BEFORE NATIONALS

Registration & Eligibility

All information submitted during registration must be truthful and accurate.
Contestants must meet all age, division, residency, and eligibility requirements established for their competition.
AmeriFest reserves the right to request documentation to verify eligibility, including age or residency.
Failure to provide requested documentation may result in removal from competition.
Once registered, contestants may not transfer their entry, division, or paid fees to another contestant without written approval from the Nationals Office.
AmeriFest reserves the right to combine, divide, or adjust divisions when necessary based on the number of entries.

Payments & Refunds

No refunds are given at any time on deposits, ads, or payments.
If an event is rescheduled for any unforeseen circumstance, all payments will forward to the new date.
Any deposits or fees paid toward your entry are non-transferable to another contestant.
All payments must be made by the deadlines established by the Nationals Office. If you have any issues/circumstances that keep you from doing so, please reach out to the office and we would be happy to help.
Any returned, declined, or unpaid payment must be resolved before the contestant may participate.
AmeriFest is not responsible for travel, hotel, food, transportation, or other personal expenses incurred by a contestant or family due to a cancellation, postponement, rescheduling, or schedule change.
AmeriFest reserves the right to establish additional fees for optional activities, advertisements, photographs, merchandise, or special events, you will be notified as such.

Photographs & Promotional Materials

Any photos submitted to the State Office may be used in future advertising, including social media. By submitting these photos, you agree that you have the copyright or necessary permission to use the photos and give AmeriFest permission to use these photos for pageant promotional purposes.
Contestants and parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that submitted photographs do not violate another person's copyright.
AmeriFest is not responsible for obtaining permission from photographers, studios, or other copyright holders on behalf of contestants.
AmeriFest reserves the right to decline photographs or promotional materials that are inappropriate, offensive, or inconsistent with the organization. NO AI.

Privacy

At NO time does AmeriFest share your personal contact information with any third party. We protect your contact information.
Personal information collected during registration will be used for legitimate AmeriFest business, communication, pageant, titleholder, and promotional purposes.
Contestants and families should not share another contestant's private contact information without permission.
Private communications between contestants/families and the Nationals Office should not be publicly distributed without permission when they contain confidential or personal information.

Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination

We DO NOT tolerate discrimination against race, religion, or social background.
AmeriFest does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, or inappropriate treatment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or other protected characteristic.
All contestants, families, staff, judges, volunteers, and guests are expected to treat one another with dignity and respect.
Discriminatory or harassing conduct may result in removal from an event and/or disqualification.

Communication

Contestants and/or their parent or guardian are responsible for reading official AmeriFest communications, schedules, deadlines, and announcements.
Failure to read an announcement does not automatically excuse a contestant from a deadline or requirement.
Official instructions provided by the Nationals Office should be followed unless the Nationals Office provides a subsequent change.
Questions or concerns should be directed to the State Office rather than being addressed through public arguments or social media.

DURING THE STATE PAGEANT

Arrival & Competition

Contestants are responsible for knowing their assigned competition times and locations.
If you are late to competition, we cannot guarantee stage time.
Contestants should arrive early enough to allow time for registration, preparation, hair and makeup, dressing, and lineup.
AmeriFest is not responsible for delays caused by contestants or their families.
Contestants must remain available until they have completed all required areas of competition.

Dressing Room & Backstage

ONE person is allowed in the dressing room per contestant for ages 0-16 (Mister through Teen).
Staff members cannot hold or be responsible for items or devices left backstage. If you can, please do not bring things back there with you.
Contestants are responsible for their own personal belongings.
Valuable items should not be left unattended.
Backstage areas are restricted to authorized contestants, staff, and approved individuals.
Parents, guardians, guests, and supporters may not enter restricted backstage areas unless specifically permitted by staff.
Contestants must keep dressing rooms and backstage areas clean and free of trash and personal belongings that could create a safety hazard.
Any damage to the venue or its property caused by a contestant or their party may be the financial responsibility of the individual responsible.

Sportsmanship & Conduct

Any poor sportsmanship of ANY kind will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification, including any titles won or prizes awarded.
Contestants, parents, guardians, family members, friends, and guests are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Bullying, arguing, threatening behavior, intimidation, harassment, profanity directed at others, or confrontational behavior will not be tolerated.
Contestants and their families may not interfere with another contestant's performance, preparation, dressing, or competition.
Negative comments, gossip, or attempts to create conflict between contestants are considered poor sportsmanship.
Physical altercations or threats of violence will result in immediate removal from the event and may result in disqualification.
Poor sportsmanship may result in disciplinary action even if it occurs outside the competition area.

Judges & Scoring

All pageant judges' decisions are final and shall be respected.
Judges are selected by the AmeriFest Nationals Office.
Contestants, parents, guardians, and guests may not approach judges regarding scores, placements, or judging decisions during the pageant.
No contestant or family member may attempt to influence, pressure, threaten, or otherwise interfere with a judge's decision.
AmeriFest will not tolerate harassment of judges because of scores or placements.
Judges' deliberations and individual scoring information are confidential. These will be emailed to everyone within 2 weeks of the state pageant.
Once results are verified and announced, placements will not be changed simply because a contestant or family disagrees with the judges' decisions.

