Miss NC 4th of July Scholarship Pageant

By submitting an application and participating in the 2026 Miss NC 4th of July Scholarship Pageant, all contestants, parents, guardians, and guests agree to comply with the following rules and policies. Failure to adhere to these rules may result in point deductions, disqualification, dismissal from the event, forfeiture of awards, and/or denial of entry to future events. General Conduct & Sportsmanship Mistreatment of children will NOT be tolerated, including by parents, grandparents, or guardians. Any form of verbal or physical mistreatment will result in immediate removal from the event without refund. NO EXCEPTIONS. Unsportsmanlike behavior of any kind—including yelling, inappropriate language, shoving, throwing objects, or disruptive conduct—will result in immediate disqualification and removal without refund or awards. Bashing, gossip, or negative commentary, including on social media, will not be tolerated. If such content is posted, you will be asked to remove it immediately and may be barred from future Miss NC 4th of July Pageant/Festival events until removed. Reigning titleholders may be required to forfeit their title and awards with no refund. Contestants, parents, and guests are expected to demonstrate positive sportsmanship at all times toward fellow contestants, families, staff, volunteers, and judges. Fees & Payments Pageant fees may be paid by cash, check, or money order prior to the deadline. A $35 fee will be assessed for any returned check. All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Entry fees may not be transferred or credited if a contestant cannot attend. Fees will only be refunded if the pageant is cancelled by the Miss NC 4th of July Pageant/Festival. Judging & Scoring Judges’ decisions are final. NO EXCEPTIONS. Contestants, parents, and family members may NOT approach judges at any time during or after the pageant regarding scores, comments, or placements. Requesting judges’ contact information is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification and/or denial of future entry. Score sheets will be available for pickup on pageant day only, immediately following crowning, in the dressing room. Score sheets will not be mailed, emailed, saved, posted online, or discussed after the event. Score sheets will only be released to the contestant or the contestant’s parent/guardian. Requests for information regarding other contestants, including number of contestants in a division, will not be honored. Schedule & Participation All contestants must be on time and ready to compete as scheduled. Judges will deduct points for late arrivals to on-stage competition. All winners are required to participate in group and individual photos immediately following the crowning ceremony. Dressing Room & Personal Belongings Dressing rooms will be provided; however, contestants and families are responsible for keeping their area clean and organized. NO MEN OR BOYS are permitted in the dressing room at any time, for any reason. NO EXCEPTIONS. The Miss NC 4th of July Pageant, its Director, committee, staff, and venue are NOT responsible for lost, stolen, or missing items. This includes (but is not limited to): clothing, shoes, cell phones, hair tools, cameras, awards, or personal belongings. Items will not be held or mailed. Modeling, Appearance & Grooming Natural modeling ONLY is permitted. NO pro-am modeling. Pro-am modeling includes (but is not limited to): routines, exaggerated facial expressions, heavy arm movements, pointing at judges, removable clothing, or overly rehearsed choreography. A 2-point deduction per judge per competition will be assessed for pro-am modeling. Children ages 4–6 may wave or blow kisses to family members as a natural response. Modeling must remain age appropriate. Have fun and show personality. Makeup is NOT permitted for Tiny and Little Miss divisions. Makeup for Junior Miss and above must be age appropriate. ABSOLUTELY NO FLIPPERS are allowed. A 2-point deduction per judge per competition will be applied if flippers are used. An immediate inspection will be conducted by the Director or Judges’ Hostess upon discovery. Missing teeth, braces, bruises, or minor scrapes will NOT result in deductions. Children are allowed to be children. Photography & Media Video cameras are permitted in the auditorium. Entry & Participation Rights The NC 4th of July Pageant Committee and Director reserve the right to deny entry to any contestant at their discretion. This is a CLOSED pageant and is limited to Brunswick County residents only. Residency requirements will be enforced. Our Philosophy The Miss NC 4th of July Pageant believes pageants should be a positive, uplifting experience where children and families spend quality time together, build confidence, encourage one another, and create lifelong memories. Pageantry should never be solely about winning, but about personal growth, self-confidence, and celebrating each contestant’s unique personality. If this philosophy does not align with your values, this may not be the right pageant for your family. Otherwise — come join the fun!