How Best in Pageantry Scoring Works

1. Users must have a free or paid profile on Pageant Planet and must indicate on their profile that in 2025, they held a pageant, competed in a pageant, or worked with a contestant.
2. Users must receive at least one nomination for the category they wish to win. 
3. Pageant Planet goes through every nomination and uses the criteria below to narrow the list to a Top 15. If there are not enough nominations for a Top 15, we select a Top 10. If there are not enough nominees in a category for a Top 10 we will select a Top 5 or pick a single winner from the nominees. 
4. We then give the Top 15 in each category to our judges, who have access to a private portal where they rank the Top 15 in order from 1 to 15 using the profile information and outside industry knowledge.
5. Once all the judges have submitted their placements, our software organizes the nominee with the lowest score as the winner, the contest with the second lowest score as second place, all the way to our Top 10.
6. Pageant Planet then announces the Top 10 for each category starting in January. 

To qualify for a Best in Pageantry Award, you must take the following action and receive at least one nomination. 

Judging Criteria

To qualify, you must add a 2025 event and receive at least one nomination for the category you desire to win. Pageant Planet then narrows down the nomination list using ONLY the information provided to us on your Pageant Planet profile. We do not view your website or social media.

Pageants

Judging Criteria: 

• Stage Quality
• Contestant Reviews*
• Contestant Numbers
• Prize Package 
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2025 Event on Pageant Planet

Directors

Judging Criteria: 

• Reviews that mention the director specifically* 
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2025 Event on Pageant Planet

Prize Package

Judging Criteria: 

• The prize package the winner will receive. 
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2025 Event on Pageant Planet & add your prize package details.

Event Photographers

Judging Criteria: 

• Quality of Photography
• Number of Pageants Worked With
• Reviews from Directors*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one event picture that you took under "Pageants Worked With."

Headshot Photographers

Judging Criteria: 

• Quality of Photography
• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one headshot image that you took under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025)

Pageant Coaches

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared them for.

Hair & Makeup Artists

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared them for.

Retailers

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared her or him for.

Designers

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared them for.

Personal Trainers 

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared her or him for.

Emcees

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Pageants Worked With
• Reviews from Directors*
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2025) you prepared them for.

Contestant Headshots

Judging Criteria: 

• Headshot Quality
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2025 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2025 folder and apply the tag "Headshots" under "Image Category."

Contestant Hairstyles

Judging Criteria: 

• Headshot Quality
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2025 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Headshots" under "Image Category."

Contestant Gowns & Fun Fashion

Judging Criteria: 

• Style & Fit
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2025 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Evening Gown" or "Fun Fashion" under "Image Category."

Contestant Interview Outfits

Judging Criteria: 

• Style & Fit
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2025 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Interview" under "Image Category."

Contestant Fitness

Judging Criteria: 

• Body Composition
• Nominations

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2025 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Swimsuit/Fitness" under "Image Category."

Editor Choice

This category features awards that are not visible to the public and are based solely on the opinion of Pageant Planet. The judging criteria and awards may vary each year.

Contestant Age Division Breakdown

If you're a contestant and you're wondering why the banner that is showing up on your profile is different than an age division that you competed in, then this section is for you. 

There is overlap because there are no set rules for age divisions in pageantry. As such, we had to create an age range for our Best in Pageantry awards that catered to our global audience as best as possible. So here is the breakdown:

• Mrs (16+ & married)
• Ms (30+ & not married)
• Miss (18-29)
• Jr Teen / Teen (13-17)
• PreTeen / Jr Preteen (9-12)
• Princess / Jr Princess (0-8)

*While nominations typically close on or around Dec 23rd, reviews are considered until Dec 31st of that year or when that category is judged, whichever comes first. Also, in-depth reviews (i.e., this coach or pageant is great because...) are weighted higher than general reviews (i.e., Chris Personal Training is the best).