Miss Utah Volunteer

The work starts before the competition: choosing a talent presentation, preparing for your interview and developing the service interests you want to share. Utah participants prepare for interviews, talent presentation, service and competition.

Talent

Prepare a performance that reflects your abilities. Talent is one quarter of the competition score; use the current participant materials to plan your presentation.

Interview

Practice explaining your experiences, educational goals and the issues you care about in a conversation with the judges.

Service

Connect a cause you care about with an activity that contributes to your community. Your S.E.R.V.E. initiative gives that interest a clear focus.

Lauren Salimbene, Miss Utah Volunteer 2025 and Miss Volunteer America 2026, presented contemporary dance and developed “Movement Has No Limits; Neither Do You.” Her national biography describes using dance in her service, including coaching the Special Olympics Salt Lake Stars Dance Team.

Your talent and initiative can reflect your own interests. Lauren’s is one example of how a participant brought the two together.

Miss Utah Volunteer is affiliated with Miss Volunteer America, founded by Allison DeMarcus. The national mission is S.E.R.V.E.: Scholarship, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, Empowerment.

Winning the state Miss title is the qualifying step toward the national competition, subject to its eligibility and paperwork requirements. Utah’s national history includes Alexa Knutzen’s inaugural win and Lauren Salimbene’s Miss Volunteer America 2026 title.

The national age rules and the Utah participation requirements below help you assess your fit. Contact MUV if you are unsure how they apply to your title cycle.

The national Miss age range is 17–26 at the time of competing, crowning or appointment as a local or state titleholder, with high school completed. Utah’s published requirements also call for high school graduation or an equivalent qualification.

• High School Graduate (or equivalent)
• Medical and Legal Female, Never Married, Not a Parent
• Utah Resident or Full Time Employee or Student
• Citizen of the United States of America
• Able to Compete in All Areas of Competition

The national organization describes an eligibility lock-in for age and residency after a qualifying local title win or appointment, through that title cycle and no later than national finals. Ask MUV how this applies to your circumstances.

Deposit

$150

Competition fee

$750

Total participant fees

$900

In addition to participant fees, each contestant has a mandatory $500 ad-sales commitment. Participants receive 50% of ad revenue above $500. For example, $600 in ad sales returns $50 to the participant.

Contact MUV for payment dates, refund terms, included items, any additional expenses and how an ad-sales shortfall is handled.

The 2026 Utah awards recognize the titleholder, runners-up and named achievements in service and preliminary competition. These are competitive awards, not guaranteed payments to every participant.

Miss Utah Volunteer titleholder

$8,000

1st runner-up

$3,000

2nd runner-up

$1,500

3rd runner-up

$500

4th runner-up

$200

S.E.R.V.E. in Action

$200

Evening Gown — each preliminary

$200

Talent — each preliminary

$200

The titleholder also receives a separate $1,300 stipend.

Ask MUV about award eligibility, permitted uses, claim deadlines and disbursement procedures before making financial plans.

Plan time for talent practice and interview preparation before pageant week. Preparation and service are part of the experience alongside judged competition. Use the instructions sent directly by the program team to plan your participation.

Registration for the 2026 program is closed. Public events are listed below. Registered participants receive their detailed instructions directly from the program team.

Interested in a future season? Tell us which program interests you and what you would like to know about eligibility, preparation or service. The team can help you identify your next step.

The public events are available below. For participant schedules and materials, use your registration confirmation or contact participant support.

Join us for the Hats Off Parade inside Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, preliminary competitions and finals. All times are local Utah time.

Registered participants: use the instructions sent directly by the program team for your personal schedule. Contact participant support if you need help accessing those materials.