diff --git a/src/registrar/migrations/0051_alter_domain_state.py b/src/registrar/migrations/0051_alter_domain_state.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df1240d93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/registrar/migrations/0051_alter_domain_state.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Generated by Django 4.2.7 on 2023-12-05 21:21
+
+from django.db import migrations
+import django_fsm
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ("registrar", "0050_alter_transitiondomain_status"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="domain",
+            name="state",
+            field=django_fsm.FSMField(
+                choices=[
+                    ("unknown", "Unknown"),
+                    ("dns needed", "Dns needed"),
+                    ("ready", "Ready"),
+                    ("on hold", "On hold"),
+                    ("deleted", "Deleted"),
+                ],
+                default="unknown",
+                help_text="Very basic info about the lifecycle of this domain object",
+                max_length=21,
+                protected=True,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/registrar/migrations/0052_alter_domainapplication_status.py b/src/registrar/migrations/0052_alter_domainapplication_status.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a274d731
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/registrar/migrations/0052_alter_domainapplication_status.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# Generated by Django 4.2.7 on 2023-12-05 21:25
+
+from django.db import migrations
+import django_fsm
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ("registrar", "0051_alter_domain_state"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="domainapplication",
+            name="status",
+            field=django_fsm.FSMField(
+                choices=[
+                    ("started", "Started"),
+                    ("submitted", "Submitted"),
+                    ("in review", "In review"),
+                    ("action needed", "Action needed"),
+                    ("approved", "Approved"),
+                    ("withdrawn", "Withdrawn"),
+                    ("rejected", "Rejected"),
+                    ("ineligible", "Ineligible"),
+                ],
+                default="started",
+                max_length=50,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain.py b/src/registrar/models/domain.py
index 94430fb36..16c918f84 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain.py
@@ -126,13 +126,13 @@ class Domain(TimeStampedModel, DomainHelper):
 
         # The domain object exists in the registry
         # but nameservers don't exist for it yet
-        DNS_NEEDED = "dns needed"
+        DNS_NEEDED = "dns needed", "Dns needed"
 
         # Domain has had nameservers set, may or may not be active
         READY = "ready"
 
         # Registrar manually changed state to client hold
-        ON_HOLD = "on hold"
+        ON_HOLD = "on hold", "On hold"
 
         # previously existed but has been deleted from the registry
         DELETED = "deleted"
diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py b/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
index 9ab3908d4..b35ad28c8 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
     REJECTED = "rejected"
     INELIGIBLE = "ineligible"
     STATUS_CHOICES = [
-        (STARTED, STARTED),
-        (SUBMITTED, SUBMITTED),
-        (IN_REVIEW, IN_REVIEW),
-        (ACTION_NEEDED, ACTION_NEEDED),
-        (APPROVED, APPROVED),
-        (WITHDRAWN, WITHDRAWN),
-        (REJECTED, REJECTED),
-        (INELIGIBLE, INELIGIBLE),
+        (STARTED, STARTED.capitalize()),
+        (SUBMITTED, SUBMITTED.capitalize()),
+        (IN_REVIEW, IN_REVIEW.capitalize()),
+        (ACTION_NEEDED, ACTION_NEEDED.capitalize()),
+        (APPROVED, APPROVED.capitalize()),
+        (WITHDRAWN, WITHDRAWN.capitalize()),
+        (REJECTED, REJECTED.capitalize()),
+        (INELIGIBLE, INELIGIBLE.capitalize()),
     ]
 
     class StateTerritoryChoices(models.TextChoices):