DEADLINES: This information booklet should be studied and be a guide for you to use throughout your preparations and actual competition. Please be aware of housing, photo and competition deadlines. All forms should be filled out (Typed or Printed Please), and returned to State Headquarters by October 14, 2006. A minimum deposit of $100 should be paid prior to arrival and should accompany your state forms along with your photo and biography. Optional events can be entered as late as registration, however early entry insures proper placement and completed score sheets. Final deadlines for hotel reservations are October 3, 2006 to receive discount. Reservations can be made and later canceled if for any reason you decide not to attend. All events will take place at the host hotel. You are not required to stay at the hotel, newly renovated Sheraton North Maitland, but they are providing a special discount to contestants and their families of $89 a night. Contact them directly at 407-660-9000.

PHOTO ROSTER: Every contestant’s picture will appear in our program book. Each contestant will receive a full page in the book for her photo, personal biography of 100 words or less, and a special advertisement for her sponsors. The personal BIOS should include activities dealing with school, church, afternoon activities, and special interests. Remember, judges will receive the photos and BIOS on the division they are judging. Photos should be no larger than 5x7, color or black and white. Any photo, especially on younger children, not portraying a contestant’s age (i.e. dangling earrings, low cut clothing, over-done make-up) will be returned for new submission. Any photo not meeting standards will not be published. The BIOS will help the judges get to know you better, so really think about what you want to say. Please enclose your biography along with program roster photo with your paperwork.

SOUVENIRS and ROYALTY GIFTS: Every contestant is special, and we know you will make many new friends. It is always a nice feeling to know you can be in competition with others and still create life-long friendships. Exchanging souvenir gifts is always fun and exciting to see what special gifts each gives the other. These gifts should be thoughtful and inexpensive tokens of friendship. Each souvenir should display your name and age division. Open food items or unsealed candy will not be allowed for your contestant’s safety. Please bring 50 souvenirs for contestants and royalty. These will be brought during interview. CAUTION: No usage of reproduction or near likeness of trademarked silhouette head is allowed on contestant’s souvenirs. We are also asking each contestant to bring 2 age appropriate gifts (no more than $10.00) that will be given to the outgoing and incoming royalty.  These should be wrapped, with your name and age division clearly on the outside and are to be turned in during registration. Each age division queen will receive these gifts during the crowning ceremony. Please choose a gift that you might like to receive. After all, YOU could be the winner!

COMPETITION: All contestants will compete in personal interview, party wear/eveningwear, and sportswear.

 Personal interview will allow the judges to get to know each girl and their personality. We are looking for the “total package”: Beautiful on the inside, as well as the outside. She should show self confidence and ease with others. Babies 0-35 months will be escorted in with 1 parent. The parent is to keep 1 hand on the child at all times. Contestants 3 years and up will be taken in groups of 5. Attire for interview is Sunday dress or suit- no pants or shorts. Make-up and hair should be very light and natural. No make-up on contestants under 35 months. Each contestant will introduce themselves with name, age, and hometown before the interview begins.

Party wear/Eveningwear should be age appropriate. Long or short gowns/dress is acceptable for all ages. There should be no bare midriff or side cutouts. There will be a group line-up at the completion of each age division.

Sportswear is off the rack and/or special designs. It should be age appropriate. There should be no glitz or glitter to the outfit such as rhinestones, glass beading, or sequins. This includes all accessories also. Swimsuits are not allowed. There should be no bare midriff or side cutouts. There will be a group line-up at the completion of each age division.

Modeling for all stage competitions is Miss America style. No pro-am modeling is allowed or removal of clothing.

Mothers or chaperones of those 35 months and under most not remove hands from babies at any time during the staging presentations and personal interview. This will cost the contestant the Beauty title but is still able to win the Princess or Miss Personality title.

Please note that attire guidelines are different and are strictly enforced at the World Universal Beauty Finals.

Optional events will be judged during party wear/eveningwear except for best sportswear.

