How do I become a contestant?
The first step is to make sure that you meet all of the requirements for entering the Ms. Wheelchair Texas competition. You must:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 60
- Utilize a wheelchair for 100% of your daily mobility
- Have resided in the state of Texas in the six months prior to the pageant
- Serve as the state titleholder at the annual Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant
What does my entry fee pay for?
The monies that you collect go towards the expenses of the three-day pageant: your hotel room, all meals for you and a companion, and tickets to the crowning ceremony.
Does the winner receive a scholarship or prizes?
The winner receives their crown and sash, entry fees for the national pageant, and a beautiful prize package including jewelry, luggage, and much more.
What happens during the three-day pageant?
The contestants and their companions arrive on Friday evening and attend a cocktail reception. Saturday morning begins the individual judging sessions and breakout room seminars. Saturday afternoon is a spa day for the contestants including massages, hair, and makeup. That evening is the annual crowning ceremony followed by a Sunday morning Queen Breakfast.
If I am crowned, what can I expect from my year as Ms. Wheelchair Texas?
The reigning Ms. Wheelchair Texas is expected to make at least one public appearance a month and is asked to visit all of the major cities in Texas. Events that she attends could include activities and conferences within the disability community, meetings with state and local officials, school visits, and other mainstreamed outreach opportunities across the state. Ms. Wheelchair Texas will attend the week-long national pageant held annually at the end of July. She will participate in fundraising efforts to support her reign, report her activities to the board of directors, and be willing to participate in any media interviews.
What are the judging criteria during the pageant?
Along with the review of their applications and accomplishments since the onsets of their disabilities, the contestants will be judged in three official judging sessions:
- One-on-one
- Onstage Interview
- Onstage platform speech.
The Ms. Wheelchair Texas Pageant does not take outward appearance into account. The Board of Directors is seeking a winner who radiates beauty and poise because of her accomplishments, speaking skills, and personality.
What is a platform speech?
Each contestant will select some sort of disability issue that they feel strongly about to support during their reign. Their onstage speech should briefly tell about themselves, discuss what their platform is, and how they plan to share their platform with the community if crowned Ms. Wheelchair Texas. Platform speeches are delivered the night of the crowning ceremony and are timed between 2 and 2 ½ minutes.
How do I sign-up my daughter to compete in the Little Miss Wheelchair Texas Pageant?
You can fill out the Little Miss Wheelchair Texas application. Make sure your child meets the requirements for becoming a Little Miss Wheelchair Contestant.
- The child must be between the ages of 6 and 12
- Utilizes her wheelchair for 100% of daily mobility
- Have resided in the state of Texas in the six months prior to the pageant.
If my daughter becomes The Little Miss Wheelchair Texas, will she receive a prize?
Upon winning the Little Miss Wheelchair Texas, she will receive the crown, sash, gifts and a $500.00 Educated Scholarship.