Q. What is the Miss Buford Pageant?
A. A Pageant With A Purpose, the Miss Buford Pageant is the primary fundraiser for the Buford High School Choral Music Department. For a more detailed history, see our About Miss Buford page.
Q. When and where is the pageant this year?
A. This year's pageant will be held at the Buford High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September, 25 2021, at 7:00 P.M.
Q. What is the price of admission to the pageant?
A. General Admission tickets will be available at the door on pageant night and are $5. Participants are not asked to sell advance ticket sales.
Q. Is this the same thing as the Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageants?
A. No; though our names are similar, the Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageants are a different organization. We are happy to support them as a sister organization which began as an offshoot of our program back in the mid-1990's. Ironically, those pageants also benefit a Fine Arts program at Buford High School as a fundraiser for the Buford High School Band Department. For more information about that pageant, click here.
Q. Is this the same thing as the Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford Pageants?
A. No; the Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford Pageants are a different entity and are preliminaries within the Miss America Organization. Our Miss Buford is the official pageant for Buford High School, and winners do not advance on to another pageant. Whereas eligibility for Miss Buford is limited to students at Buford High School, anyone meeting the criteria may be a contestant in Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford; this is not limited to students or residents of Buford. Winners from those pageants advance to Miss Georgia and hope to advance to Miss America. Like Miss Buford (High School), Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford, previously held at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, is also held at the Buford Fine Arts Center, is also produced by our producer, and is also a fundraiser for the Buford High School Choral Music Department.
Q. Who is eligible to participate in the Miss Buford Pageant?
A. Any female student currently attending Buford High School in grades 9-12 is eligible to register for Miss Buford.
Q. Why should I participate? I'm not really the "pageant‟ type.
A. The idea of a pageant can be negative to some. However, the Miss Buford Scholarship Program promotes the idea of a well-rounded and well-balanced young lady, stressing the importance of inner beauty as being more important than outer beauty. For this reason, the interview portion of the pageant accounts for 50% of the contestant's total score, leaving 20% for sportswear and 30% for evening wear. Not to mention, we have a great time, and the interview is a very positive and educational experience intended to help young women prepare for real-world interviews. Beyond the pageant itself, our contestants will participate in a full year of service and mentorship with the Miss Buford Program. Regularly scheduled appearances and volunteer service projects throughout the school year are designed to include every Miss Buford representative, whether or not she is a crowned representative. Additionally, for Fine Arts students, participating in Miss Buford is a way to give back to the program and invest in the programs which serve you. Who knows, even if you're not the "pageant type," maybe experiencing all of the valuable resources Miss Buford has to offer will be just the right tool to help you find a part of your inner self you haven't yet otherwise embraced.
Q. What are the areas of competition?
A. There are three areas of competition for each grade level: Interview, Casual Wear, and Evening Wear. Interview accounts for 50%, Casual Wear accounts for 20%, and Evening Wear accounts for 30% of the contestant's total score.
Q. What if I've never been in a pageant before?
A. Not to worry! There are trained people on hand at rehearsals to help you make sure that you look and feel your best and give you valuable tips on everything you need to know to prepare. Each grade level is assigned a "hostess" who becomes a big sister/mentor for you. Come have a great time with us!
Q. How much is the registration fee?
A. The registration fee is $75. This includes the photogenic entry and tee-shirt. Checks are to be made payable to Buford High School. The entry fee and all registration materials are due by the deadline. If not paid by the registration deadline, a late registration fine of $25 will apply if applicant is accepted. Contestants with outstanding balances for entry into this event will not be eligible to compete and therefore will not be considered for any title associated with Miss Buford. Registration fees may be paid by sponsors such as local businesses, friends, or family. Funds are not transferable and are non-refundable.
Q. Where does the money go?
A. The $75 registration fee generally covers the expenses associated with holding the pageant. All proceeds from the sale of tickets to the Miss Buford Pageant, and People's Choice go directly to the Buford High School Choral Music Department. The Choral Music Department uses the funds to award scholarships to graduating seniors, including Miss Buford and Fine Arts Scholarships, as well as paying for operational needs for the program and assisting students with purchasing performing uniforms. In 2009, because of such fundraising, the choral department was able to outfit every chorus student with a performing dress or tuxedo without the families of those students having to purchase them individually, and students since 2009 have been afforded the opportunity to participate in chorus without purchasing a performing uniform. Additionally, fundraising money is used to assist with the needs of the BHS Variety Show. Miss Buford is the sole fundraiser of the Buford High School Choral Music Department. Donors are eligible to receive tax credit for any and all donations made upon request.
