​What is the cost of competing? There are several options to pay for your journey, and we work with you to develop a payment plan and fundraising opportunities that suit your needs. Of course, you have the option of paying cash!

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Are there any restrictions on age, gender, or marital status? 

State and local pageants hold programs from birth up. The international pageant starts at age four. We do not have pageants for males. Any woman that identifies as female is welcome to compete. If you are 18 or over and are married or have children, we have a sweetheart division, and if you are not married or do not have children, we have a Miss division according to your age. These are categories that crossover and anyone in our woman's program may compete dually if they qualify. 

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Do you have to be in the military, or have you served in the military to compete or be part of this program? 

Absolutely not! AWOS is a scholarship program and pageant and is not affiliated with the military. All are welcome; in fact, we have programs for all people of all ages. We define service in this context as Comunity Service and Volunteering, not military. We believe that if one is involved in their community, volunteers to help others, or is invested in a cause, they acquire the life skills and knowledge needed to be resilient in life. Helping others keeps us in regular contact with others and helps us develop a solid support system, which in turn protects us against stress and depression. Engaging in community service provides people with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Community service or volunteerism provides a service to those who need it most.

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Do I have to claim my scholarship money on my taxes?

Any cash scholarships made out to a person are subjected to a 1099 form, and you are required to claim it as income. Any scholarships not paid directly to you and paid to a school or college generally do not need to be reported as income. Scholarship money is generally tax-free, provided you are a candidate for a degree at an eligible institution.  You should check with your accountant, lawyer, or the person that prepares your taxes for detailed information and federal laws, as we are not qualified to answer these types of questions. Our internal policy is that people receiving $400 and over will be issued a 1099 form at the end of the year if they received the money in their name. We do not issue a 1099 form if the money is paid to the college you are obtaining the degree from.