RULES AND REGULATIONS – Please Read Carefully.
• Contestants must be 21 years of age or older. Proof of age is required at the time of entry. Acceptable forms of identification include a valid Florida Driver’s License or Florida DMV Identification Card, United States Passport, or Birth Certificate.
• The Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant is open to any Drag Queen, Transgender Female, or Female-identifying Individual who performs as a Female Impersonator, continuously residing for at least six (6) months in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, or Palm Beach counties. Proof of residency is required. If a contestant resides outside the designated area, a special request may be granted by the Pageant Director based on their application and qualifications. An entry fee of $200 (two hundred dollars) is due at the time of application. Payments accepted are as follows: PayPal, Zelle, Square Online, Cash, and Money Orders. If you do not meet the minimum requirements as outlined in the application, you will not be considered for participation. Entry Fees are non-refundable.
• Contestants will be judged in the following categories: Administrative, Presentation/Advocacy/Q&A, Talent, and Evening Wear
• Volunteerism is the cornerstone of the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant. If requested, contestants must provide the number of verifiable hours they have volunteered for non-profit organizations for the past twenty-four (24) months. Additionally, the court-ordered community service DOES NOT constitute volunteer hours.
• Any contestant, or person affiliated with a contestant, who misappropriates the property of another contestant, or violates any law regarding the abuse of alcohol or drugs, will be disqualified and removed from the location of the competition. Unsportsmanlike conduct by a contestant or contestant’s entourage (dressers and dancers) before, during, or after the Pageant will not be tolerated and is subject to immediate dismissal from the venue and Pageant. Contestants and their teams will not be allowed to consume alcohol during the event while on the premises of Sunshine Cathedral.
• Contestants and their teams must always uphold the highest standards of professionalism. This event is meant to showcase the amazing talent our local drag community has to offer. Please refer to the scoring sections for point deductions/additions that may apply.
• It is further understood that by signing and submitting this application, contestants, and the contestant’s entourage (dressers or dancers), will take responsibility for any damage (should it occur) to the event venue before, during, or after the Pageant.
• At no time during the Pageant shall a contestant or their team members receive a gratuity of any kind during their time on stage. In the event the audience tries to provide tips, those will be collected by event staff to be donated to the OUT South Florida Foundation.
• Each contestant will be allowed ONLY one (1) dresser at any given time. Contestants must always remain in the assigned area. Dressers and dancers, as well as any other team members with a contestant, will not be allowed on the showroom floor before, during, or after the event. If your entourage wishes to watch the performances, they must have a seat in the audience and will not be allowed in the staging area of the production.
• During your reign, if crowned, you must professionally conduct yourself while holding our title. Any misconduct throughout the year will be reviewed and adjudicated by the OUT South Florida Foundation at our discretion.
Explanation of Competition, Categories and Scoring
The Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant was founded to showcase South Florida’s professional drag performers and the vital volunteer work and community activism performed by our Pageant’s contestants. In an era, which the State of Florida, as well as other states across the country, are trying to silence LGBTQ+ citizens, it is important to demonstrate that our drag community is critical to all of us.
Contestants will be judged on the following criteria: Administrative, Presentation/Advocacy, Talent, Evening Wear and Question and Answer (Q&A).
ADMINISTRATIVE
If the contestant fails to abide by the rules, regulations, and instructions set forth by the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant Organization, points may be deducted from the Administrative Category. Of special note, points will be deducted for tardiness to any official Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant orientation meetings, rehearsals, and the Pageant.
PRESENTATION
The Presentation Category allows contestants to demonstrate their creative talents through fashion, design, and construction. This is the first time a contestant will showcase anything for the Judges and Audience.
ADVOCACY
This category allows for personal reflection and a platform for individual storytelling on a topic, subject, or theme of the contestant’s choosing. During the presentation, contestants will provide information in the form of a speech about the non-profit or advocacy work they wish to display. It is important to present information as to why this is important to you. It should include why you support them, their services, and other relevant information about the organization. This will be completed on stage, in front of the judges, and presented as a 90-second speech.
QUESTION & ANSWER
Each contestant will be provided with the Pageant Question at registration. You can use the time from that point to the pageant start time to prepare your answer. The questions will focus on advocacy, volunteerism, community service, and philanthropy in general. If you do not understand that question, you must ask the Pageant Director, ahead of time, for clarification. You will be given 90 seconds to respond to the questions once asked on stage.
EVENING WEAR
The Evening Wear Category of the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant allows for creativity, craftsmanship, glamour, and style. The Evening Wear Category should not be confused with the Presentation Category. These are separate categories. Contestants should focus on designing appropriate evening wear for formal and red-carpet events. This category is not meant to be a costume. There are no color restrictions or other requirements for the Evening Wear Category. However, nudity is not permitted. Craftsmanship will be a component of the judging of this category.
