Personal Platform
In the Miss America Organization each contestant is required to have a personal platform. Your platform should reflect an issue of concern to the American people. Choose one that you have been personally involved with prior to the competition. Your personal connection to the platform issue should be clearly understood. The platform issue should be one that is supported by legitimate 501(C)(3) organizations on the local, state, and national level. It should be of interest to corporations, the news media, and other important audiences.
The platform statement is a one page essay. Be honest with your statements and realistic with your goals in regards to your platform and your year of service. At the local level the judges want to see that you have a personal commitment to this issue. It should be clear that you have researched, thought about, and understand your platform and it’s impact at the local and state level. Should you become Miss Washtenaw County, the issue that you address during this competition will become your local platform for Miss Michigan. At that point the Miss Washtenaw County Scholarship Program will provide you with additional information, resources, and assistance to support your involvement in this issue.
The judge’s notebooks, which include the platform statement and resumes, are sent out two weeks prior to the pageant. This will be the judge’s first impression of you. Take the time to check for proper spelling and grammar. They should be printed from a computer or typewritten on plain white copy paper. Refer to Platform Essay for complete instructions. No changes to your paperwork will be allowed after it is turned in. You are required to bring seven copies of your platform statement to the October 9th rehearsal. Platform Essays are not due until that time so that if you need some assistance we can help you with them. It is suggested that you use a copy of your paperwork for your mock interview and then use the judge’s critique to make your final changes. The judge’s notebooks will be mailed on October 10th. Paperwork that is late will not be included in the judge’s notebooks. It will be given to the judges on pageant day.
The platform statement is a one page essay. Be honest with your statements and realistic with your goals in regards to your platform and your year of service. At the local level the judges want to see that you have a personal commitment to this issue. It should be clear that you have researched, thought about, and understand your platform and it’s impact at the local and state level. Should you become Miss Washtenaw County, the issue that you address during this competition will become your local platform for Miss Michigan. At that point the Miss Washtenaw County Scholarship Program will provide you with additional information, resources, and assistance to support your involvement in this issue.
The judge’s notebooks, which include the platform statement and resumes, are sent out two weeks prior to the pageant. This will be the judge’s first impression of you. Take the time to check for proper spelling and grammar. They should be printed from a computer or typewritten on plain white copy paper. Refer to Platform Essay for complete instructions. No changes to your paperwork will be allowed after it is turned in. You are required to bring seven copies of your platform statement to the October 9th rehearsal. Platform Essays are not due until that time so that if you need some assistance we can help you with them. It is suggested that you use a copy of your paperwork for your mock interview and then use the judge’s critique to make your final changes. The judge’s notebooks will be mailed on October 10th. Paperwork that is late will not be included in the judge’s notebooks. It will be given to the judges on pageant day.
Instructions for Typing the Platform Issue Statement
Please remember. This is your opportunity to explain to the judges what your chosen platform is and why it is important for the Miss America Organization to embrace this platform. In addition, it should explain how your platform will further the Miss America “Brand” to the public. This ONE (1) page, single-spaced document combined with your Contestant Resume, will comprise your entire application for this job. The judges will receive exactly what is submitted. Any items submitted that do not fit the established criteria will be returned for correction only once. Any items, which do not meet the criteria or are submitted after the deadline will not be given to the judges. If your Platform Statement arrives on the day of the deadline, but does not meet the criteria, there will not be time to return it to you; therefore, it will not be given to the judges. The contestant may explain the lack of judging materials during her interview, if she so chooses.
1. Go the word processing program of your computer.
2. Start a “new” document.
3. Set margins for 1” on all four sides. The font style may not be any smaller than “10” and no larger than “12” point type, using the Times New Roman font style. Please refer to the attached sample to verify that you are following the requested format.
4. With the justification set for left, type “Name:” in bold. Following the colon (:), hit the space bar twice. Then, type your name as you wish the judges to know it (If your name is LaCricia Deborah Smith and you want to be known as “Deborah Smith”, please type “Deborah Smith”).
5. Double space down. Set your justification to “center”. Then type in “bold and underline” the title of your Platform.
6. Double space down. Write what you feel is critical for the judges to know about your platform and why it is necessary for you to have the job of Miss Washtenaw to promote this issue. What you write will be what the judges know about your platform, your role in successfully dealing with this issue, and the role the Miss America Organization may play in your plan.
7. This essay may include some of the following items (this is not to be meant as an exhaustive list):
Ø A clear definition of the platform and the specific issues you wish to address.
Ø A plan on how you have or will change attitudes regarding the issue.
Ø The way in which you have or will change behaviors related to this issue.
Ø The way in which your platform issue will move the Miss America Organization forward
Ø Your media plans
Ø Your marketing strategy
Ø How you propose to fund your ideas/plans
Ø Any significant accomplishments you have made in regard to your issue.
8. At the bottom of the page, you MUST set the justification to the right. Type a line of 26 spaces. Below that line, you must type Signature/Date. Once you have printed the document, you must sign and date this document.
1. Go the word processing program of your computer.
2. Start a “new” document.
3. Set margins for 1” on all four sides. The font style may not be any smaller than “10” and no larger than “12” point type, using the Times New Roman font style. Please refer to the attached sample to verify that you are following the requested format.
4. With the justification set for left, type “Name:” in bold. Following the colon (:), hit the space bar twice. Then, type your name as you wish the judges to know it (If your name is LaCricia Deborah Smith and you want to be known as “Deborah Smith”, please type “Deborah Smith”).
5. Double space down. Set your justification to “center”. Then type in “bold and underline” the title of your Platform.
6. Double space down. Write what you feel is critical for the judges to know about your platform and why it is necessary for you to have the job of Miss Washtenaw to promote this issue. What you write will be what the judges know about your platform, your role in successfully dealing with this issue, and the role the Miss America Organization may play in your plan.
7. This essay may include some of the following items (this is not to be meant as an exhaustive list):
Ø A clear definition of the platform and the specific issues you wish to address.
Ø A plan on how you have or will change attitudes regarding the issue.
Ø The way in which you have or will change behaviors related to this issue.
Ø The way in which your platform issue will move the Miss America Organization forward
Ø Your media plans
Ø Your marketing strategy
Ø How you propose to fund your ideas/plans
Ø Any significant accomplishments you have made in regard to your issue.
8. At the bottom of the page, you MUST set the justification to the right. Type a line of 26 spaces. Below that line, you must type Signature/Date. Once you have printed the document, you must sign and date this document.
