Creative Visualization: Becoming the Queen You Envision

Imagine standing on stage during your pageant competition's finale. There are two beautiful contestants standing in the center of the stage, clutching each other's hands and whispering kind words to each other. The emcee is reading off the prize package of the titleholder and the obligations of the first runner-up. Return back to the two beautiful women waiting for the moment of truth. One of them is you! There you are, standing on stage with your head down and your eyes closed, wishing for the crown to be yours. You are wearing your dream gown that fits you perfectly and moves just so when you model it. Your make-up is as flawless as it was when it was first applied, and you are having one of the best hair days of your life. You can smell the anticipation, the hairspray, and your perfume. You can just feel the energy from the crowd, and something inside you feels so right, even though your heart is beating faster than normal and you can barely breathe from the nerves. You grasp the other contestant's hands even tighter as the emcee says, "And the first runner up is..." During that brief pause, you feel a sense of peace come over you, accepting that your name may be announced as the runner-up. But to your surprise, the other contestant's name is said. She flashes you a smile, assuring you that she experienced that same peace. Tears start streaming down your cheeks, and you feel so proud of your hard work during your pageant competition. The previous titleholder gives you a big teddy bear hug, and places the sash on your shoulders. Then you bend your knees and feel the crown placed atop your head. You still can't contain yourself and those tears of yours, but you have the most beautiful winning smile on. You take your first steps as the queen, waving like a true queen and blowing kisses to your adoring public.

Can you imagine yourself as that queen receiving the crown during her pageant finale? Didn't taking in that sweet fantasy just feel so good? Let me tell you that channeling that visualization is not just a guilty pleasure for an aspiring titleholder, but it is actually a method of positive attraction. There is a belief out there that we can attract our destinies by methods such as creative visualization. Imagine going to sleep every night, daydreaming the perfect pageant fantasy, and then going to sleep one night as the titleholder you imagined becoming. Yes, it could happen, and you can make it happen too!

All you need is to create a clear outline of your pageant events and to identify a solid foundation of the best contestant you can be. You can use this exercise for any aspect of your pageant competition. For example, let's see how a contestant could potentially utilize creative visualization for her interview. She wants to acknowledge the format of the competition, her attitude approaching the competition, how she handles her environment, and all of her senses. If it helps you, consider making an outline or list to compile all of the information. Let's pretend this contestant interviews with each of three judges one by one and wants to come across as confident, articulate, and graceful. Here is a sample creative visualization for an interview scenario:

You walk into the room, wearing your best smile, holding your head high and wearing your shoulders back. Your interview pumps are so worn in that they feel like a part of you. The color of your suit really brings a glow to your face, and you feel prepared and confident to face each judge. You sit down with the first judge with flawless posture and a ready smile. The friendly judge instantly smiles at you because they can feel your genuine aura. The first question is quite tough, but you answer with ease, thinking through each word and speaking with perfect pitch and enunciation. You know that your thoughts came through wonderfully, and you can tell the judge is quietly impressed by your articulation. The next judge appears a little intimidating and almost grumpy. But this doesn't bother you in the least bit - in fact, you're determined to leave this judge smiling - even if only on the inside. The judge asks a question that he thinks will stump you - you can see a smirking gleam in his eyes that radiate this. But you answer this question so brilliantly that the judge is stunned. You know that you wowed him, and if that question determined your fate alone, then you could trust that you were in very good hands. You are still thriving on the success of your previous question when you greet your final judge. This judge seems almost exhausted by the interview process. She's seen fifty girls already, and she thinks no more of you than of being number fifty-one, another contestant to give her the same lines about wanting world peace and everything else expected of a contestant. She sighs, and asks you her question for the fifty-first time. You give it a little more thought than your previous questions, sympathizing with the judge. Although you received a serious question, you manage to throw in just enough charm but a good amount of humor that even elicits a chuckle and a smile from the judge. She seems to say, "Yes! Finally, someone interesting and fresh!" You took a risk by putting a spin on a rusty question, and the judge has fallen in love with you for it. Your interview is complete, and you know that you accomplished your goal of coming across as articulate, confident, and graceful - not to mention you truly won over all three judges!

