Your crown starts in your hometown.
Applications are open for Uplift Tri-State Gulf Coast USA — Year One. Every contestant who applies before the deadline competes on equal footing, regardless of background, body type, income, or experience.
Our Equality & Fairness Pledge
- Every contestant pays the same. Directional entry is free. State fees cascade by County placement, not by ability to afford them — top placers pay nothing.
- Every contestant is judged on the same package. No special wardrobe budgets, no professional packages required. Wardrobe is capped at $50/outfit and $100/gown to keep the playing field level.
- Every contestant has the same advancement path. Top placers in every division advance. Open Title winners auto-advance regardless of overall placement.
- Every age, body, ability, ethnicity, and identity is welcome. 14 age divisions cover infants to 100+. 15 open titles celebrate identity, ability, and contribution. The structure exists to include — not to filter.
- Every score is recorded and verifiable. Judges' scores are documented. Vote tallies are audited. Disputes are reviewed by the Director Panel within 72 hours.
- Free voting is always available. Every voting window includes a free Alternate Method of Entry that carries equal weight to paid votes.
What you'll need to apply.
Have these ready before you begin. Don't worry if you don't have professional photos — phone photos are absolutely fine. Still deciding? Our FAQ covers costs, voting, awards, and deadlines.
- Your basic info (name, date of birth, contact, ZIP code)
- Parent or legal guardian info, if the contestant is under 18
- A headshot (any clear photo of your face works)
- A casual photo (everyday outfit, full body if possible)
- A formal photo (dressed up — secondhand and thrifted are encouraged)
- A 30–60 second introduction video (phone video works — no editing required)
- A few sentences about your community involvement and why you're applying
Professional photography is not required and provides no scoring advantage.
Who can apply.
- Residents of Florida, Alabama, or Mississippi
- Any age — 14 divisions from 0–11 months through 80–100+
- Any background — open titles celebrate identity, ability, and contribution
- Minors apply with parent or legal guardian consent
- Willing to commit to titleholder appearances (minimum one per year if you win)
Need accommodations to apply or compete? See our Accessibility Statement or email info@galaglitteratigroup.com.
Download the Paper Application Packet
If filling out forms online doesn't work for your situation — whether because of limited internet access, accessibility needs, or you just prefer pen and paper — we have a complete printable packet. The paper path carries exactly the same weight as the online path. Includes the full application, Photo & Likeness Release, Code of Conduct, and a paper voting form for the free Alternate Method of Entry.
Print and complete by hand, OR type into the Word version on your computer. Submit by email to info@galaglitteratigroup.com or by postal mail. Full instructions are inside the packet.
See a sample contestant page
Every applicant gets their own page with photos, bio, intro video, live vote count, share buttons, and a printable QR code. Preview what yours will look like before you start.
View Sample Page →Start Your Application Online.
This short form captures the basics. After you submit, you'll be taken to the full Directional Round application with your info already filled in.
Quick Start
Takes about 60 seconds. You'll continue to the full application with your answers carried over.
What happens next.
Nominate a Contestant.
Some of the people who would shine brightest at Uplift would never sign themselves up — the grandmother who's quietly held her family together, the teen who organizes the food drive, the neighbor who shows up for everyone. If you know someone who belongs in our Founding Class, tell us, and we'll reach out with a warm, no-pressure invitation to apply. This is also where you speak to a current contestant's story for an experience-based open title — a contestant can name you, or you can come straight here and fill it out yourself.
A nomination is an invitation, not an entry. We never sign anyone up without their knowledge or consent. After you nominate someone, we'll send them a friendly note letting them know they were thought of, and they decide for themselves whether to apply. For nominees under 18, a parent or legal guardian always completes the application. Nominating costs nothing and creates no obligation for anyone.
Suggest Someone
Takes under a minute. The rest is on us.
Download a Paper Nomination Form
If pen and paper suits you better — or the person nominating prefers it — print or type the form and send it in. The paper path carries exactly the same weight as the online form.
By email: scan or photograph the completed form and send it to outreach@galaglitteratigroup.com.
By mail: Gala Glitterati Group, LLC — Uplift Nominations, Lynn Haven, FL (full mailing address on our Contact page).
We're happy to walk you through it.
Divisions, eligibility, open titles, the Closet Challenge, accessibility — reach out anytime.