Q. What are the awards given?
A. Several! See our page for Awards for more details.
Q. What do I need to wear for Casual Wear?
A. For the Casual Wear portion, all contestants will wear their official Miss Buford tee-shirt, *modest* jeans, and complementing shoes and accessories which serve as expressions of their personality.
Q. What do I need to wear for Interview?
A. For the interview portion, contestants will wear "trendy classy" attire (most preferably from your own wardrobe), suitable for a job or college interview.
Our goal is to help give you tools for success in life. When you go for a job interview, it's typically because you need to make money. If you're in need of making money, you probably don't have a lot of extra money to spend on a new outfit for the interview. You're going to go through your closet and do your best, right? That's what we want to help you do with your Miss Buford interview. We aren't looking for you to go out and buy a new suit for a typical pageant interview; we want to see how well you can pull yourself together in a pinch. After all, "grace under fire" is a necessary real-life tool that you're going to want in your arsenal!
Q. Is there an opening number?
A. Due to stage space and rehearsal time limitations, we will not have an opening number this year.
Q. Do I need to buy the Miss Buford tee-shirt? Do I keep it afterward?
A. You do get to keep the official Miss Buford tee-shirt as your own. It will be your official default wardrobe for all official Miss Buford outings unless otherwise instructed. The price of the tee-shirt is included in your registration fee.
Please note: when wearing the official Miss Buford tee-shirt to school, please wear a crew neck white or black tee (long or short sleeves) layered underneath in order to comply with school dress code. You will not necessarily need to layer the tee for Miss Buford events or appearances outside of the school day.
Q. Do you give back the judges' score sheets?
A. Our judging system is modeled after the judging system of the Miss America Organization, therefore, judges receive one score sheet for each division with the names of all contestants listed. Contestants are scored individually, not ranked, on one score sheet per division. Therefore, there are not individual score sheets to return, nor is there time or room for constructive comments to be made.
Q. Who are the judges, and what if I'm not popular enough to win?
A. Miss Buford is not a popularity contest. We take great care in selecting panels of qualified pageant judges, all of whom have extensive experience in pageantry and have a keen eye for pageant technique onstage, as well as a sense of discernment as it relates to communication in interview. Strictly without discussion of individual contestants, judges receive a tutorial in writing regarding the expectations of the Miss Buford Program. Men and women selected to serve on our panel of judges for the Miss Buford Pageant are always from outside the Buford community and have no knowledge or connection to any of the contestants. In short, they don't care if your great-grandmother's sister was the first woman astronaut to be from Buford, they only care that you present yourself on your fact sheet, interview, and stage time sincerely as a worthy representative of your community.
Q. What do you look for in a Miss Buford Representative?
A. We are looking for young ladies who are confident, personable, outgoing, and most importantly, are positive role models for the young people in our area. For further information about the expectation of qualities and attributes of Miss Buford representative, you may download this file:
A. A Pageant With A Purpose, the Miss Buford Pageant is the primary fundraiser for the Buford High School Choral Music Department. For a more detailed history, see our About Miss Buford page.
Q. When and where is the pageant this year?
A. This year's pageant will be held at the Buford High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September, 25 2021, at 7:00 P.M.
Q. What is the price of admission to the pageant?
A. General Admission tickets will be available at the door on pageant night and are $5. Participants are not asked to sell advance ticket sales.
Q. Is this the same thing as the Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageants?
A. No; though our names are similar, the Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageants are a different organization. We are happy to support them as a sister organization which began as an offshoot of our program back in the mid-1990's. Ironically, those pageants also benefit a Fine Arts program at Buford High School as a fundraiser for the Buford High School Band Department. For more information about that pageant, click here.
Q. Is this the same thing as the Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford Pageants?
A. No; the Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford Pageants are a different entity and are preliminaries within the Miss America Organization. Our Miss Buford is the official pageant for Buford High School, and winners do not advance on to another pageant. Whereas eligibility for Miss Buford is limited to students at Buford High School, anyone meeting the criteria may be a contestant in Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford; this is not limited to students or residents of Buford. Winners from those pageants advance to Miss Georgia and hope to advance to Miss America. Like Miss Buford (High School), Miss Atlanta and Miss Historic Buford, previously held at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, is also held at the Buford Fine Arts Center, is also produced by our producer, and is also a fundraiser for the Buford High School Choral Music Department.
