Master Rulebook

This page is the public summary of the Uplift Tri-State Gulf Coast USA Master Rulebook for Year One (2026). Complete rules are provided to all accepted contestants in their welcome packet.

1. Pageant Structure

Uplift Tri-State Gulf Coast USA is a four-level advancement competition:

1. Virtual Directional County — Miss [Direction] [County] Uplift
2. Virtual County — Miss [County] Uplift
3. Live State Championship — Miss Florida / Alabama / Mississippi Uplift
4. Live Gulf Coast Tri-State Finals — Miss Uplift Tri-State Gulf Coast USA

2. Coverage

Year One coverage is limited to Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. No city titles. No regional competitions. No national competition. Future regional expansion is planned for Year Two or later, only after the Gulf Coast model is proven and stable.

3. Age Divisions

14 divisions, applied at every level:

• Tiny Spark Division (0–11 Months)
• Little Light Division (1–2 Years)
• Rising Star Division (3–4 Years)
• Bright Bloom Division (5–6 Years)
• Dream Builder Division (7–9 Years)
• Young Visionary Division (10–12 Years)
• Trailblazer Division (13–15 Years)
• Changemaker Division (16–18 Years)
• Emerging Leader Division (19–24 Years)
• Luminary Division (25–34 Years)
• Legacy Leader Division (35–49 Years)
• Golden Impact Division (50–64 Years)
• Timeless Inspiration Division (65–79 Years)
• Living Legacy Division (80–100+)

4. Open Titles

15 open titles run alongside main divisions. No additional entry fee. Contestants may enter every open title they qualify for. Open Title winners auto-advance to the next level regardless of overall placement.

• Miss Black Uplift
• Miss Hispanic Uplift
• Miss Asian Uplift
• Miss Indigenous Uplift
• Miss Multicultural Uplift
• Miss Disabled Uplift
• Miss Adaptive Uplift
• Miss Caregiver Uplift
• Miss Survivor Uplift
• Miss Military Family Uplift
• Miss Entrepreneur Uplift
• Miss Community Hero Uplift
• Miss Leadership Uplift
• Miss Kindness Uplift (open to all)
• Miss Inspiration Uplift (open to all)

5. Add-On Categories

15 add-on categories at $25 each, unlimited entries permitted. Add-ons are recognitions, not championships, and are evaluated at every level. See the Divisions & Titles page for full definitions of each add-on.

6. Closet Challenge

The Uplift Closet Challenge is a free, standalone competition track. Participation does not require entry into the main pageant.

• No entry fee at any level (Directional, County, State, Tri-State)
• Scoring: Total pounds collected. Item count is the tiebreaker.
• Carry forward: Pounds accumulate across all four levels of competition.
• Verification: Collection photos, scale photos, item counts, collection event photos, receipts as applicable.
• Accepted items: Children's clothing, teen clothing, adult clothing, professional attire, formal wear, pageant attire, shoes, accessories, coats, new hygiene items.
• Disposition: Items may be used to build future Uplift Closet inventory, support future contestants, support future Uplift initiatives, be donated to nonprofit partners, or transition into future programs.

7. Submission Packages

Directional Round (Virtual)

• Headshot
• Casual photo
• Formal photo
• 30–60 second introduction video
• Questionnaire
• Community involvement form

County Round (Virtual)

• Updated headshot
• Casual photo
• Formal photo
• Updated introduction video
• Questionnaire
• Community involvement form
• NEW: My Uplift Story — 2–3 minute video on who you are, what shaped you, how you uplift others, and how you hope to impact your community

State Championship (Live)

• Opening introductions
• Casual wear walk
• Formal wear walk
• Short stage question
• Crowning

Tri-State Finals (Live, 2–3 Day Weekend)

• Day 1: Registration, photos, interviews, meet and greet, rehearsals
• Day 2: Preliminary competition, entertainment, recognition events
• Day 3: Finals, open title crowning, Closet Champion crowning, Gulf Coast crowning

8. Advancement

9. Scoring Model

• Directional: 100% paid community voting
• County: 75% paid community voting + 25% judges' scoring (5 judges, 1–10 scale on overall presentation, averaged)
• State and Tri-State Finals: 100% in-person judges' scoring

A free voting option (Alternate Method of Entry) is available throughout each voting window. See Sweepstakes / AMOE Rules.

10. Fees

• Directional entry: Free
• County entry: Free for Top 5 Directional advancers
• State entry (cascading): 1st place County advancer: Free. 2nd place: $50. 3rd place: $75. 4th place: $100.
• Tri-State Finals: Free for all advancers
• Add-ons: $25 each, unlimited
• Closet Challenge: Free at every level

11. Wardrobe

All contestants compete in thrifted, secondhand, or back-of-closet attire. We are actively seeking a Founding Sustainability Partner; once secured, a Required-Shop Wardrobe Rule may apply that asks contestants to source from the partner's stores. Budget caps:

• $50 maximum per outfit
• $100 maximum per gown

Receipt verification is required at State level and above. Honor system applies at Directional and County.

12. Titleholder Commitments

All Uplift titleholders agree to a minimum of one appearance per year. Suggested 2–4 appearances when opportunities exist. Appearances may include parades, festivals, sponsor events, school events, community events, and future Uplift events. Titleholders represent the mission: Community First. Crown Second.

13. Code of Conduct

All participants are bound by our Code of Conduct. Violations may result in disqualification, removal, or loss of titleholder status.

14. The Founding Class

Every Year One winner — at every level, in every category — carries the Founding Class of 2026 designation. Permanent. Historical. Never re-earnable.

15. Disputes

Any dispute regarding application of these rules is decided by the Uplift Director Panel, whose decision is final. Disputes must be submitted in writing within 72 hours of the event in question. See our Terms of Service for legal dispute resolution provisions.

16. Full Rulebook

The complete Master Rulebook (28 sections) is provided to all accepted contestants in their welcome packet. Sections not summarized above include detailed judging criteria, point-allocation tables, tiebreaker procedures, social media guidelines, sponsor exclusivity rules, parent/guardian conduct, volunteer responsibilities, vendor agreements, photography and media credentialing, accessibility accommodations, accommodations for medical needs, force majeure procedures, and trademark licensing.

Questions about specific rules: info@galaglitteratigroup.com