General Pageant Info

General Pageant Information

Remember - it isn't the most talented girl who wins the talent competition. It's whoever has the best stage presence.

Don't compare yourself to the other girls, because you're only being judged on you.

Even if you don't get the crown, you're a winner just for competing so if you don't win, don't feel like a loser.

Cover any and all tattoos and remove any piercings other than up to two holes in your ear. You aren't supposed to be judged on such things but unfortunately some people will. Sure, those people are stupid but there's nothing you can do about it.


Be sure you understand just what the responsibilities of the titleholder are. You don't want to win and discover that you can't handle the job.


Don't drink any carbonated drinks on competition day to prevent bloating.


Search online for a good "pageant hairstyle". Look at pictures of all the current national title holders for ideas. NO PROM UPDOS!! They just don't work.


Talk to the current titleholder about what she does to prepare for competition. She's already done it so she's bound to have some excellent pointers for you.



Show your personality both in the interview and on the stage.

Get plenty of beauty sleep during pageant weekend!

Never get yourself down because you think the other girls are "better" or "prettier". We're all more critical of ourselves.
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Make friends with the other girls! Don't be catty or talk behind backs. Miss Congeniality is a very honorable title.


If and when you win, you are representing a group of people. Be a good representative and don't do anything you might regret later or that might force the pageant to strip you of your title.

You don't need to be 5'9", blonde, and have a white gown to win. You can win no matter what your size, shape, color, or social status. The judges don't know how much money you have or if that's really your natural hair color or not.


Make sure you have tons of fun! If you aren't having fun, maybe this pageant thing isn't for you. It shouldn't seem like a chore. You should enjoy it.


You should use some sunless tanner to get some color in your skin if you're very pale. The color accentuates your muscle tone and makes you appear to be thinner.

Wear heels everywhere. It'll help your walk immensely.

Remember that often times the judges are at foot level. Have a nice, neat pedicure. Use a light pink polish if you are unsure as to what color to use. It looks classy and goes with everything.

Keep double stick tape and super glue in your dressing room. You never know when it'll come in handy.


You never know what's going to happen. This set of judges might make one decision and another set of judges could make an entirely different decision!!


Be on time. There is no such thing as fashionably late in the pageant world.


Not everyone is as nice as they appear. Be nice to everyone during the pageant and if someone turns on you don't seek revenge. No matter what, always strive to be
Miss Congeniality. It will take you far not only in pageants but also in life.


It is good to exercise and eat well before a pageant, but there is no need to starve yourself because no matter what your size, your confidence and poise is what will take you on to the next stage of competition.


If you want to begin to eat healthier before the pageant, do some reading on proper nutrition. Surviving on tiny salads and diet soda will only slow your metabolism and you won't lose fat that way.


Diet pills do NOT work. Enough said.


Pump iron. Weight training along with cardio will keep you toned and burn more fat. If you're in good shape you'll be more confident!!

What you need to know about pageant clothes

What you need to know about Pageant clothes

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a pageant winning dress. Search ebay or your local mall for sales. If it is elegant, sparkles on stage, and it makes you feel like a queen, then it could be your winning gown.

Fitness Wear isn't about who is the hottest girl on the stage. It is about who has the most confidence walking out on a stage in what can feel like underwear.

Keep your clothes organized and hung up so you can find things and they remain unwrinkled. When you have to change fast you won't be stressing out about where you put your strapless bra or that your suit is wrinkled.

Don't fuss with tons of jewelry. A large pair of rhinestone earrings can be all you'll need. Search stores like Icing or Claire's for cheaper accessories because when they have sales they mark some gorgeous jewelry down for dirt cheap.

Make sure your gown fits perfectly. This sometimes means waiting until a month or two before competition to buy it because if you lose or gain weight in the meantime, it may not fit right and you don't want to find that out two weeks beforehand.


