Contestant Registration

The Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant does not discriminate against any gender of individual, regardless of presentation or assignment at birth. We strive to create a safe and welcoming space for all individuals of all identities. Therefore, Mx. Cincinnati Pride is open to any entertainer regardless of on-stage gender presentation, gender identity, gender assigned at birth, or augmentative/cosmetic procedures.

When: March 21, 2026 

Where: The Carnegie (Covington)

Registration: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 

Doors & Contestant Check-in: 6:00 PM 

Pageant Start Time: 7:00 PM 

Entry Fee: $30, payable to Cincinnati Pride via Eventeny or cash 

Administrative Contact: P.H. Dee/Joshua Jones - 419-280-4781 

Prize Package 

Winner 

● Regalia: Crown 

● Cash Prize: $250 at crowning, $250 at stepdown 

● Main Stage Performance at Cincinnati Pride (anticipated), wherein titleholder selects their preferred timeslot, which may include opening for the festival headliners (pending headliner contract approval) 

● Cincinnati Pride Parade Entry (anticipated, sponsored by Cincinnati Pride). Note: any float and/or vehicle costs for the appearance must be covered by the winner. 

First Alternate 

● Tunnel Stage Performance at Cincinnati Pride (anticipated) 

Contestant Rules & Regulations 

Gender Presentation 

● The Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant does not discriminate against any gender of individual, regardless of presentation or assignment at birth. We strive to create a safe and welcoming space for all individuals of all identities. Therefore, Mx. Cincinnati Pride is open to any entertainer regardless of on-stage gender presentation, gender identity, gender assigned at birth, or augmentative/cosmetic procedures. 

● Given the inclusivity of the Mx. Cincinnati Pride title, the winner may choose their preferred honorific at crowning (Miss/Mr./Mx. Cincinnati Pride). If no honorific is selected, their title will remain Mx. Cincinnati Pride.

Entry & Residency Requirements 

● Contestants must be at least 21 years of age and a legal citizen of the United States (or legally allowed to obtain employment in the United States) prior to the date of the pageant. A state-issued ID (non-expired with a photograph) must be provided at the time of registration. Failure to accurately represent on the pageant application will result in disqualification and/or forfeiture of any awarded titles or prizes. 

● The mandatory entry fee for this pageant is $30 and must be paid directly to Cincinnati Pride via Eventeny. This link will be made available to contestants upon request. Should the contestant prefer paying cash, they may do so during the registration period. No Venmo, Cashapp, or PayPal will be accepted. 

● The Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant is open to entertainers within a 50-mile radius of Cincinnati. However, Cincinnati Pride is not responsible for arranging travel for any bookings awarded or events attended as part of the above prize package or below reign expectations. 

● Contestants must not be current or former Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant winners. 

Reign Expectations 

● The winner of Mx. Cincinnati Pride will represent Cincinnati Pride throughout the duration of their reign; as such, behavior and conduct at any public event while wearing regalia must reflect the values and mission of Cincinnati Pride. This includes Cincinnati Pride 

events, bar and nightclub bookings and appearances, and any other public event to which the winner chooses to wear regalia. 

● The winner of Mx. Cincinnati Pride must attend at least one (1) Cincinnati Pride sponsored event wearing regalia per quarter to maintain their title. 

● If the winner of Mx. Cincinnati Pride is unable to fulfill the duties of their reign or is stripped of their title, they must forfeit and return any and all components of the prize package honored up to that date. The title will then be awarded to the contestant who is awarded First Alternate; should the First Alternate decline the presentation of the prize package, the title will be awarded to the Second Alternate ad infinitum until all contestants are offered the opportunity. Should all contestants decline, Cincinnati Pride may appoint a representative. 

Competition & Scoring 

● Contestants are judged based on three categories: Presentation, Formal Wear, and Talent (see category descriptions, guidelines, and point breakdowns below), and placement is determined by cumulative scoring. Scoring sheets, as well as comparative rankings, will be available to all contestants following crowning. Scores are not considered to be confidential, and in complete transparency, overall placements will be released to the contestant group at large. Cincinnati Pride reserves the right to release overall scores online following receipt of scores by all contestants. 

