HOME | mgapromoters

February 23, 2025

Updates and Changes to the Handbook V_9.0_02222025

This version of the Miss Gay America Handbook is labeled V_9.0_02222025. As part of our commitment to clarity and improved organization, several updates and changes have been made to ensure the document is more user-friendly and relevant to all participants. Below are the key updates:

Reorganization of Sections: The structure of the handbook has been slightly rearranged for better flow and readability. One significant change is the relocation of the Administrative Deductions section. Previously, this section appeared at the beginning of the handbook, but it has now been moved to the Scoring Section as it is more directly related to the scoring process.
Unified Handbook for Both Titles: This updated version of the handbook applies to both Miss Gay America and Miss Gay America FEMME contestants. The only section that differs between the two titles is the Eligibility section, which is clearly marked for each title. All other guidelines, rules, and regulations apply equally to both groups. This change allows for consistency and simplification across both divisions.
General Updates: Additional updates are as follows:
1. Section: Appointed Contestants: Preliminaries with only one contestant will not result in the crowning of a winner. The contestant will still go through their competition package, be scored, and receive critiques, but they will attend nationals as a representative of the preliminary, not as a titleholder. The promoter will retain the crown for the following year. The representative will still receive a modified prize package from the promoter, except for the crown or official jewelry. The representative will not step down the following year and will not be listed as a titleholder for historical purposes.
2. Section: Contracts for preliminaries: All Direct preliminary promoters must renew, via signed Franchise Agreement, their preliminary pageant agreements, not later than August 31st of the current calendar year. Invoices will be sent out with contracts attached each year.
3. Section: Franchise Fees: All first-year pageant owners must pay a $200 deposit on their franchise fee in full to secure their date and promote the preliminary.
4. Veteran promoters may pay $100 of their fee to secure their date on the calendar. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to their scheduled pageant. *These changes are to reserve your date as every year we get contracts that reserve dates and then never follow through. So we ask for a deposit to set a date and start promoting the preliminary.
5. Talent files that went over the time limit were given a zero. It will not be a 1 point administrative deduction from the talent category.

February 3, 2024

MGA Handbook updated to version: V_8.2_02032024

Page 7, Crown Standardization – Updated City Tiara pricing

Page 9, Section 3 – Allowance of transgender men

Page 23, Section J of Attire – Appropriate costuming on stage

Page 23, Section I – Tattoo visibility

Page 59 – Talent description. Decreasing talents to a maximum of 6 minutes.

January 6, 2024

Price update

Due to price increases on tiaras, crowns, and sashes the following have been adjusted.

Gold City Tiara increased from $410 to $450

Nickel City Tiaras increased from $345 to $385

Annual Prelim Fee increased from $930 to $980, State crowns increased $103 and sashes increased by $10.

________________________________

March 21, 2023

New handbook uploaded. Corrections to grammar made throughout.

Updated appointment section

Corrected point deductions (Admin Points) to work with new scoring as well as added a cheating clause to the admin section.

Franchise fee and crown price increase

Effective starting March 22, 2022

Miss Gay America franchise fee was increased in the contract to $930 effective March 22, 2022. This is due to the cost of materials for the crowns going up in cost. When we purchased Miss Gay America the cost of a prelim was $1200, we reduced it to $825 and maintained that price until this time. Crown prices went up in 2018 and we maintained that price and absorbed the cost. Our cost was $390 and due to the cost of goods increasing went up to $507 in March of 2022.

City Crowns prices were also increased 30% due to the cost of materials increasing.

Handbook updated 02152022

Update to the handbook on updated scoring for 2022.

Starting on page 50 of the handbook a description to the subcategories and percent of total score for each subcategory is defined and explained. Also included is an updated copy of the the score sheet.

______________________________________

Handbook updated 10092019

Update to the handbook on the use of substances that impact the stage such as liquids and powders.

Liquids may be used in talents as long as they do not make contact with the stage surface. Any substance used that impacts the stage (Substances such as water, oil, hairspray, syrup, makeup, powder, that may make the stage surface slippery or sticky) and the safety of the contestants or entertainers will be a 100 point deductions, for reasons such as safety, and time to clean the stage causing delay to the show. This does not include things like rhinestones, fringe, sequins, or feathers that may fall off of a costume and quickly swept away.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Handbook updated 11052018

The following adjustments have been made:

Admin points earned during preliminary competition no longer carry over to final night during multi day pageants including nationals. Points issued during preliminary or final night will be applied to that specific set of scores of the pageant.
Tattoo update to Gown and Talent… Tattoos may not be visible during evening gown, they must be covered by the gown or with makeup. Tattoos may be shown whether real or fake during talent if it’s part of a costume or “look” to fit the talent. Example impersonating an artist that has tattoos…
Presentation is no longer judged at city, state, and regional preliminaries.
Titleholder fee of $300 has been updated in the handbook to match the contract.

____________________________________

Gay America Pageants

Promoters Information and Resource Center