Again, doesn't it feel great to imagine being in those pumps? And isn't it even more amazing knowing that by imagining such a concise fantasy, you can attract such a reality? As long as you prepare effectively and walk into the competition envisioning yourself as the winner without expecting to become her, you will succeed. Creative visualization can help you achieve your pageant goals by acknowledging who you desire to become and planning accordingly. It never hurts to plan to win, as long as you do not presume to win.

Dream your heart out, plan to win, and pursue your pageant goals with creativity and imagination!

-Miss Pageant Prep

Emphasizing Your Beauty with a Flawless Pageant Look

You may have the perfect wardrobe and an amazing pageant coach. But if there is a disconnect in your make-up style, you may be holding yourself back from the crown. In order to be a top contestant, your make-up look needs to be flawless. In this post, I will share what is worth spending more money for, what you can afford to spend less on, my brand recommendations, how to learn make-up techniques, common pageantry make-up mistakes, why it is important to know how to do your own makeup, and insider beauty tips and tricks. Bear with me, because this is a lot of information to absorb! Feel free to read this post in segments in order to prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed. You know that you are a beautiful young woman, but it's up to you to make sure that your make-up emphasizes your beauty for the judges to recognize.

First of all, let's define pageant make-up in its proper state for what it is and is not. Pageant make-up is not the make-up that you wear every day for school or work. Pageant make-up is not your every day make-up applied in a heavier manner. Pageant make-up is not theater pancake make-up. Pageant make-up is richly pigmented products applied in a blended, glamorous style. Pageant make-up is conscious of bright stage lights, judges' eyes, and the distance of the audience. Pageant make-up does not detract from your individual beauty, but merely emphasizes your beauty in order to allow everyone to recognize it.

Now that we have a definition of proper pageant make-up, we can start with the foundation of make-up - your beautiful face. In order for your pageant make-up to have a flawless canvas, you will want to invest in a skincare regimen that addresses your individual needs, whether you have acne-prone skin, dull skin, dry skin, oily skin, fine lines and wrinkles, etc.

• Give your skin time to improve. If your skin will stand in the way of your pageant make-up, I urge you to invest into the necessary products to make your skin appear luminous, smooth and clear. In order to give your skin plenty of time to be at its best, I highly recommend that you start on a skincare regimen no later than six to eight weeks prior to your pageant. If you can start even earlier, you will have time to replace any skincare products that may not have been effective.
• Apply your products as directed. As we all know that you can't lose twenty pounds overnight, you cannot expect your skincare products to perform drastic miracles overnight. Skincare products must be applied consistently and with patience if you want to see results.
• I also would like to emphasize the importance of removing your make-up and washing your face before bed. If you do not, you are allowing all the dirt, oil, environmental pollutants, and everything else in your pores to be absorbed into your skin.
• Please consult with an expert, such as a salesperson at a make-up counter or a specialist at a spa, to learn what products will work for your skin.

With a fresh-faced canvas, now you are ready to learn about make-up techniques. There are three ways you can go about this. Make sure that you are learning how to create a make-up look that is age-appropriate. You should not look like you are 25 if you are 16, and vise versa.

• If you have a general idea of make-up application and can learn with a 'monkey see, monkey do' approach, then you can consult make-up experts on YouTube. There are a lot of make-up artists who work independently or for companies such as MAC Cosmetics that upload videos on make-up techniques and looks. A few users that come to my mind are MakeupGeek, Aboywearingmakeup, pixiwoo, and panacea81. Although definitely not all of their looks are pageant-friendly, you can get an idea of what looks would work based upon the make-up of previous contestants in your pageant system.
• However, if you know very little about make-up, you should consult with a make-up artist. Do your best to find a make-up artist who has experience in the pageant industry. If you intend to learn how to do your make-up on your own, you can bring pictures of previous contestants to show the make-up artist the type of look that you need to master. Fearlessly ask questions and make sure that you leave feeling confident in your newfound make-up application skills, since you will be applying the make-up on your own for the competition.
• If you intend to have the make-up artist do your make-up for you, make sure that you perform a run-through with the make-up artist prior to your competition to make sure that your look is created flawlessly. Although I can understand how depending upon just a professional may seem like a good idea, it is more of convenience than of practicality. If you are selected as the titleholder, you will have appearances to make where the public will expect you to look the same as the pageant. If you can afford to have the make-up artist doll you up for every appearance, then that's fine! But it is exceptionally helpful to learn how to do your own make-up for many occasions post-pageant.
• Finally, you can do a combination of an appointment with a professional and exposure to professionals on YouTube. The former concept will give you the foundation of make-up application skills, while the YouTube make-up artists can inspire you with various make-up looks to use during your pageant competition.
• No matter what approach you take to learning the techniques, make sure that you practice what you learn on a regular basis to keep your skills sharp for the competition. You do not want to stress about your make-up during your pageant, so make sure that you know what to do beforehand.