Q. Who is eligible to participate in the Miss Buford Pageant?
A. Any female student currently attending Buford High School in grades 9-12 is eligible to register for Miss Buford.
Q. Why should I participate? I'm not really the "pageant‟ type.
A. The idea of a pageant can be negative to some. However, the Miss Buford Scholarship Program promotes the idea of a well-rounded and well-balanced young lady, stressing the importance of inner beauty as being more important than outer beauty. For this reason, the interview portion of the pageant accounts for 50% of the contestant's total score, leaving 20% for sportswear and 30% for evening wear. Not to mention, we have a great time, and the interview is a very positive and educational experience intended to help young women prepare for real-world interviews. Beyond the pageant itself, our contestants will participate in a full year of service and mentorship with the Miss Buford Program. Regularly scheduled appearances and volunteer service projects throughout the school year are designed to include every Miss Buford representative, whether or not she is a crowned representative. Additionally, for Fine Arts students, participating in Miss Buford is a way to give back to the program and invest in the programs which serve you. Who knows, even if you're not the "pageant type," maybe experiencing all of the valuable resources Miss Buford has to offer will be just the right tool to help you find a part of your inner self you haven't yet otherwise embraced.
Q. What are the areas of competition?
A. There are three areas of competition for each grade level: Interview, Casual Wear, and Evening Wear. Interview accounts for 50%, Casual Wear accounts for 20%, and Evening Wear accounts for 30% of the contestant's total score.
Q. What if I've never been in a pageant before?
A. Not to worry! There are trained people on hand at rehearsals to help you make sure that you look and feel your best and give you valuable tips on everything you need to know to prepare. Each grade level is assigned a "hostess" who becomes a big sister/mentor for you. Come have a great time with us!
Q. How much is the registration fee?
A. The registration fee is $75. This includes the photogenic entry and tee-shirt. Checks are to be made payable to Buford High School. The entry fee and all registration materials are due by the deadline. If not paid by the registration deadline, a late registration fine of $25 will apply if applicant is accepted. Contestants with outstanding balances for entry into this event will not be eligible to compete and therefore will not be considered for any title associated with Miss Buford. Registration fees may be paid by sponsors such as local businesses, friends, or family. Funds are not transferable and are non-refundable.
Q. Where does the money go?
A. The $75 registration fee generally covers the expenses associated with holding the pageant. All proceeds from the sale of tickets to the Miss Buford Pageant, and People's Choice go directly to the Buford High School Choral Music Department. The Choral Music Department uses the funds to award scholarships to graduating seniors, including Miss Buford and Fine Arts Scholarships, as well as paying for operational needs for the program and assisting students with purchasing performing uniforms. In 2009, because of such fundraising, the choral department was able to outfit every chorus student with a performing dress or tuxedo without the families of those students having to purchase them individually, and students since 2009 have been afforded the opportunity to participate in chorus without purchasing a performing uniform. Additionally, fundraising money is used to assist with the needs of the BHS Variety Show. Miss Buford is the sole fundraiser of the Buford High School Choral Music Department. Donors are eligible to receive tax credit for any and all donations made upon request.
Q. What are the awards given?
A. Several! See our page for Awards for more details.
Q. What do I need to wear for Casual Wear?
A. For the Casual Wear portion, all contestants will wear their official Miss Buford tee-shirt, *modest* jeans, and complementing shoes and accessories which serve as expressions of their personality.
Q. What do I need to wear for Interview?
A. For the interview portion, contestants will wear "trendy classy" attire (most preferably from your own wardrobe), suitable for a job or college interview.
Our goal is to help give you tools for success in life. When you go for a job interview, it's typically because you need to make money. If you're in need of making money, you probably don't have a lot of extra money to spend on a new outfit for the interview. You're going to go through your closet and do your best, right? That's what we want to help you do with your Miss Buford interview. We aren't looking for you to go out and buy a new suit for a typical pageant interview; we want to see how well you can pull yourself together in a pinch. After all, "grace under fire" is a necessary real-life tool that you're going to want in your arsenal!
Q. Is there an opening number?
A. Due to stage space and rehearsal time limitations, we will not have an opening number this year.
Q. Do I need to buy the Miss Buford tee-shirt? Do I keep it afterward?
A. You do get to keep the official Miss Buford tee-shirt as your own. It will be your official default wardrobe for all official Miss Buford outings unless otherwise instructed. The price of the tee-shirt is included in your registration fee.