No alcoholic beverages and/or illegal drugs of any kind are allowed to be consumed by parents, guests, or older contestants in or near staging areas. This could cause for contestants automatic disqualification.

AWARDS: There are 3 titles per age division: Miss Personality, Princess, and Beauty. All contestants not placing in top seven will receive a participation award. The top 4 finalists will receive a trophy and their first entry paid to the 2006-2007 World Universal Beauty Finals. The Princess (successor to the Beauty title) and Miss Personality from each age division will receive crown, banner, and trophy. The Beauty Winner for each age division will receive the Our Little Miss round crown, wrap around monogrammed banner, fur-trimmed velvet robe, scepter, trophy, $600.00 bond or cash equivalent (with 3 or more in the age division) presented at crowning, royalty gifts from contestants, gifts from director, first paid entry to the 2006-2007 World Universal Beauty Finals, and lodging for crowning at the 2007 State Beauty Finals. Although it is not required, we do request each winner to attend the World Universal Beauty Finals in January to represent Florida and their title. Each contestant participating at the state level is eligible to attend the World Universal Beauty Finals to be held in January 2007. The robe is a traditional item that is on loan for the reigning year. It passes to the next winner yearly and the current year’s winner places her name inside.

VIDEO/CAMERAS: Mike Nohra will be videoing the pageant all weekend. Therefore, we ask that you do not bring video cameras into the ballroom. We will allow you to take photographs during the pageant, but please be considerate. Do not shoot while contestants are on stage. This could very easily be a distraction.

PARTY/CHARITY: They say “charity begins at home”. The Our Little Miss System believes in teaching our children the importance of giving. The Florida State Pageant, in conjunction with World’s Our Little Miss 540,000 Pennies of Hope, will be working with Habitat for Humanity Hurricane Katrina Relief. All donations will be given in the name of Florida’s Our Little Miss at the World Universal Beauty Finals and added to the ongoing fund. Our Little Miss hopes to build a home for a needy family affected by Hurricane Katrina in the upcoming year. Donations will be collected during our “Sleeping Beauties” dinner party Saturday evening so start saving your pennies!! Attire for this fun filled evening is pajamas and slippers. There will be awards for creative and unique slippers so get creative. Judges will be in attendance for a portion of this event and observing the interaction of the contestants among their peers.

GRACE PERIOD: The contestant’s age division will be determined by their age as of October 12, 2006. Should the parent choose to, the contestant may move up one age division, however, no contestant may move down a division. Please have a copy of the contestant’s birth certificate available to verify age.

LIMITATIONS: World Youth Federation will not assume responsibility for any lost or stolen items or personal property; and further more is not responsible for any accidents, illness, or personal care of any contestant or contestant’s family or guest(s). The competition officials, its staff, youth leaders and any housing personal will always be on call to serve you should you become sick or disabled; however, we will not accept any liabilities caused by personal injury, accidents or medical expenses. A release form is attached and must be signed before competition begins.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call. We would love to hear from you! Again, thank you for your interest and welcome to Florida’s Our Little Miss Family. We are Chancey Rushing and Jan Chinners, your Florida State Directors, and we are here to provide a weekend of fair pageantry, excitement, and fun for each contestant, their family, and friends. Our Little Miss loves your children!

Chancey Rushing (251) 366-3859
Jan Chinners (954) 557-7616

Tentative Schedule:
Friday: Registration 4-6P.M.

Saturday: Final Registration 8-9A.M.
 Personal Interviews 9-10A.M. Babies-6 years. Bring souvenirs.
 Sportswear 11A.M. Babies-6 years
Beauty 12:30P.M. Babies-6 years
Personal Interviews 1:30P.M. 7 years-Up. Bring souvenirs.
Sportswear 3:00P.M. 7 years-Up
Beauty 5:00P.M. 7 years-Up
Rehearsal for Crowning 6:00P.M. All contestants must attend!!
Sleeping Beauties Dinner Party 7:30-9P.M.

Sunday: Crowning and Awards 10A.M.