Before purchasing any make-up, you should learn about the products, tools, and techniques in order to make informed purchases and decisions. Make-up artists and beauty experts can give you opinions on what products and tools to use. However, I can divulge what is worth investing in, and what you can let slide a little. Beauty budgets have the ability to climb easily, so it is important to recognize what should be more expensive, and what doesn't have to be.

• First of all, you should invest in good make-up brushes and tools, such as blending sponges, powder puffs, and eyelash curlers. MAC, Shu Uemura, and Sephora have wonderful make-up brushes. However, an affordable and luxurious alternative is Sonia Kashuk, available at Target. For sponges, the reusable Beauty Blender sponge is truly genius. For disposable powder puffs, I recommend NYX sponges. For an eyelash curler, you should not settle for less than the best, which is the Shu Uemura curler.
• When it comes to make-up products, the primer is more important than the actual product. By using a primer, you can make ordinary make-up last as long as more expensive products. For your eyes, Urban Decay's Primer Potion is a cult classic. For your face, everyone adores Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. For your lips, Urban Decay also offers a wonderful lipstick primer. Mascara primers are not entirely necessary, so feel free to exclude one from your budget if you don't feel the need to have one. Also, there are many lip exfoliants and balms out on the market. If you take an old, dry toothbrush and rub your lips in a circular motion, then your lips will feel revitalized. Seal the deal with some Chapstick and you're good to go!
• When it comes to your face make-up, such as your foundation, concealer, and powder, you truly should invest. However, for eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, blush, and other beauty products, you can go for more affordable alternatives. If you want to have a Dior gloss and NARS blush just for fun then you certainly can, but the more expensive products are not completely necessary.
• For your eyebrows, you should consider investing in professional shaping in addition to more expensive products. Anastasia makes exceptional products that help you shape and highlight your brows. Your brows frame your entire face and also highlight your eyes.
• When it comes to false lashes, you can purchase more affordable lashes if you don't want to try resurrecting a pair. Ardell lashes are great for one-time-use, whereas MAC lashes can hold up for more than one occasion. I do recommend that you use Duo glue. I truly believe that all contestants teen and older should wear false lashes during their pageant competition.

Last but not least, the color choices of your make-up should come into play. You want to choose colors that compliment your skintone, hair color, eye color, personality, and wardrobe. A make-up artist can help you identify which colors to use and avoid. To learn which colors will compliment your wardrobe, visit Qdazzleprom.com and select the colors incorporated in your wardrobe. You do not need to purchase her products unless you want to. The key is to find products that are similar to the colors she recommends.

I hope that all of this information will help you create your most gorgeous and glamorous pageant make-up look for your next pageant competition!

-Miss Pageant Prep

Put a Dollar Value to Your Pageant Setback

Fitness has always been my weak spot in a pageant competition. I always dread that part of the competition because I know I have not been applying myself by getting into shape. I end up settling for less than my best, and feel disappointed after the pageant is over, where I know my lack of discipline was evident in the competition. I had heard the advice about fitness preparation for people like me: basically, that for every moment we are hoping our competitors are unmotivated to reach their fitness goals, they are giving their all to be ready. Like it or not, we can't slack on our preparation and just cross our fingers that the other contestants won't reach their goals too. For my upcoming pageant, I knew I needed to make a drastic commitment. While there is no fitness or swimsuit competition for this pageant, my goal is to fit into smaller sizes without relying upon Spanx and a prayer.

