Criteria for MSA Competitions

1.INTERVIEW

Ms.  Senior Alabama, Inc. is seeking titleholders who understand that our organization is not promoting a beauty contest but rather overall beauty and quality of life. MSA, Inc. encourages women at all ages to have a purpose, to never be afraid to try something new, and to reach out within the community and volunteer. We are seeking titleholders who understand these concepts and are actively strive toward these goals.

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We are also seeking women who love the state of Alabama and understand the culture. Titleholders must be able to book events, speaking engagements, and to seek and create opportunities for themselves and their sister queens to serve Alabama. We need titleholders who are truly able to encourage other women and understand the importance of community and relationships. Confidence, personality, and courage are all vital, but humility, kindness and compassion are equally as important in a MSA, Inc. titleholder. Ms. Senior Alabama, Inc. desires titleholders who are positive about the organization and its purpose, understand the mission, and want to build a sisterhood of support.

 

Delegates will wear an outfit one would wear as a keynote speaker or to a job interview. If a delegate wears a formal outfit, evening gown, sequins, feathers, or is too casual in denim, shorts, transparent clothing, low cut tops, or miniskirts, judges should deduct one point from their score.

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(The note below regarding shoes and posture is on every form to the judges. These policies apply to each category.)

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NOTE: Shoe color, height, nor style shall be judged or have an impact on scoring. All delegates are encouraged to wear any shoes they deem comfortable. Delegates may wear heels, flats, open or closed toed, orthopedic, etc.

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Nor should points be deducted for posture due to obvious health or skeletal issue.

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2.INTRODUCTION/FUN FASHION

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This phase of the competition is meant to be fun, fast, and fabulous and will reveal an insight into each delegate’s sense of style and personal taste in fashion. Their stage introductions for this phase should reveal something about their community, platform, interests, personalities, or passions.

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Note: Delegates must wear (for MSA 2025) white, black, or yellow, or any combination of these colors. Any style of outfit is allowed: pants, dresses of any length, skirts, or jumpsuits. Sense of confidence, personality, stage presence, walk, pose, elegance, energy, sense of style and age-appropriateness of the outfit should be judged.  Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it?  Is the introduction interesting? Would this delegate be able to be interviewed on tv or speak at an event?

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3.ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

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In this phase of competition, the delegates will be wearing outfits of their choosing, which represent something they do to remain physically and/or mentally active. During this event the judges seek the delegate whose personality is reflected through their presentation while they are also able to assess the delegate's beauty, poise, grace, and commanding stage presence.

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Judging is based on overall stage presence and use of creativity. Delegates are allowed 1 prop or 1 set of props (for example: hand weights would be 1 set) that they can carry on stage. Swimsuits, clothing with cutouts in the waist or mid-section, or bra tops are not allowed in Active Lifestyle or any phase of competition.

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4.ELEGANCE AND INNER BEAUTY

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Ms. Senior Alabama believes that the woman makes the clothes…with her taste, style and knowledge of what’s right for her. During this event the judges seek the delegate whose poise and grace best illustrate “Overall Elegance.”  The Elegance & Inner Beauty phase of competition is designed for the judge to assess the delegate's beauty, poise, grace, and commanding stage presence.

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Overall sense of confidence, composure,  personality, stage presence, walk, beauty, sense of style and age-appropriateness of the evening wear.  Does she take command of the stage by simply walking onto it?  The delegate’s total look, grace, charm, and ability to be a role model must be considered. Note: All delegates are required to wear a long evening dress for this competition. No short, mini, hi/lo, or ankle length dresses, or dresses with cutouts in the sides, stomach, entire back cutout or slits up to the top of the thigh, or dresses without sides, showing too much of the chest, are allowed in this phase of competition. Dresses should be elegant and sophisticated.

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5.ONSTAGE QUESTION

The delegate will draw a question and hand it to the emcee. The emcee will ask the question. The delegate should answer the question with intelligence, clarity, and even humor if appropriate. She should demonstrate her knowledge, passion, and heart for the subject. This portion of the competition should demonstrate the delegate’s ability to speak at an event, answer questions in an interview, and represent the Ms. Senior Alabama, Inc. organization with professionalism, while connecting with her audience. 

A 30 second time limit is given for each answer to onstage question. Delegates are given all of the question options for her age group so that they may prepare answers for all questions. Each delegate is asked a question from the list of questions given to them.