ants ▁held ▁in ▁mid - 2 0 0 6 . ▁Prior ▁to ▁compet ing ▁in ▁state ▁page ants , ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁deleg ates ▁first ▁were ▁required ▁to ▁win ▁a ▁local ▁title . ▁Each ▁deleg ates ▁title ▁is ▁pre - dated ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁for ▁example ▁Mel inda ▁To ole ▁is ▁" Miss ▁Alabama ▁ 2 0 0 6 " ▁rather ▁than ▁" Miss ▁Alabama ▁ 2 0 0 7 ". ▁ ▁Many ▁contest ants ▁competed ▁in ▁state ▁page ants ▁in ▁both ▁the ▁Miss ▁America ▁and ▁Miss ▁USA ▁systems ▁numerous ▁times ▁before ▁winning ▁titles , ▁and ▁some ▁had ▁previously ▁in ▁other ▁states ▁to ▁those ▁which ▁they ▁won ▁their ▁state ▁title . ▁ ▁All ▁contest ants ▁were ▁required ▁to ▁be ▁between ▁the ▁ages ▁of ▁ 1 7 – 2 4 , ▁un mar ried ▁and ▁a ▁citiz en ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁They ▁were ▁also ▁required ▁to ▁meet ▁res iden cy ▁and ▁education ▁requirements . ▁ ▁Compet ition ▁All ▁deleg ates ▁comp ete ▁in ▁an ▁interview ▁competition ▁with ▁the ▁jud ges , ▁based ▁on ▁their ▁platform ▁issue , ▁and ▁also ▁in ▁the ▁sw im suit , ▁evening ▁g own ▁and ▁talent ▁compet itions . ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁the ▁nation ally ▁tele vised ▁competition , ▁the ▁deleg ates ▁particip ate ▁in ▁three ▁night s ▁of ▁pre lim inary ▁competition , ▁where ▁pre lim inary ▁award ▁w inners ▁are ▁chosen ▁in ▁each ▁category . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁final ▁tele cast , ▁following ▁the ▁announ cement ▁of ▁the ▁semi - final ists