● In the event of a tie in overall score, the contestant with a higher score in Formal Wear will be awarded the victory. In the event of a tie in both overall score and Formal Wear, the contestant with the higher score in Entertainment Value (Talent) will be awarded the victory.

Contestant Scholarships - unique to the Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant 

● Pageants can be an expensive experience for contestants. Cincinnati Pride, in an effort to make the pageant experience more fair, equitable, and accessible to more contestants, has made a commitment to seek or provide sponsored scholarships for up to (the first) eight (8) registered contestants. 

● A registered contestant is considered an eligible contestant (see Entry & Residency Requirements above) that has fully registered and paid for their spot to compete in the Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant. 

● The total eligible amount for a contestant to claim for reimbursement can be up to $500. This scholarship is submitted via refund for purchases made directly connected to the contestant’s presentation. The contestant is responsible for submitting either itemized (detailed) receipts or invoices to be paid, totaling no more than $500 per contestant, on qualified expenses for this particular event. 

● Qualified expenses may include hair, make-up, costume/apparel (including materials), shoes, and jewelry. Contestants interested in an expense beyond one of the named qualified expenses must be cleared first with Cincinnati Pride’s Director of Programming. 

● Itemized receipts or invoices may be submitted any time after the contestant is fully registered and up until two weeks (10 business days) after the pageant has ended. A submission form for reimbursement will be provided to the eligible contestants receiving scholarship and contestants can be reimbursed via Zelle or Check - no cash. 

● Scholarship recipients are welcome to spend more than $500 on their total contestant package; however, additional resources would have to come from external sponsors or self-funding. 

● In the event a contestant withdraws from the program prior to competing but has submitted for and been reimbursed for items, the contestant will refund the portion of the scholarship used from Cincinnati Pride. 

General 

● All contestants are allowed the use of one assistant (dresser). However, due to space restrictions, the assistants may be asked to vacate the dressing space when not actively assisting in contestant preparation. 

● Contestants may not incorporate loose glitter, beads, confetti, liquid or other similar materials into their presentation as these items can present danger, damage, and/or difficulty to venue, event staff, and other contestants. 

● The use of illegal drugs by a contestant or their dressers is not permitted during contestant participation in Mx. Cincinnati Pride or during any Mx. Cincinnati Pride booking or event. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of the title. As a reminder, what is considered illegal may vary from locale or state to state. At this time, Kentucky (the location of the pageant) does not permit recreational cannabis. 

● Theft of any kind by a contestant, dresser, or representative of any contestant will result in immediate disqualification, removal from the Venue, and potential prosecution to the full extent of the law.

● Tampering with the property of others by a contestant, dresser, or representative of any contestant will result in immediate disqualification. 

● In the event theft or tampering is reported to a pageant organizer or member of Cincinnati Pride, we will investigate the claim to the best of our ability and make a determination. 

● Cincinnati Pride will make reasonable effort to honor the above prize packages. ● All contestants must sign the below Mx. Cincinnati Pride Pageant Agreement & Release by the end of the registration period. Administrative points will be deducted for failing to complete the form or submitting past the deadline. 

● There is no guarantee of rehearsal time in the Venue for any contestant. In the event that a sound check is required, please reach out to the Administrative Contact to request arrangements. 

● When creating your presentation, please be mindful that this program is considered an all-ages event (i.e. song selection, responses during Q&A, etc.) 

● Cincinnati Pride and its agents reserve the right to make any decisions concerning matters not explicitly outlined in the above rules. 

Category Description & Point Breakdown 

Presentation: Show Us Your Pride (10 points/judge) 

0-5 Points: Style, Fit, and Creativity 

0-5 Points: Stage Presence 

● This category is intended to allow participants to showcase their creative interpretation of what Pride means to them. Contestants must choose one or more colors from a chosen pride flag (Gay, Bi, Trans, Pan, Nonbinary, Bear, Leather, etc.) and present a creative costume displaying what Pride means to them. 

