This was my first time ever competing in a pageant. I was nervous to compete for the first time but the director for Mrs. & Miss DC for America, Raquel Riley Thomas and her team were phenomenal! They were patient, compassionate, and willing to help every girl that was competing. They took the time to work with each girl to get them ready to compete whether it was your first time competing or if you were a seasoned pro. Raquel comes from a military background and was the 1st-runner up in 2011 for Mrs. America. She is absolutely a sweet and hard working director who knows what it takes to succeed in this business. Raquel gives every girl individualized attention to make sure they are ready and confident to compete. She really takes the time out to get to know her contestants and prepares them for not only the pageant world, but gives great advice and training that you can take into the work force. I feel extremely fortunate to be under the leadership of this director and apart of the Miss DC for America team! I would recommend this pageant system to anyone! I have had an amazing experience.

I am currently Mrs. DC America 2020 and I want to let everyone know who has an interest in pageantry that this is an incredible organization. Winning Mrs. DC America has changed my life. It has opened so many doors for modeling opportunities and has given me an incredible voice to promote my platform. The sponsorship winnings for this pageant are outstanding. Some of my sponsors include: Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty, Maria Raquel Thomas Cosmetics , Nova Derm Institute by Dr. Afsheen Ather , Fitness Together in Georgetown, Organic Spray Tan and Makeup by Marta Bota to name a few of my many sponsors. After winning this pageant, I will now compete in Mrs. America. Dreams come true with this pageant system!!

I had a wonderful experience being Mrs DC America 2019. I met the most amazing women that will be friends for life.

Is this your first time competing? Are you older than 28/29? Are you a single mom? Are you widowed or divorced? Are you an atypical kinda gal? Well this is the pageant for you! Competing in the Miss DC for America pageant was exactly the sparkle I needed to compete to solidify my pageant career! Our director, Raquel Riley Thomas, and PR Coordinator, Sandahl Taylor, offered us availability during a time we needed most (the pandemic). They were flexible to handle the challenges and walked with us—six feet or miles apart (lol). While all was up in the air, they provided thorough communication to give us security we would indeed compete for our respective titles and not waste our investments. We were the first pageant to have a virtual pageant. We held bi-weekly meetings and bonded as much as possible to respect CDC regulations. In our pageant, we’re given so much room to be ourselves yet held to the standard to embody and display eloquence as a queen should. I knew this pageant was for me because it reflects everything I am: different, set apart from others and here to make the world better for those we serve. It just might be for you, too.

Being on of the First pageants in the DC area to put on a Virtual pageant. I really loved watching and working with the organization to make sure there was a safe and fun competition. What I loved most about it it how the director made sure to take a hands on approach throughout the whole year to help the contestants through this difficult year by hosting work shops, creating fun contest for the girls, and even making sure each contestant had a space to work "from home."

This is the best state pageant around with an exceptional team that provides support not just for the pageant show but year long. The PR, production and executive teams are amazing and also the sponsors and strategic partners are very involved and have achieved high professional standards. That is a really remarkable success because many state pageants do not provide this level of organization and support. I can say that from experience having competed in several pageants and systems. There are appearances all year for the titelholders and many collaborations with the business and non profit community in the DMV. This ensures that local and state titleholders are visible but also that the queens contribute and volunteer and support the community so that the representation is meaningful in many ways. The pageant itself takes place in a beautiful venue and everything is made so that your experience is unforgettable. Get ready for the experience and buckle up for a stimulating, inspirational, competitive, and truly amazing pageant.

The Miss DC for America and Mrs. DC America pageant has the best pageant production and the best Director, Raquel Riley Thomas. Raquel takes time with her contestants to give them tools they need to be successful in not only her pageant, she gives them tools to help them succeed in their next stages of pageantry. Many of her contestants have gone on to have their own radio shows, television shows, modeling contracts and more. She has had more than a dozen contestants take the skills she has taught them went on to successfully win other pageants. Raquel is a true leader and deserves to win the Best Pageant Director.

THE UNIQUEST AND THE MOST CREATIVE PAGEANT EVER!! Awesome!! Love the creativity of this pageant. Always surprises me every year and I love it ?

The Miss DC for America and Mrs. DC America Pageant is the best state pageant production. The event is always well organized. Even during a worldwide pandemic, the state director, Raquel Riley Thomas, produced a phenomenal online pageant that set the standard that many other pageants followed. The state director cares about her contestants and pushes them to be the best version of themselves.