TALENT
The Talent portion of the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant is limited to a MAXIMUM of six (6) minutes. Contestants who exceed the time limit will be given a score of zero. Each contestant will be allowed two (2) minutes for setup and two (2) minutes for breakdown of all set pieces and props. This additional time CANNOT be added to the talent production time limit of six (6) minutes. Backup dancers, backup singers, and video are all permissible.
Live animals are NOT PERMISSIBLE. Vehicles, including but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, and other gasoline-powered vehicles are NOT PERMISSIBLE. Pyrotechnics are NOT PERMISSIBLE, including flaming batons. Drones are not allowed. If your reveal causes the stage floor to be impacted by dust, powder, or glitter, you are required to have a team member sweep the stage at the end of your set.
** While focusing on community activism and volunteer service, it is important to remember this is still a pageant, and costumes, outfits, and accessories should be in pristine condition. Contestants will be judged on these criteria accordingly.
Scoring Outline
Administrative Points: 100 Points
Deductions: Attendance/Time, or Behavior of Team
Interview: 150 Points
Community Impact and Involvement: 25 Points
Advocacy Knowledge and Passion: 25 Points
Leadership and Initiative: 25 Points
Communication Skills: 25 Points
Authenticity and Personal Connection: 25 Points
Professionalism & Poise: 25 Points
Presentation: 100 Points
Originality or Creativity: 25 Points
Suitability to Contestant: 25 Points
Overall Ensemble: 25Points
Does Outfit Fit Them for Pageant: 25 Points
Advocacy Platform: 150 Points
Introduction of Non-Profit or Agency & Mission: 25 Points
Personal Impact 25 Points
Showcase Services and Outreach: 25 Points
Speak Clearly: 25 Points
Do You Understand the Platform: 25 Points
Overall Advocacy: 25 Points
Talent: 100 Points
Showmanship (overall look): 20 Points
Choreography/Stage Presence: 15 Points
Quality (lip sync, live vocal, dance, etc.): 15 Points
Entertainment Value: 25 Points
Overall Creativity: 25 Points
Evening Wear: 100 Points
Originality and Creativity: 25 Points
Overall Design/Fit: 25 Points
Ability to Walk or Perform: 25 Points
Does Outfit Fit Correctly: 25 Points
Question & Answers: 150 Points
Ability to Answer Question and Eye Contact: 50 Points
Clarity & Organization: 25 Points
Confidence & Composure: 25 Points
Communication Skills and Stage Presence: 50 Points
Maximum Score: 750 Points Per Judge (3,750 Points Total • 5 Judges or 3850 Points Total with Admin Score)
No Scores will be dropped from any scorecard. ALL SCORES COUNT IN FINAL TOTALS. Administrative Score Added to Overall Total Score.
Tie Breaker Rules:
In the event of a tie, the contestant with the highest combined score from Interview, Advocacy Platform, and Question & Answer will be awarded the crown. If there is a further tie with three combined scores, the contestant with the highest Advocacy Platform Score Will Win. If this is a tie, we will move to a final On-Stage Question to be judged as the original Question.
Administrative Point Deductions and Additions Outline:
– 5 — Late to Orientation, Starts at 11:00 am Day of Pageant
-10 – Interference with a contestant while on stage.
-20 – Use of alcohol during the Pageant
-20 – Unprofessional conduct towards contestants and team members, volunteers, event staff, or facility staff
-50 – Annexing the assigned areas of another contestant
-50 – Sabotage of another contestant in any capacity
-50 – Use of name-calling or verbal confrontation, 1st offense only
100% – 2nd Offense of confrontation REMOVAL FROM PAGEANT
100% – Any altercation with the Pageant Director/Owners/Staff in person or online will result in removal from the Pageant and Future Entries.
*Scoring information may change at any time; written notice will be provided in advance.
A Few Additional Notes of Importance:
- Mizz OUTSFL is not a standard Beauty Pageant. It is structured to highlight the philanthropic work that you do for the community. While we expect you to showcase your best garments and abilities, your points rely heavily on Community Service.
- Understanding the Advocacy Platform: Think of this as a 90-second speech. You must highlight the agency or activism work and how this has impacted your life and inspired you to do more.
- Failure to demonstrate a proper understanding of your advocacy platform will result in low score totals being awarded.
- Please study and look through the score cards and outlines. Details of what is being asked or graded will be included there.
- YOU CANNOT WIN THIS PAGEANT BASED SOLELY ON TALENT. Remember his is a Community Activism Title, not a traditional beauty pageant title. Your ability to speak clearly, effectively, and motivationally will have a strong impact on your scores.
