represent the country in the competition.
Also, it kind of serves as a platform to advance to Miss Universe, a global beauty pageant. However, it has strict requirements, including that participants should not have ‘given birth to’ and/or ‘parented a child’.
The competition also includes swimsuit/ athletic gear and evening gown presentation, while Miss America doesn’t. After the presentation round, the top six contestants are chosen.
And then, in the next round, they are asked questions. Even Miss USA has no authority over choosing their evening gown, while Miss USA opts for their evening portion.
The winner of the Miss USA receives gifts from sponsors, wardrobe consultation and clothes, skin and hair services, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy, a modelling portfolio, a salary, and an apartment in New York during her tenure.
Main Differences between Miss America and Miss USA
Usually, people assume that these events are the same, but they are not. Both have different guidelines and features. Although they are pretty similar. Miss America and Miss USA are both pageants, but there are additional components in the competition.
Mostly, women take part in both competitions despite being different events.
- Miss America is a pageant that has a scholarship program as well. In contrast, Miss USA is solely a beauty pageant.
- Miss America’s contestants are between 17 and 25 years old, and Miss USA’s contestants are between 18 and 28 years old.
- There is no talent portion in Miss USA, unlike Miss America.
- Unlike Miss USA, Swimsuit presentation is not a thing in Miss America.
- There is no advancement after winning Miss America. In contrast, the winner of Miss USA advances to Miss Universe and represents the country.
- There is a significant difference after winning the competition; the winner of Miss America receives a 50,000 USD scholarship with a six-figure salary throughout her tenure. On the other hand, the winner of Miss USA receives gifts from sponsors, wardrobe consultation and clothes, skin and hair services, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy, a modelling portfolio, a salary, and an apartment in New York during her tenure.
- Miss America is a talent-based competition without considering outward appearance, but Miss USA is a beauty pageant.
- Miss America is a non-profit organization, while Miss USA is a non-profit organization.
Last Updated : 24 August, 2023
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
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