Please note: when wearing the official Miss Buford tee-shirt to school, please wear a crew neck white or black tee (long or short sleeves) layered underneath in order to comply with school dress code. You will not necessarily need to layer the tee for Miss Buford events or appearances outside of the school day.
Q. Do you give back the judges' score sheets?
A. Our judging system is modeled after the judging system of the Miss America Organization, therefore, judges receive one score sheet for each division with the names of all contestants listed. Contestants are scored individually, not ranked, on one score sheet per division. Therefore, there are not individual score sheets to return, nor is there time or room for constructive comments to be made.
Q. Who are the judges, and what if I'm not popular enough to win?
A. Miss Buford is not a popularity contest. We take great care in selecting panels of qualified pageant judges, all of whom have extensive experience in pageantry and have a keen eye for pageant technique onstage, as well as a sense of discernment as it relates to communication in interview. Strictly without discussion of individual contestants, judges receive a tutorial in writing regarding the expectations of the Miss Buford Program. Men and women selected to serve on our panel of judges for the Miss Buford Pageant are always from outside the Buford community and have no knowledge or connection to any of the contestants. In short, they don't care if your great-grandmother's sister was the first woman astronaut to be from Buford, they only care that you present yourself on your fact sheet, interview, and stage time sincerely as a worthy representative of your community.
Q. What do you look for in a Miss Buford Representative?
A. We are looking for young ladies who are confident, personable, outgoing, and most importantly, are positive role models for the young people in our area. For further information about the expectation of qualities and attributes of Miss Buford representative, you may download this file:
| miss_buford_qualities__attributes.pdf |
Q. Do you use comparative judging?
A. Absolutely not. Our judging system is modeled after the judging system of the Miss America Organization. We believe that every contestant competes against herself, demonstrating her very best, and therefore we do not use comparative judging. If there are five contestants who earn perfect scores of ten from the judges, then each of those five contestants receive a score of ten; there is no ranking system.
Q. Do I need an expensive pageant gown to compete?
A. No, expensive gowns are not necessary. A Miss Buford representative needs to possess inner beauty, poise, and confidence; not merely an expensive gown. If you need a fancy gown to feel confident, then by all means, feel free to purchase, rent, or borrow one; however, it is not necessarily a prerequisite to be competitive. Please be mindful that we are looking for role models, and therefore contestants should wear a gown that is age appropriate.
Q. What's in it for me?
A. As a Miss Buford representative, you will have the opportunity to represent the City of Buford as an Honorary Ambassador to the Community to promote Buford during various civic and community functions including parades, festivals, meetings, and school activities. As an honorary ambassador of our wonderful city, each representative has the responsibility to serve and represent Buford well. Be prepared to see yourself in local newspapers or on television as you are captured representing Buford as a volunteer with many local and regional service opportunities. Most importantly, be prepared to have the most exciting year of your life as you experience the reward of investing yourself in the lives of others along with the Miss Buford family and all that it offers… friendship, leadership, and the opportunity to leave a legacy and not only to make a difference in your community, but to be that difference.
A. Absolutely not. Our judging system is modeled after the judging system of the Miss America Organization. We believe that every contestant competes against herself, demonstrating her very best, and therefore we do not use comparative judging. If there are five contestants who earn perfect scores of ten from the judges, then each of those five contestants receive a score of ten; there is no ranking system.
Q. Do I need an expensive pageant gown to compete?
A. No, expensive gowns are not necessary. A Miss Buford representative needs to possess inner beauty, poise, and confidence; not merely an expensive gown. If you need a fancy gown to feel confident, then by all means, feel free to purchase, rent, or borrow one; however, it is not necessarily a prerequisite to be competitive. Please be mindful that we are looking for role models, and therefore contestants should wear a gown that is age appropriate.
Q. What's in it for me?
A. As a Miss Buford representative, you will have the opportunity to represent the City of Buford as an Honorary Ambassador to the Community to promote Buford during various civic and community functions including parades, festivals, meetings, and school activities. As an honorary ambassador of our wonderful city, each representative has the responsibility to serve and represent Buford well. Be prepared to see yourself in local newspapers or on television as you are captured representing Buford as a volunteer with many local and regional service opportunities. Most importantly, be prepared to have the most exciting year of your life as you experience the reward of investing yourself in the lives of others along with the Miss Buford family and all that it offers… friendship, leadership, and the opportunity to leave a legacy and not only to make a difference in your community, but to be that difference.
