11 Rules Miss USA Contestants Have to Follow (Including a Few Newly Introduced Ones)

The Miss USA pageant is returning on Oct. 24.

The pageant was first held in 1952 and has gone through various changes in the years since. 

Most recently, the pageant has faced leadership shakeups as Thom Brodeur took over as CEO following former president and CEO Laylah Rose's departure.

The news of leadership changes came more than a year after the 2023 winners, Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastav, relinquished their titles, marking the first time that any queen had given up her crown in the pageant's 72-year history. As a result, first runner-up Savannah Gankiewicz took over the crown as Miss USA 2023.

Gankiewicz previously spoke with PEOPLE during her reign, emphasizing the biggest difference between Miss USA and other beauty pageants. 

“Miss USA has always brought glamour and fashion, but also being such a force for good and using their platform to do community service,” Gankiewicz explained. 

She also shared some of the biggest rules contestants have to follow, as well as a few new additions that allowed even more women to compete for the title, including divorced women, married women and women with kids.

“That's just a power force in pageantry,” she said of the various rules changes that were first implemented during the Miss USA 2024 competition. “No other pageant ... at that high caliber can you do this. That just goes to show the transformation that pageantry has.” 

From the age requirement to covering expenses, here’s everything to know about the rules Miss USA contestants have to follow. 

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There is no longer an age requirement 

Originally, only women between the ages of 18 and 28 could compete. 

However, that rule was later eliminated. While there is still an age minimum of 18 (separating Miss USA contestants from Miss Teen USA contestants), there is no maximum age. Miss Universe first announced the rule in September 2023, and the Miss USA pageant followed suit the following January. 

Gankiewicz tells PEOPLE it’s an exciting change as Miss USA breaks “barriers in the pageant industry,” allowing more women the opportunity to compete.

Moms are now allowed to compete 

In addition to eliminating the age cap, 2023 marked the end of restrictions on contestants who are moms. 

Gankiewicz foresees that the rule change will not only inspire people watching at home but also women hoping to compete for Miss USA. “When they see people, it's all about feeling relatable,” she says. “When they see a woman that looks like them or speaks like them they'll feel inspired to do this as well. Because when you go up on that stage, you're having so much fun, you feel confident, sexy, beautiful. I think every woman likes to feel that way.” 

There are no rules when it comes to marital status 

Additionally, there are no restrictions when it comes to marital status this year. “You can be married, divorced, a mom, and you can compete at Miss USA and Miss Universe,” Gankiewicz explains. 

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You have to be a United States citizen 

Since the pageant is called Miss USA, it stands to reason you have to be a United States citizen to apply. However, this can be done through various means, including naturalization. As Gankiewicz points out, Miss Texas USA 2023 Lluvia Alzate was born in Colombia before her family immigrated to the United States when she was 5 years old. 

“They don't have to be born in the U.S., but they have to have an American passport,” Gankiewicz clarifies. 

You need to be a permanent resident of the state you’re representing 

In addition to being a United States citizen, you also have to be a permanent resident of the state you’re representing. Three options apply for this scenario, which are listed on the Miss USA websites for various states. 

One is that you “must live in your state permanently and will have lived there for at least three months prior to the date of the pageant.” The second is that you “must be a full-time student in your state and will have completed one entire semester or session by December 31.” Lastly, you can be considered a permanent resident if you “work full-time in your state.” 

Doing charitable work is encouraged for applying contestants, but is not required 

As listed on the Miss USA website, one of the organization’s main initiatives is giving back. “Charity and community engagement are at the core of all that we do, so get ready to meet the people that make our work truly profound,” the website states. “From exciting fund-raising events, to heart-warming visits, and adventures in awareness, at Miss USA, each of our initiatives matter.” 

While previous charitable work is encouraged, it’s not a requirement for those applying to the Miss USA competition — though Gankiewicz notes that it certainly helps to include that information in your bio as well as during your interview. 

The pageant has changed its rules to be more inclusive of transgender women 

In 2012, the Miss USA pageant changed its rules to be more inclusive of transgender women, as previously reported by NPR. As the official pageant website states, those hoping to apply “must represent and warrant that you are a female (recognized medically and legally as a female in the United States).” 

Former Miss Nevada USA Kataluna Enriquez made history in 2021 as she became the first openly transgender Miss USA contestant. "It was an honor just to be able to represent my community and be an example for young queer children who now know they don't need to be limited by society's standards," Enriquez told Yahoo Life about the experience. 

There isn’t a dress code for evening gowns (but there is a limit) 

When it comes to picking the perfect evening gown, Gankiewicz notes that there isn’t a specific dress code that contestants have to follow: “As long as you feel beautiful, confident, and graceful and can portray that in a gown, it’s free will.” 

However, she points out that there is a limit to the amount of gowns you wear. While contestants could only have one gown, Gankiewicz says the Miss USA pageant slightly tweaked the rules for the 2024 season, allowing women to have a prelim gown and a final gown.

Contestants have to cover their own expenses

Of course, pageant gowns don't come cheap, and contestants are expected to foot their own bill, which is why having sponsors is so important; as Gankiewicz notes, one of the most surprising parts of the competition for her was “how much money it costs to be a pageant girl.” 

“You're getting your nails done, your hair done, the gowns, the outfits, the appearances,” she says. “So you have to work really hard to get that sponsorship. Usually, your state will give you good ones, but if you want [specific] ones, you have to work for it.” 

As she competed in the pageant, she budgeted by saving money from her job and relying on sponsors, family and friends to donate to her “pageant fund.” She notes that the average cost for a gown is $12,000 to $15,000, but she was able to save by getting hers from the Philippines. “Mine was only $6,000, but even that was expensive for out of the country.” 

Contestants have ‘free range’ on social media posts (to a point)

When it comes to sharing content on their social media profiles, Gankiewicz notes that contestants have “free range” of what to post, within reason ("Of course nothing inappropriate,” she says.)

She says this is further emphasized during orientation for Miss USA, noting that you never know who the judges are and who is watching. She adds that judges love seeing contestants engage with the organization online. “Since we live in a world full of social media and influencing, they want to see someone who could do just that.” 

If you win at the state level, you cannot compete for Miss USA in the future 

One big rule that people might be surprised to learn is that your time on the Miss USA stage is one and done. “Once you compete in one state and win that title, you can't compete again,” Gankiewicz clarifies. “So once you hit that Miss USA stage, this will be your last time.”

Amid all the various rule changes in 2024, Gankiewicz says she hopes one day this rule will be lifted. In "other countries, you can keep competing in your country until you win that title with Miss Universe,” she explains. 

“That's why girls who have dual citizenship, they go to their countries, which is so nice because you can go to Miss Universe Philippines numerous times until you win that country,” she adds. 

“So I hope one day [they’ll change the rule]," she says. " Maybe I'll come back in!"