- Consistency is the key to your success. Remember, you are in control of nearly every aspect of your package.
- 2026 introduces SIX scorecards. What changed? We separated Presentation and Advocacy into two scores, and the same for Formal Wear and Question & Answer.
- Interview Category is NEW 2026.
2026 Judges Panels
Pageant: Kevin Scott • Head Judge, Chris Rhoades • 2nd Judge, Cathy Craig • OUTSFL Queen of Queens, Darcel Stevens • Community Activist and Performer • Gadfrie Arbulu • Miss Continental 2026
Interview: Kevin Scott • Head Judge, Shawn Palacious • Contestant Director, Julie Seavers • Executive Director of Compass Community Center, FayWhat! • Community Emcee and Host
Marsha P. Johnson Award of Excellence Brought To You By:
Congeniality has long been a category staple in various pageants, and the organizers and officials of the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant understand and embrace the importance of the individual contestants being able to honor one of their own. Thus, the Marsha P. Johnson Award of Excellence will be presented as the result of contestant voting based on the contestant who best exemplifies the contributions made by Marsha P. Johnson to the LGBTQ+ community.
It is of critical and historic importance to recognize the LGBTQ+ activists who were the trailblazers for LGBTQ+ rights. While many individuals stood up and fought for our collective freedoms to be who we are, one individual stands out; her name is Marsha P. Johnson.
Johnson, also known as Malcolm Michaels Jr., has been hailed as a transgender gay rights activist and was on the frontlines of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. Perhaps most importantly, Johnson was a self-identified drag queen.
Johnson once said: “I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen. That’s what made me in New York, that’s what made me in New Jersey, that’s what made me in the world.”
In addition to being a drag queen, Mason was a LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist, a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, a member of ACT UP, and a co-founder of the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries renamed as the Strategic Transgender Alliance for Radical Reform.
In short, Mason will forever be considered one of the framers of the gay rights movement.
For these reasons, the Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant has established the Marsha P. Johnson Award of Excellence.
Award Voting Process
- All voting will be conducted on May 4, 2026, at the time of the Pageant.
- Each contestant will vote for two (2) individuals to win the award annually.
- Note: Anyone who wins the Crown is not eligible to also win the Marsha P. Johnson Award of Excellence. The winner will be announced live at the crowning of Mizz OUTSFL.
- In case of a tie, the contestant with the highest score from the Presentation/Advocacy Category will be declared the winner.
- Winners of this award may compete in future years to win the title of Mizz Out South Florida, but will be exempt from winning this award a second time.
- Prize Package: $500 Cash Prize, Plaque, Editorial Feature in OUTSFL Newspaper, Special Appearances throughout the year, including an invitation to ride on the OUTSFL float in the Stonewall Pride Parade.
- Advertising Prize Package for Non-Profit Chosen: $1,000 Advertising Package.
Prize Package and Contestant Winner Obligations for Mizz OUT South Florida Pageant 2026
1st Place: $2,000 Cash Prize, Crown & Sash, Editorial Package with Cover
(Additional Prizes TBD) $2,500 Advertising Package for Charity of Choice
2nd Place: $750 Cash, Medal, Flowers, Editorial Package, (Additional Prizes TBD)
3rd Place: $300 Cash, Plaque, Flowers, Editorial Package, (Additional Prizes TBD)
Additional Participation Requirements for Winner During Their Reign June 2026 – May 2027
Exclusive Performance at Sponsor Brunch – Date TBD
Showcased on the Stonewall 2026 Pride Parade Float – Sponsored by OUTSFL
Paid: Performances at two other Out South Florida Events: Readers’ Choice Awards & Scholarship Fundraiser
Paid: Drag Show Fundraiser (Queen of Queens Showcase)
Paid: Three Booked Performances by Next Level Talent
Paid: Booking with Flockfest Events
Photo Shoot with OUTSFL Photographer
Continue to Volunteer in the Community – Charity(s) of Choice
Paid: Farewell Performance at 2027 Pageant • New Queen Crowning 2027
Should the Pageant winner not be able to uphold her responsibilities as Mizz OUT South Florida, the first runner-up will succeed her as Mizz OUT South Florida.
Event Schedule – Pageant Day, May 4, 2026
Venue: Elliott Hall, 2501 NE 30th St, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33306
Registration/Orientation: 11 AM
Interview: 12 PM (Right After Registration/Orientation)
Stage and Sound Checks 2 PM – 5 PM
Includes: Sound Check, Lights, Performance Practice, and Staging
All Contestants Must Be Onsite by 5 PM.
Doors Open at 6: pm • Pageant Starts at 7 pm sharp