So, I signed up for Jillian Michaels' personalized fitness program. It is a great value; you receive coaching and feedback from a coach for four months for about $115. While there is a program with a little less ribbon for half the price, I wanted to spare no sacrifice for achieving my goal. Accountability is a huge issue for me. I knew that by spending so much money on a wonderful fitness program, that all I needed to do was close my eyes and imagine myself standing on the stage, unsuccessful at reaching my goal, with $115 floating above my head. Then, I quickly transform that visualization into a positive image: I see myself standing on stage, confident and proud of my success, and the money nowhere in sight because it was a worthwhile investment.

The moral of the story is to seek a monetary investment in which to hold yourself accountable to. If you keep failing to reach your interview goals and do not have an interview coach, reach out there and find a coach. After spending a certain amount of money for the service, recognize the money you would waste if you could not achieve the goals you set. If, like me, you also struggle with the fitness aspect, seek out a health and fitness mentor. You can sign up for an online program like me, or find a nutritionist or personal trainer in your area. Whatever you do, the key is to have some sort of guilt factor involved in the deal. Once you can confront your guilt and use it to your advantage, keep moving forward with the knowledge that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I hope you all will keep moving toward your pageant goals and dreams with discipline and determination.

-Miss Pageant Prep

8 Resourceful Ways to Save Money for Pageantry Expenses

Competing in a pageant can come with a lot of expenses. Think of all the things you need to pay for - your hotel stay, food, wardrobe, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, photography, coaching... the list goes on and on. Before going out to acquire sponsors or spending any money, you should take the time to create a pageant budget. I will share little tips and tricks on how to save money and spend it only where it truly matters. By becoming a Quadruple P, or Pageant Penny Pincher Princess, you can develop confidence with your savvy financial finesse and spend more time preparing versus stressing about obtaining sponsorship. These ideas also work well for contestants who are not seeking sponsors, but desire to save a significant amount of money. The best part is that no one will know how much more affordable the pageant is for you unless you tell them!

1. First of all, make a list of all of the expenses related to your pageant competition. Do not write down any numbers yet, but simply list all of the categories your budget will need to cover. Do not worry about which categories are more important to you, because you will want to keep an open mind throughout all aspects of your budgeting. For example, there is no rule or reason to believe that a thousand dollar evening gown is the only way to win. Focus only upon keeping track of what your pageant budget will need to include.

2. Now, find out what your entry fee provides in addition to competing in the pageant. Some entry fees cover meals and hotel stay, while others do not. If your pageant entry fee does not cover meals, consider searching for a grocery store or food market close by to the host hotel. There is no need to eat Eggs Benedict and Filet Mignon during the pageant if you truly cannot afford it. Find out if your hotel room offers a microwave and/or small refrigerator to determine what kind of groceries you can purchase. For example, your breakfast can consist of cereal and milk, your lunch could be a homemade salad or wrap, you can snack on Luna bars and fresh fruit, you can drink Crystal Lite, and you can have a Lean Pocket or other microwave meal for dinner. Yes, the restaurant and room service at the hotel may offer food of a higher quality, but it does come with a price you have to pay for.

3. When it comes to your headshot, find the right kind of photography professional for you. You usually would find a professional photographer. But, do not think that you need to rely upon the typical services of a photography professional. This is a two-way street. First of all, you can consider seeking a photographer who will take your picture, either free of charge or with a significant discount, for advertising purposes or with the understanding that you will recommend the photographer to your friends and family. Secondly, you can have someone you know take a picture of you under the following circumstances. You will want to have pageant-appropriate makeup. If you cannot apply makeup yourself, then go to a makeup counter and ask for either a 'smoky eye' or 'bold lip,' choosing the one that emphasizes your best feature of either eyes or lips. Have the makeup artist also apply foundation, powder, and blush. This service is free, but express your gratitude by purchasing one of the items used to create your look, such as a mascara or lip gloss. Also, have your hair styled as you would in the pageant. You can have someone assist you if you need it. Finally, put on a solid top and your best chandelier earrings, and lean against a neutral background, such as a wall. Do not stress too much about the lighting and such. Have someone take multiple shots of you until you find one that you feel is the most beautiful reflection of you. You will not submit this picture as it is on the camera. Instead, find a professional who is familiar with photo-editing software such as Photoshop. You can contemplate going to Pageantry Retouching. You can also easily find a highly talented individual on Model Mayhem, identified as 'Photoshop Wizards.' Go through portfolios of several editors until you find someone that you feel will give you the best airbrushed look appropriate for your competition. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for a photoshoot, you can spend around $50 or less for photo editing.