● During this category, contestants will have an opportunity to introduce themselves on the microphone to the judges and must answer an on-stage question. On-stage questions will be repeated twice and function as a quasi-interview with hosts, who will ask questions that pageant winners will likely answer during their reign as a Title Holder. The questions may pertain to Cincinnati Pride history, what Pride means to the contestant, or other topics as deemed by Cincinnati Pride. 

● Pre-selected music will be played during this category if the contestant does not provide their own. Providing their own music is not required; however, if providing their own music, the contestant must email music to the selected DJ using the following naming convention: Contestant Name - Presentation. The DJ’s contact information will be provided prior to the pageant. Bringing a hard copy of the music on a flash drive is also encouraged. 

Formal Wear (40 points/judge) 

0-20 Points: Style and Fit 

0-20 Points: Presentation and Overall Appearance. 

● Formal Wear is the most elegant outfit contestants will wear during the pageant. It should complement your physique and be a statement of your style and taste. Formal Wear should be kept in pristine condition throughout the pageant, including (but not

limited to) no visible strings, tears, wrinkles, or stains in the fabric, and even hemlines (unless styled as uneven bottom). Hair, accessories (including jewelry), and shoes should match the style of the Formal Wear. Shoes should not be scuffed. Creative Formal Wear is encouraged. This category allows the contestants to display their individuality and creativity in designing Formal Wear to impress the judges. You are encouraged to create Formal Wear that is original and unique. NOTE: This is not a costume or theatrical piece; it should still serve as a garment for formal occasions. 

● Pre-selected music will be played during this category if the contestant does not provide their own. Providing their own music is not required; however, if providing their own music, the contestant must email music to the selected DJ using the following naming convention: Contestant Name - Formal Wear. The DJ’s contact information will be provided prior to the pageant. Bringing a hard copy of the music on a flash drive is also encouraged. 

Talent (100 points/judge) 

0-40 points: Showmanship & Entertainment Value 

0-40 points: Quality of Lip Sync/Vocals and Stage Presence (including Dancers)

0-20 points: Originality 

● The purpose of this category is for contestants to showcase their brand and prove they can entertain an audience for an extended period of time. Judges will score on three categories: Showmanship & Entertainment Value, Quality of Lip Sync/Vocals & Stage Presence, and Originality. 

○ Showmanship & Entertainment Value: The contestant was able to maintain the judges’ attention for the full duration of the performance, and the performance elicited an emotional response (comedy, sadness, excitement, etc.) from the judge. 

○ Quality of Lip Sync/Vocals & Stage Presence: The contestant went beyond a basic lip sync and looked as though they were actually singing the words. If the contestant was singing live, they remained on pitch and tempo. The stage presence, including contestant and dancer choreography, aligned with the tone of the performance. 

○ Originality: The contestant brought their own unique perspective to the performance. 

● Talent may be of any form of entertainment as long as it does not create any danger to the contestants, the staff, or audience members. No fire, water, nudity, pyrotechnics, excessive glitter, animals are allowed. 

● Contestants are permitted up to 4 backup dancers and may perform up to 7 minutes. They are allowed up to 3 additional minutes for set-up and take-down. After exceeding 10 minutes total, contestants will be subject to point deductions. 

● Talent music must be emailed as an mp3 file to the selected DJ using the following naming convention: Contestant Name - Talent. The DJ’s contact information will be provided prior to the pageant. Bringing a hard copy of the music on a flash drive is also encouraged.

Administrative Deductions 

5 Points 

● Smoking or drinking in the dressing room 

● Using any illegal substances in the dressing room, per law according to that locale

10 Points 

● Tardiness to any established roll call or check-in 

● Exceeding the 10-minute total limit during the Talent category 

● Using any prohibited materials during the Talent category 

15 Points 

● Unsportsmanlike or unprofessional conduct toward other contestants of Mx. Cincinnati Pride, their dressers, any Cincinnati Pride representative, and any venue staff.

Disqualification 

● Failure to pay the required registration fee before the end of the registration period.

● Failure to complete and submit the application before the end of registration period.

● Failure to complete and submit the release form before the end of the registration period.

● Theft of any kind by a contestant, dresser, or representative of any contestant

● Tampering with the property of others by a contestant, dresser, or representative of any contestant