Competition Integrity

Contestants may not intentionally interfere with another contestant's competition.
Contestants may not use another contestant's personal information, belongings, wardrobe, music, props, or materials without permission.
Any form of cheating, falsification, impersonation, or intentional misrepresentation will result in disqualification.
Contestants must compete in the division for which they are registered.
AmeriFest reserves the right to disqualify a contestant if information provided during registration is found to be intentionally false or misleading.

Children & Supervision

Parents/guardians are responsible for the supervision and behavior of minors in their party.
AmeriFest staff are not responsible for supervising contestants outside of their assigned competition or official pageant activities.
Parents and guardians must follow venue rules and AmeriFest instructions at all times.

AFTER THE STATE PAGEANT

Titleholder Conduct

Any poor sportsmanship of ANY kind during your reign will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification, including any titles won or prizes awarded.
Titleholders are representatives of AmeriFest and are expected to conduct themselves in a positive, respectful, and responsible manner.
Titleholders are expected to uphold the standards and reputation of AmeriFest throughout their reign.
A titleholder who engages in serious misconduct will have their title revoked at the discretion of the AmeriFest.
Revocation of a title may include forfeiture of the crown, sash, title, awards, prizes, or other benefits associated with the title.
A titleholder may not alter, misrepresent, or change their official AmeriFest title.

Grand Supreme Requirements

All Grand Supremes must attend the following year's pageant to give up their title.
Grand Supremes are expected to make reasonable efforts to participate in official AmeriFest appearances, activities, promotions, and events during their reign.
Grand Supremes should respond to communications from the Nationals Office in a timely manner.
If a Grand Supreme is unable to attend a required event or appearance, they should notify the Nationals Office as soon as possible.
Failure to fulfill required titleholder responsibilities may result in disciplinary action, including removal of the title.

Other Pageants / Non-Compete Policy

We are not a non-compete pageant.
AmeriFest titleholders may participate in other pageants unless the rules of another organization prohibit them from fulfilling their responsibilities as an AmeriFest titleholder.
If you know of a pageant you are attending that may prohibit you from representing or fulfilling your duties as an AmeriFest titleholder, please let us know ASAP.
Titleholders are responsible for understanding the rules of any other organization in which they participate.
Participation in another pageant does not automatically remove an AmeriFest title; however, failure to fulfill AmeriFest responsibilities may result in disciplinary action.

Titleholder Appearances

Titleholders may be asked to participate in reasonable AmeriFest promotional opportunities, community events, photographs, social media features, or appearances.
Titleholders should represent AmeriFest in a professional and respectful manner at official appearances.
When attending an event as an AmeriFest titleholder, contestants should follow the dress, conduct, and appearance expectations communicated by the Nationals Office.
Titleholders should notify the Nationals Office of significant scheduling conflicts as soon as possible.

GENERAL POLICIES

Safety & Emergencies

AmeriFest reserves the right to modify the pageant schedule, competition order, venue, format, or activities when necessary.
In the event of severe weather, natural disaster, illness, venue problems, government restrictions, emergency situations, or other circumstances outside of AmeriFest's control, the organization may postpone, reschedule, relocate, or modify an event.
Contestants and guests must follow all safety instructions given by AmeriFest staff and venue personnel.
AmeriFest reserves the right to remove any person from an event when necessary for the safety of contestants, staff, judges, volunteers, or guests.

Right to Refuse or Remove

AmeriFest reserves the right to refuse registration, participation, or continued participation to any contestant, parent, guardian, guest, or representative whose conduct is determined to be threatening, abusive, discriminatory, dishonest, disruptive, or otherwise contrary to the standards of AmeriFest.
AmeriFest reserves the right to remove a contestant or member of their party from an event for violation of these policies..
Serious violations may result in disqualification from the current event and/or ineligibility to participate in future AmeriFest events.

Complaints & Disputes

Contestants and families who have a concern should contact the Nationals Office directly and allow the organization an opportunity to address the concern.
Complaints should be made respectfully and in good faith.
Public arguments, social media attacks, harassment, or attempts to pressure staff into changing a decision are not an appropriate method for resolving disputes.
AmeriFest reserves the right to determine the appropriate response to complaints and policy violations based on the circumstances.

Changes to Policies

AmeriFest reserves the right to clarify, update, or modify policies and procedures when necessary.
Contestants and families will be notified of significant policy changes when applicable.
The most current policies provided by the AmeriFest Nationals Office will govern participation in AmeriFest events.

SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLIC CONDUCT

Contestants and titleholders are representatives of the AmeriFest organization and are expected to conduct themselves respectfully online and in public.
Bullying, harassment, threats, discrimination, or targeted attacks against contestants, judges, staff, volunteers, or AmeriFest may result in disciplinary action.
Contestants and families are encouraged to bring concerns directly to the Nationals Office rather than creating public disputes.
Private messages, screenshots, score information, or private communications involving the Nationals Office should not be publicly posted for the purpose of creating conflict or harassment.
False statements, accusations, or intentionally misleading information about AmeriFest, its staff, judges, contestants, or events may result in disciplinary action when such conduct violates these policies or substantially interferes with the organization.
Contestants may not represent themselves as an official spokesperson for AmeriFest without authorization.
AmeriFest reserves the right to take action when online conduct directly affects the safety, integrity, or reputation of an AmeriFest event or its participants.