4. Upon creating your pageant wardrobe, combine the old with the new. You can go to a vintage shop and discover beautiful clothing and jewelry. You can also go to a consignment shop or place such as Goodwill. I once bought a beautiful silver Jessica McClintock gown, that I was crowned in, for $11 at Goodwill. There is no need to be narrow-minded, for no one will know how much you spent! The only factors to keep in mind are fit and style. If a piece does not fit you correctly, remember that you will need to get alterations, which cost money. This may be less than a similar piece at a modern store, but make sure to compare the costs side by side whenever possible. Also, watch out for pieces that cannot be taken in if they do not fit as is. Secondly, many of these pieces are out-dated in style. Try to look for styles that are still relevant, and combine it with more modern pieces to keep your look fresh and stylish.

5. To expand your wardrobe even further, look into some closets. Search the closets of similar-size friends and family to see if there are any shoes or pieces of clothing that you could borrow. You could also ask any female, even if she was a different size from you, to borrow a jewelry item. Most importantly, your own closet may carry the keys to success. Do you really need another interview suit, if the one from last year served you well? Is it impossible to wear shoes you already own? Especially when it comes to your wardrobe, you need to weigh need versus want when it comes to your pageant budget. You can wear the black pencil skirt you already own with a new top and this-season necklace.

6. When it comes to finding a gown, consult other pageant contestants for fulfilling your wardrobe needs. The best place to do so, to my knowledge, is Pageant Resale, a website where you can rent or buy pageant gowns from other contestants. You can search for specific details of gowns in order to potentially find the perfect gown for you. Remember that you will only be wearing the gown for the pageant, and that the other contestant most likely used her gown only once as well. Instead of spending full-price for a new gown, you could save money by purchasing a gently used gown in wonderful condition instead.

7. Realize that you may need to look for affordable apparel when shopping for your pageant wardrobe. Remember the price tag is removed and the label is typically on the inside of your clothing. No one may be able to tell the difference from whether or not you bought a gold chain necklace from Forever 21 or Nordstrom's, and more importantly, the judges really don't care how much you spend. They are concerned about whether or not you are the best contestant for the title, and whether you spent $300 or $20 on your black pencil skirt will not impact their decision. Therefore, have no shame in going to stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Target. You do not need to buy everything at these stores unless you want to, but even purchasing half of your wardrobe at more affordable stores saves you a significant amount of money. Just so you know, I have a pair of crystal chandelier earrings from Forever 21 that I bought two years ago for $3.80. They are still a staple in my pageant wardrobe today.

8. Last but not least, spend only where it counts. Choose two categories that are most important to you. My personal recommendation would be to include coaching as one of them. The second one can be whatever you want, such as having your dream evening gown or spending more money on shoes. These are the categories where you give yourself permission to spend more. However, you have to agree that you will put your best effort forth in pursuing more affordable means in all other categories of your pageantry budget. This may not be a possible feat, but you never know what opportunities will present themselves if you actively seek them.

I truly encourage you to do everything in your power to ensure a reduced budget for pursuing your pageant dreams. With my suggestions and your own creativity, you can reach your goal of competing in a pageant and save a good amount of money as well.

-Miss Pageant Prep

6 Components of Pageant Health

In a general view, health addresses multiple dimensions that can help you achieve your full potential and experience life to the fullest. Overall health will provide you with balance and wellness in your life. Beauty pageants are clearly focused on beauty, and it is false that unhealthy is beautiful in the pageant world. In fact, I feel that success in pageantry is almost reliant upon strong health. Naturally you need to be in shape and most likely at a certain weight for the swimsuit competition, but health is about more than diet and exercise. Your mental, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual health also play a role in your pageant well-being.

First of all, the most acknowledged component of health is physical health, related directly to the body. With physical health, you want to develop good knowledge of nutrition and fitness. You can put your knowledge to good use by creating a diet plan and fitness regimen that is effective and possible to remain faithful to, enlisting the assistance of a professional if needed. The physical health dimension is obviously important for looking good in a swimsuit and in the rest of your pageant wardrobe. Physical health also includes making good decisions with substances such as alcohol and cigarettes. Remember to read your pageant contracts thoroughly, to prevent making negative choices to the best of your ability, and to make positive decisions that will not inhibit your physical health.

