History and the Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant Today
Produced by the Miss Texas Organization, the Miss Texas competition exists for the purpose of providing personal and professional opportunities for young Texas women and promoting their voice in culture, politics and community.
The competition was founded in 1936 by a group of civic minded citizens concerned about higher education. The first Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant has evolved into what is recognized today as one of the best organized and well-managed of all state pageants.
The Miss Texas competition provides a statewide forum for today's young women to express their viewpoints, talents and accomplishments to Texas audiences the evening of the telecast and to the public at large during the ensuing year. Almost all contestants have either received or are in the process of earning college or postgraduate degrees and utilize Miss Texas scholarship awards for furthering their education. Hundreds of young women participate each year in the local pageants, culminating in the selection of local finalists who vie for the Miss Texas title in Fort Worth each July.
To become Miss Texas, a contestant must first win a local competition, a process requiring personal commitment, hard work and talent. A young woman may compete at the local and state level more than once, but may only compete in the national Miss America competition one time. Hundreds of women participate each year in the local pageants, culminating in the selection of local finalists who compete for the Miss Texas title in Fort Worth in July.
Once chosen, Miss Texas and the local winners become representatives of their generation, using their stature to address community service matters and other contemporary issues, which are of particular relevance to young Texans and women.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Miss Texas Organization to continually increase the frequency and scope of Miss Texas’ issue-oriented appearances and to ensure that her personal platform is communicated throughout communities and school systems she visits during the year.
Ask anyone associated with the Miss Texas Organization what the most meaningful thing about it is, and they will tell you it is the people they meet and the differences they make. The organization is a remarkable community of people dedicated to the idea that talent, commitment and hard work can make you, and your community, better.
We encourage you to take another look at the Miss Texas Organization. We think you’ll find the changes we’re making are in step with society today and focused on providing young women throughout the State a venue to achieve their goals.
* To provide unique opportunities for young Texas women to win scholarship awards.
* To create and maintain a system of competition which will enhance career opportunities and produce role models representing positive, wholesome American values.
* To recognize women and to encourage the spirit of those who have made outstanding contributions in all fields of endeavor.
* To utilize the Miss Texas name to promote issues of concern to Texas women.
* To encourage and promote the role of women in all aspects of our society.
* To extend the benefits of the Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant by providing scholarships to colleges and universities.
* To encourage the spirit of volunteerism throughout the Miss Texas network
* To provide goodwill, along with the civic and economic benefits, in the towns and cities which host local competitions leading to the title of Miss Texas.
Community Service & the Volunteer Network
In 1990, the Miss America Organization instituted the personal platform concept as part of the competition, with each local and state title holder choosing an issue of importance to herself and society. Through in depth interviewing during local and state competitions, contestants are evaluated on their commitment to their individually chosen issue.
Miss Texas contestants have concentrated on the most significant questions facing America today: strengthening families, promoting health and healing, AIDS awareness and prevention, the effect of domestic violence on society, ways to motivate children to obtain their education, and those related to the current Miss America’s platform.
In 1998, the MTO Organization participated in the Miss America Organization’s National Day of Service. The goal is to provide grass roots support to an issue of national concern and encourage community service. The program also allows college women to speak out on issues they can address with courage and conviction.
The Miss Texas Organization works closely with community oriented programs throughout the state. The "Texas Cares for Children" program focuses on self-esteem and drug awareness in public schools. Also, the Miss Texas Organization has an ongoing partnership with the Fort Worth Independent School District's School and Community Partnership program.
The Miss America Organization maintains one of the strongest volunteer networks in this country. Many people do not know that behind the scenes of the Miss America Organization is a nationwide network of thousands of volunteers. Last year, these volunteers raised over $30 million in scholarship assistance for young women. These women and men are hard at work raising scholarship money and building opportunities for young women to succeed in personal, profession, and civic life. Though the volunteers rarely share the spotlight with contestants and titleholders, their efforts are what make the organization work. In Texas, hundreds of volunteers organize the local and state preliminary competitions, promoting community involvement throughout the state. Volunteers from the smallest towns to the largest cities, mobilize their resources every year on our behalf because they truly believe in the benefits afforded young women through this program. If you would like to get involved in this truly wonderful Texas tradition, click here for your direct link to the Miss Texas Organization.
Media Contact
All Media Inquires and Press Credentials should be directed to Nancy Farrar
"The Official Publicist of the Miss Texas Organization"
Nancy Farrar
Farrar Public Relations
(817) 937-1557
media@misstexas.org