If you embody these qualities, you belong on the amp stage!

In 1986, the American Miss Pageant was founded by Theresa Pelletier, a woman who never had the opportunity to compete in a pageant herself. She saw pageants as a stage for self-expression, a place to build connections, and a way to showcase that true beauty comes from within.

Under her vision, the program grew into a recognized platform that empowered girls and women to uplift themselves and others. Theresa dedicated her life to helping hundreds of young women across the Northeast gain confidence and develop essential life skills.

Theresa Pelletier was my mother, and before she passed away, I made a promise to carry on her incredible legacy. Together with my daughter, Emily, and my granddaughter, Maddie, we continue to celebrate girls and women for their intelligence, ambition, and kindness. This has become our organization’s mission. When women embody these qualities, they can achieve extraordinary things.

                                                                                             - Brenda Pollock, President, American Miss Pageant

The skills needed to work with other people, particularly to convey and receive messages either in writing or verbally. The onstage Introduction, Judges' Interviews, and interactions with fellow delegates and AMP staff help develop these skills. Former contestants have shared with me they nailed their job or college interview because of the skills acquired through pageantry.

They describe understanding yourself and being able to feel for other people. The AMP backstage dressing rooms are full of smiles and delegates helping their fellow delegates is common. AMP also promotes the importance of giving back and is helping raise awareness and funds year-round, for Shriners Children's Hospital in Boston, the official American Miss Pageant charity. 

This describes the skills required to understand problems, find solutions to them, alone or with others, and then take action to address them. The overwhelming support shown by all contestants in the system is unparalleled. As pageants, pageant wardrobes and hair and make-up go during the competition, you learn to adapt and solve any problem that may arise before you hit the runway. 

This describes the ability to think in different and unusual ways about problems, find new solutions, or generate new ideas, coupled with the ability to assess information carefully and understand its relevance. There was a delegate competing in Fashion Runway and her long train detached in the middle of her routine. She didn't panic. She gracefully picked it up, flung it over her shoulder and continued with her routine, using the detached fabric as a prop. 

In life, the ability to recover from setbacks, and treat them as opportunities to learn, or simply as life experiences, is invaluable. You can achieve anything you want in this world ... you just have to be willing to work hard to accomplish it. 

At American Miss Pageant, we acknowledge, praise, and celebrate each of our AMP delegates.