Mental health describes maintaining mental stability and reality. You want to be mentally present in every moment of the pageant. During preparation, a sharp mind is crucial to making the most of your efforts. During the competition aspects of the experience, regulating your stress effectively and remaining focused will keep you at the top of your game. You also want to exercise strong intellectual capability while answering tough interview questions. Finally, learning and growing from the competition gives you the opportunity to continue the development of your mental health.

A pageant can be an emotionally overwhelming experience, especially if your emotional health is not kept in check. Good emotional health means that you understand how to appropriately express your feelings and regulate healthy thoughts. Emotional health is key to keeping yourself pulled together even during intense moments of competition. It is not about holding everything in, but in releasing your energy in a constructive and positive style. Your emotional health also includes your self-esteem. Any successful pageant contestant will emphasize how important it is to be confident. If you do not believe in yourself, it is very difficult to persuade the judges to believe in you. Express yourself in a way that you would be proud of, and make sure to compete with confidence in your ability to be successful.

You are connected to many people during the pageant, so your social health may determine their impact upon you. Social health is usually more of a factor in non-competitive settings, but the influence can be carried with you into the competitive field if it is strong enough. Your social health is defined by your interaction with others, no matter the people or situation. During the pageant, you can try to build up a wall around yourself to block out the rest of the world. But such severe avoidance is unhealthy and quite impossible. You have to deal with family and friends supporting you at the pageant, judges and pageant staff within the pageant, other contestants, and possibly additional social sources. Why not take advantage of these connections and make each interaction a meaningful one? You can truly benefit from strong social health when you give to others and receive their love and support in return.

Your environmental health addresses your role in society. I believe that environmental health is fabulous to strengthen through your platform or community service. With an active involvement in a cause you are passionate about, you assist in making the world a better place. Your contribution to society can elevate your sense of peace and well-being. Finally, your beliefs, morals and convictions involve your spiritual health. You want to be aware of your opinions about delicately controversial issues and understand your own spiritual direction. Your views do not need to be modified for any pageant system. However, your values should always be expressed respectfully. Your spiritual health is usually expressed during your interview responses.

I encourage you to make striving for overall pageant health one of your goals. You can become the best contestant you can be by maintaining a balanced lifestyle. With good health, you can effortlessly radiate happiness, intelligence, grace, beauty and other lovely qualities during the competition and in every day life as well. I wish you the best in your pageant goals and dreams!

-Miss Pageant Prep

The Nose Knows

The scent you wear serves two purposes: to help you reach a certain emotion and to send a message to others. While wearing more than one fragrance during the pageant competition is certainly not necessary, there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of your sense of smell. There may not be a strong benefit when it comes to using perfumes for various occasions. However, your choices are a wonderful and subtle way to express yourself appropriately throughout your pageant experience. There is also the added benefit of aromatherapy. You can use a perfume, body spray, lotion, shampoo, or any product with a scent. I have come up with five different scents that you can wear. However, you do not need to wear all five of them. The decision is completely yours to make.

1. Your magnetic scent will lure others to you, preferably the other contestants. This scent would be too seductive for the judges and pageant officials. However, this scent gives you a lot of confidence and makes you feel empowered, so you're in a great mood for being friendly towards the other contestants without feeling intimidated by them. This scent is best used in social situations when you would interact with other contestants and potentially befriend some of them!

2. Your ladylike scent is very elegant but also reflects the attitude of your evening wear gown. For example, if you had a hot pink gown with a dramatic slit, then your scent would be elegant but also very bold. If you had a classic design in a demure white, then you may want to gravitate towards a more sophisticated scent. You want this fragrance to be completely elegant but to also represent the personality of your gown choice.

3. Your flirtatious scent would exude confidence and happiness for the swimwear competition. This fragrance may be fruity. This scent will trigger an empowering spring in your step and a sparkle to your eyes. Overall, you just feel amazing about who you are, inside and out.

4. Your professional scent would be very light and subtle, almost as if it's not there. The top note of the fragrance should be something gentle, like rose or vanilla. Your professional scent should not be something noticeable or detracting, since you want the judges to focus on you and not the scent of you. Your professional scent should be a part of you as a whole.