Your evening gown shouldn't look too much like your typical high school prom dress. They are elegant, often with long trains, and they have at least a touch of sparkle. You can find these gowns among the many prom-type gowns but it can take a lot of searching to find the perfect one.

If you can go to the beach in your swimsuit, then you should not have a problem being in fitness wear!

Don't change anything during pageant week. Make all of your final wardrobe decisions beforehand and you'll feel prepared and confident!

What you need to know for Interview

What you need to know for the Interview

The Interview
DON'T LIE ON YOUR PAPERWORK OR IN THE INTERVIEW. If you get caught in a lie, or one of the judges is an excellent poker player, your bluff will cost you.

Be true to yourself. The judges want to see girls who are real, not girls who sound rehearsed.


You don't have to have perfect grades or have something super impressive on your fact sheet to impress the judges. What will make you stand out is something unique that not many people have done or can do. Play the accordion? Race go carts? Breed hamsters? Write it down.

Have someone proofread your paperwork before you turn it in.

Choose a platform that really means something to you, not just something you think will impress the judges.

The interview isn't an interrogation, but rather a conversation where the judges can get to know you better.

Know your platform inside and out. You never know what you'll be asked.

Don't be afraid to ask questions in the interview if you don't understand. The judges will be glad to clarify for you.

Try and think of all of your positive traits first before you write your paperwork. It'll help a lot!

Never portray yourself in a negative light in any part of the competition. You want to be confident, not self-depreciating.


Form opinions on EVERYTHING, from your opinion on the death penalty to what your favorite color is.

Use the bathroom before the interview and before the show. Trust me, you'll appreciate it.

90% of your interview will probably be based on your application and platform sheet. Just a FYI.


Keep your answers short and concise. If you're asked, "Do you take criticism well?" don't answer with a one minute speech about the time when you were criticized and it made you feel bad. No one word answers, though. The more questions the judges can ask you, the more they get to know you, and the better you'll do.

Don't be afraid to make the judges laugh a little! Sharing something humorous will lighten the mood and make them feel more comfortable.

The judges are often just as nervous as you are, or even more so. They have a huge decision to make that could change the lives of the ladies competing.

Still feeling nervous? Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breathing relaxes the body. Another thing you might try is listening to a favorite song or watching an episode of your favorite comedy on your ipod beforehand.

Only tell a story if it is relevant and doesn't take too long to tell. Remember, you've only got a matter of minutes for these judges to get to know you.


Have your friends and family pop interview questions on you. The more practice, the better.

While working on your platform, make sure you know the names of organizations that are somehow connected that you can get into contact with. If you've got such connections it'll be very impressive to the judges

What you will need to know when you are on stage

What you need to know when you are Onstage

Smile, smile, SMILE!

While on stage, hold your head high and pretend that crown's already on your head.

Scan the judges, scan the audience, then once again scan the judges.

If you find it difficult to look the judges in the eyes, look at their foreheads.

Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more prepared you are, the better you'll do.

On stage question is not as tough as it might seem. Often times the stage lights are so bright you can't see the audience anyway so just pretend they aren't even there.

If you don't feel confident on stage, try and get some friends and family to be your "cheering section". This will definitely give you a confidence boost while on stage!!

In order to create a natural smile rather than a "plastic look", think of something funny before you go on stage.

Always maintain excellent posture. Shoulders back, chin parallel to the ground, and back straight, whether you're sitting or standing.

Keep your walk slow and elegant during evening gown. Remember, it's at this point the judges will be able to see who that crown will fit on best.

The competition is a performance! Put on a good show. You want to entertain as well as impress.

Fake eyelashes are great for the stage, but don't wear them in the interview. The interview is a much more professional setting so wear a nice suit, small earrings, and little makeup. Your makeup should be just as much as you might wear on an average day.

If you make a mistake, try to act like it never happened. The audience may not notice and if the judges notice but see how quickly you can pick up your composure quickly afterwards they might be impressed.