RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
All contestants must establish residency in the state in which they are competing for a minimum of 90 days prior to the state finals.

Residency may be established through one of the following:
• Primary residence within the state
• Full-time employment within the state
• Full-time student status within the state
• Ownership of property within the state
• Parent/guardian residency (if applicable)

A P.O. Box does not qualify as proof of residency.

All contestants are required to submit official documentation for verification. Final eligibility determinations are made solely by the state organization.

Eligibility Requirements for MISS INDIANA USA® and MISS WEST VIRGINIA USA® 2026
• Born during or before 2007
• U.S. citizen
• Recognized legally and medically as female in the United States
• Have never competed in a national MISS USA® or MISS UNIVERSE® pageant
• May compete in no more than two (2) authorized MISS USA® state preliminaries during the 2026 competition year. There is no required waiting period between state competitions, provided all residency requirements are met.

Eligibility Requirements for MISS INDIANA TEEN USA® and MISS WEST VIRGINIA TEEN USA® 2026
• Born 2007–2011 inclusive
• Single, never married, never had a marriage annulled, and never been a parent
• U.S. citizen
• Recognized legally and medically as female in the United States
• Have never competed in a national MISS TEEN USA® pageant
• May compete in no more than two (2) authorized MISS TEEN USA® state preliminaries during the 2026 competition year. There is no required waiting period between state competitions, provided all residency requirements are met.