Miss India USA Pageant
Rules
and Regulations
I. Who Can Participate: Any woman of Indian origin
(regardless of her place of birth) between the ages of 17 and 27,
inclusive (on December
31st of the year she participates),
never married and never having had a child, is eligible to participate.
The contestant must be a resident of the state that she is to represent.
Appropriate documentation regarding the age arid residency status
of the contestant must be submitted in order to meet eligibility requirements.
2. Contestant Regulations: The India Festival Committee
(IFC) is NOT RESPONSIBLE for the contestant
or
any of her personal belongings. The PC is only responsible for room
arid hoard for the contestant. The contestants must behave in a manner
befitting the title of Miss India USA.
3. State Contests: Each year, the IFC selects
reputable individuals/organizations to hold various state contests.
The PC has the exclusive right to select the states and State Directors
that are authorized to conduct the state contests. When a State Director
has been selected, said director is responsible for the judging of
the state contest in accordance with these rules and regulations.
The State Director is responsible for the selection of the state winners
and the awarding of all prizes to them. The IFC is not responsible
for the conduct, judging, or awarding of prizes by the State Director.
In addition, the State Director will invite a representative from
the IFC to attend the state pageant as an observer/judge. The IFC
will provide contestants from the tri-state area through their own
preliminaries. The IFC can select contestants-at-large to represent a state. Since Miss India USA is a conservative
pageant proper attire for all segments is mandatory. No vulgar attire
will be permitted. The IFC, in its sole discretion, retains the right
to alter the format of the pageant. The winner of Miss India USA will
be the only delegate of the USA at the Miss India Worldwide pageant.
4. The Contest: State winners who are selected
for the Miss India USA will be judged iii the following segments: (a)
Indian Dress, (b) Evening Gown. After these two segments top ten will
be selected who will be required to present a (c) talent for three
minutes. The top five contestants will move on to the (d), Question/Answer
segment. The IFC, in its sole discretion, retains the right to alter the format of the pageant. The winner of Miss India USA will
be the only delegate of USA at the Miss India WorldwidE Pageant.
5. Time Constraints: Due to time constraints each
contestant will only be allowed 3 (three) minutes for the talent category
(NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED TO THIS RULE). The contestants must
notify the IFC of any special technical need at least two week prior
to the pageant. TFIE CONTESTANT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY ON-STAGE
ACCOMPANIMENT DURING THE TALENT SEGMENT (I.E. MODELS, BACKUP SINGERS,
ETC.)
6. Judges: Judges will be selected for
Miss India USA by the IFC. They will be eminent, respected members
of the Indian, American and International Community. The IFC reserves
the right to appoint all such judges. THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES,
ONCE Tabulated, IS FINAL. THE IFC BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES.
7. Prizes: Past Miss India USA winners
have received round-trip tickets from New York to India, an expense
paid trip to participate in Miss India Worldwide and various gills
(i.e. jewelry. watches, electronic items, gift
certificates,
screen tests, picture portfolios, modeling contracts, scholarships.
and cash).
The foregoing rules are subject
to change by the IFC. All decisions regarding the eligibility of the
contestant and the conduct of the Miss India USA, in general, are
subject to ultimate approval by the IFC. The IFC may also give franchises
to reputable individuals/organizations to conduct Miss India USA.
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