5. Your signature scent would be your favorite scent that you usually wear all the time. This scent will evoke a feeling of comfort whenever you wear it and is appropriate for any occasion that makes you feel nervous. This would be a wonderful scent to wear during the finale, where your nerves are shot and your energy may be a little drained. However, your signature scent will have subconsciously restorative and comforting properties that bring you to be your best self.

Wearing a fragrance to enhance the occasion of a competition or pageant event is all in good fun. There is nothing to lose and fragrance can only enhance you as an individual. Maybe there will be a subtle sparkle to you that the judges pick up on from the effect of your fragrance choices. I hope you experience your pageant competition to the fullest, regardless of the scents you wear.

-Miss Pageant Prep

Entitled To The Crown

Some pageant contestants may feel an entitlement to the crown. This means that you feel as if you deserve the crown, you and only you, and that no one else should have it. You may not feel this emotion so passionately that you can detect it. However, I urge you to read this post in order to understand a positive and healthy attitude for the pageant competition. Even if you do not believe that you feel entitled, this post can help you comprehend the mindset of a winning contestant.

I will warn you that I am going to be firm and blunt, but I truly want you to be in a positive perspective. The energy that the judges and other contestants receive from you can hurt your pageant scores and the value of pageant friendships you could make. If you open your heart to truthfully acknowledging your entitlement to the crown if you possess one and make the effort to replace your energy of entitlement with joyful and kind energy, then I can guarantee that your pageant experience will be more enjoyable and more successful than it would have been otherwise.

1. You do not deserve the title more than any other present contestant.

No contestant has a single quality that makes them deserve to win a pageant more than another girl. We all have our own talents and adversities that set us apart from each other. No matter how hard you have worked to prepare or what you have been through in life, the endeavors and challenges of any other contestant are no less significant than your own. You want to work hard in order to be at your best level, and you want to cherish your achievements and recognize your inner strength. But your hard work and your strength are meaningless if you use them in a condescending perspective. Remember that you may never truly know how much the other contestants have endured in pageant preparation and in life itself, and therefore you have no right to believe that your obstacles are more important than someone else's.

2. It is not the end of the world if you do not win.

Yes, the particular pageant you are competing in may be that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to where you cannot compete in that pageant on that same day again. Remember that when one door closes, another one opens. You can always compete in the same pageant or a different system the following year. You can always strive to accomplish other goals, whether or not they be related to pageantry. Life goes on, as long as you make the decision to move on and work towards greater things or improving for a second chance at competing.

3. You are not better than any other contestant.

You may believe that you are above other contestants. The judges would not want to crown a contestant who feels superior to others. Every contestant in the competition has a fair chance of winning, and the judges are going to give each contestant equal consideration for the crown. Maybe there was a contestant with a zebra print gown that wasn't very flattering to her figure. Just because you know your cobalt blue gown was killer doesn't mean that you're necessarily better. You place yourself in a destructive zone with those kind of judgments. You should not feel a need to put others down in order to make yourself feel better about your chance of being crowned. Instead, focus on competing at your personal best level, without any regard to knowing if the personal best of other contestants is above or below your own level.

4. Everything happens for a reason.

I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that when a girl wins a pageant competition, it's her moment to shine. If a girl does not receive the title, then she is not ready for the crowning moment. God wants her to appreciate the other gifts of a pageant - whether that be the experience you now have, a place in the top ten, a high interview score, new friends, etc. If I had won my first pageant competition, I would have been blind to the invaluable skills I learned from the competition. I would not have been open to improvement for my future competitions. Maybe the pageant defeat is actually a blessing in disguise for you as well, and there is a more wonderful opportunity not yet known to you in the waiting after the competition. Focus on reminding yourself of what you did accomplish, despite not winning the title, and remember to be happy for the girl that was crowned! Wouldn't you want others to share your joy with you if you were crowned? I believe you would!

Don't take it to heart if you happened to fall under any of the entitlement categories. As long as you own up to your true feelings and move into a transformed and positive territory, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Entitlement can let you down so easily and make it difficult for you to acknowledge your accomplishments and to connect with the other contestants. Meanwhile, letting go of your entitlement can open you up to a much more positive pageant experience.

I wish you the best with all of your pageant endeavors!

-Miss Pageant Prep