Miss Gay America Nationals - Judging Guidelines

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General Conduct & Interaction

• Judges must not engage in conversations with contestants beyond simple greetings. Avoid contact at hotels, bars, or restaurants.

• Judges cannot discuss contestants with anyone during or after judging.

• No talking among judges at the table. Questions should go to the Lead Judge unless otherwise instructed.

• Judges should not react visibly to performances—no excessive applause or excessive responses.

Professionalism & Ethics

• Judges must not become intoxicated at any point during the event. 

• Judges must maintain full focus on each contestant during performances and interviews.

• Confidentiality is key – scoring discussions should only happen with Mad Angel Entertainment representatives (National level only).  At the local level you may talk to the promoter and the reigning Miss Gay America.

• Judges should not enter a contestant’s hotel room, and vice versa.

Judging Process

• Arrive on time to all judging events to maintain the schedule.

• Interviews: Keep questions simple and contestant-focused, when possible base your conversation with the contestant based on their personal bio when they introduce themselves.  Judges are there to listen, not share personal accomplishments.  

• Scoring & Critiques: Use the provided scoring method. Judges should work quickly to enter scores for each category to keep the pace of the pageant moving.  

Eligibility & Restrictions

• Judges cannot judge a city, state or regional pageant when judging nationals.  

• Contestants who have qualified or intend to qualify in the current pageant season cannot serve as judges for any preliminary.

• Pageant promoters must ensure judges are responsible, qualified, and free of conflicts of interest (e.g., personal relationships with contestants).

Presentation & Appearance

• Judges must dress professionally: business casual at minimum, with formal attire encouraged for the final night.

• Identity of judges remains confidential until contest registration. Judges should not announce their role publicly before the event.

Rules Enforcement & Oversight

• Mad Angel Entertainment has authority to investigate violations and remove a judge if necessary.

• Mad Angel Entertainment, the tabulators and board will review scores for consistency individually and as a group to ensure fairness.  If the tabulator notices a potential error in scoring they may verify with you on the entry.  

• Judges’ worksheets may be reviewed upon request by MGA officials or promoters.

• Judges should avoid online message boards and social media discussions about the pageant during the event.

Scoring & Administration

• Judges are responsible for category scoring only – administrative point deductions are handled separately.

 

For those interested in judging at a city, state, or regional level, please reach out to the respective pageant promoters in your area.  A judge may judge up to two state and two regional pageants per year, with exceptions for former Miss Gay America titleholders and MGA Advisory Board members.