RULES AND REGULATIONS
APPLICATION AND ENTRY FEE
- Each contestant will pay a non-refundable entry fee. Applications received before May 31st, 2026, will pay $75. Applications received after May 31st, 2026, but before September 1st, 2026, will pay $150. Applications and entry fees must be received by 11:59 PM on September 1st, 2026. No late entries will be accepted after that date under any circumstances.
- Applications and entry fees may be submitted either by mail or at https://charlestonpride.org/pageant-2026. Mailed entries must be postmarked five (5) days prior to the deadline in order to be accepted if received after the due date.
- Pageant Directors reserve the right to refuse any application. (Examples of reasons: a history of unsportsmanlike conduct; alcohol or drug abuse; poor representation of prior title; other misconduct that might tarnish the image of the Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride Festival.)
- Entry fees paid online may be done with either a check card or a credit card. Entry fees paid by mail may be made with either a cashier’s check or money order made payable to “Charleston Pride.” No personal checks will be accepted.
- Only the first (10) queens and first s (10) kings and (10) mx performers to submit an application and entry fee will be accepted to compete.
QUALIFICATIONS AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
The Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride Pageant is open to anyone who qualifies under these rules and who is at least 18 years of age. Contestants must be a resident of the state of South Carolina or a resident of North Carolina or Georgia, and have performed in South Carolina at least five (5) times in the past calendar year. Contestant must provide proof of age and residency to the Pageant Directors if requested. Charleston Pride has a zero tolerance policy for gender/identification bias whatsoever from Judges, Directors or contestants, past or present.
CATEGORIES AND SCORING
Contestants will be judged by a panel of judges in the following categories
Presentation: (50 points possible) Express Your Pride(Self Expression) Limited to two (2) minutes with commentary provided by contestant(s). Music will be provided for this category.
Formal Wear: (50 points possible) Limited to two (2) minutes with commentary read by host(s) provided by contestant. Contestant must bring to the venue written commentary for host(s) to read while contestant is on stage. Formal wear will be followed by a Q&A for one (1) minute. Music will be provided for this category.
Talent (100 points possible) Limited to seven (7) minutes (not including two (2) minutes of setup and tear down). Contestant must provide music. Contestants must furnish their own music and label it for the DJ accordingly. Any talent is acceptable, other than talent that includes nudity, fire, water, or any presentation that could cause injury to the contestant or audience. Upon request of the contestant, copies of the judges’ score sheets for THAT individual, along with an abstract of the overall scoring, will be provided to the contestant. The original score sheets will remain in the possession of the Pageant Directors at all times. DRESSERS / PROP HANDLERS / DANCERS Each contestant is limited to one (1) dresser. The dresser will be permitted free entry for the pageant. Up to four (4) prop handlers may come backstage five (5) minutes before the presentation of talent. Prop handlers must pay admission to the pageant. Dancers are limited to five (5) and may come backstage five (5) minutes prior to the talent performance. All dancers must pay admission to the pageant. The only persons allowed in the dressing room will be the contestants and dressers. Prop handlers and dancers are permitted backstage only at the times listed above. Once the job/performance is completed, prop handlers and dancers must return to the audience.
CONTESTANT INTEGRITY AND CONDUCT
Contestants must demonstrate respect throughout the pageant for other contestants, dressers, prop handlers, and dancers. Drug use of any kind, other than prescribed medication, is strictly prohibited. Underage drinking is strictly prohibited at the venue. Theft of, and/or tampering with, another contestant’s wardrobe, props, or personal items by a contestant, dresser, prop handler, or dancer will result in the immediate disqualification and removal of the offending individual from the pageant and the premises.
PRIZE LIST The following prizes will be awarded to the successful contestants: Emperor Crown/Scepter Flowers $350 ($200 the night of the pageant and $150 when you return in 2026 to give up the title)EmpressCrown/ScepterFlowers $350 ($200 the night of the pageant and $150 when you return in 2026 to give up the title). There is no compensation awarded to the participants and winners other than those prizes and awards stated above. All contestants waive their rights to any profits from videotaping, still photography, or any other recording or documentation of the Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride Festival. Successful contestants are free to use their title of Emperor or Empress of Charleston Pride Festival for any personal bookings during their reign in advertising of events or nights of personally-booked shows. PUNCTUALITY AND LINE-UP. The Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride Pageant will begin promptly at 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 17th, 2026, at the American Theater. Contestants are expected to be at the venue and ready for line-up by 5:30 pm. Failure to be at the venue by 5:30 will result in a deduction of ten (20) points from the contestant’s final score. The venue will open at 6:00 pm for contestants and dressers. No other individuals will be permitted in the venue until the doors open for admission. The lineup of contestants will be decided by drawing numbers thirty (30) minutes before the pageant begins.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS
The Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride are required to be professional and courteous at all times while representing Charleston Pride Festival. They will do nothing to demean or tarnish their title. The Emperor and Empress will keep their crown in good repair and in their possession throughout their reign. The crown will remain the property of the Pageant Directors throughout the entire reign of the Emperor and Empress. Upon crowning their successors, the crown will become the permanent property of the titleholder. The Emperor and Empress agree to participate in at least six (6) events designated by Charleston Pride Festival, Inc., and will be given at least thirty (30) days' notice of the dates. The Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride are required to be in the Charleston Pride Parade on Saturday, October 17th, 2026, as well as performing at the rally later that same day. The Executive Board will investigate any complaints of misconduct received against the Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride. Based on the severity and validity of such complaints, the Executive Board may reconvene the judges for discussion and action regarding the complaint. A simple majority vote of the Board of Directors may result in the loss of the title and crown. The first runner-up will then be presented with the crown and title, unless they are unable. The crown and all prize money must be returned by the original titleholder. If the first runner-up is unqualified or unable to fulfill the requirements of the Emperor and Empress of Charleston Pride, the crown and title shall go to the next runner-up using the score sheets from the pageant.
