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
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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.
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.
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
Channeling Desire Into Action
Many pageant girls are "in it to win it," meaning that they enter pageant competitions mainly to win the crown. While there is nothing wrong with desiring the title, I want to show you how to channel your desire into proper preparation and help you understand that certain degrees of desire can be damaging.
You have taken the first step by identifying your desire as the pageant title. The next step is to determine what steps you need to take in order to be successful at the pageant. You should not only clarify what you want to accomplish, but the ways to achieve your pageant goals. I always recommend that you break down your goals into small, manageable steps.
You need to acknowledge that taking action is essential for preparing for a pageant. You truly have to commit to giving yourself enough time to prepare, and that you make the most of your time. You cannot succeed in the interview competition without practicing with sample questions or understanding current events. You cannot have a successful walk during the evening wear if you have never worn your shoes and gown prior to the pageant. Your body may not be bikini-ready if you do not exercise regularly. Whenever I realize that I need to take action in order to accomplish my goals, the Britney Spears lyric, "Why don't ya do somethin'?" always comes to my mind.
You need to devote part of your time at least a few times a week to preparing for your pageant. Even if you take only twenty minutes a day for three or four times a week to work on your walk, that time counts. When you are in those twenty minutes, you want to focus completely on your preparation. You may want to be alone or with your pageant coach. You do not want to accept phone calls or texts. You are not going to be checking e-mail or doing anything unrelated to your pageant walk in those twenty minutes. From the moment you begin preparation, you want to be a thousand percent committed to your preparation cause until the last second of your preparation slot. No matter how badly you want to win, it may be hard to feel the desire in your moment of preparation. A great way to bring your mind to your desire is to tell yourself in a positive tone: "You want it? Go get it!" This phrase reminds you that you want to win, but that you have a responsibility to take action in order to be successful.
However, you have to understand that many judges can sense if you have a desperate desire for the crown. The energy of wanting the crown a little too much can be repulsive. If you believe in yourself, give your all, and stay true to who you are, then that is all that matters. You want to possess self-confidence, but also faith (without any expectation) that your desire will be fulfilled. You can turn over your desire, either to God through prayer or to fate through trusting that what is meant to be will be.
I wish you the best in all of your pageant goals, and I hope that you will go for whatever you want in pageantry and life!
-Miss Pageant Prep
You have taken the first step by identifying your desire as the pageant title. The next step is to determine what steps you need to take in order to be successful at the pageant. You should not only clarify what you want to accomplish, but the ways to achieve your pageant goals. I always recommend that you break down your goals into small, manageable steps.
You need to acknowledge that taking action is essential for preparing for a pageant. You truly have to commit to giving yourself enough time to prepare, and that you make the most of your time. You cannot succeed in the interview competition without practicing with sample questions or understanding current events. You cannot have a successful walk during the evening wear if you have never worn your shoes and gown prior to the pageant. Your body may not be bikini-ready if you do not exercise regularly. Whenever I realize that I need to take action in order to accomplish my goals, the Britney Spears lyric, "Why don't ya do somethin'?" always comes to my mind.
You need to devote part of your time at least a few times a week to preparing for your pageant. Even if you take only twenty minutes a day for three or four times a week to work on your walk, that time counts. When you are in those twenty minutes, you want to focus completely on your preparation. You may want to be alone or with your pageant coach. You do not want to accept phone calls or texts. You are not going to be checking e-mail or doing anything unrelated to your pageant walk in those twenty minutes. From the moment you begin preparation, you want to be a thousand percent committed to your preparation cause until the last second of your preparation slot. No matter how badly you want to win, it may be hard to feel the desire in your moment of preparation. A great way to bring your mind to your desire is to tell yourself in a positive tone: "You want it? Go get it!" This phrase reminds you that you want to win, but that you have a responsibility to take action in order to be successful.
However, you have to understand that many judges can sense if you have a desperate desire for the crown. The energy of wanting the crown a little too much can be repulsive. If you believe in yourself, give your all, and stay true to who you are, then that is all that matters. You want to possess self-confidence, but also faith (without any expectation) that your desire will be fulfilled. You can turn over your desire, either to God through prayer or to fate through trusting that what is meant to be will be.
I wish you the best in all of your pageant goals, and I hope that you will go for whatever you want in pageantry and life!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Monday, August 17, 2009
Casual Wear Impressions and Originality
Choosing a beautiful gown, interview suit, and swimsuit are essential parts of preparing for your pageant. But your casual wear outfits may also be important. When I say casual wear, this not only includes a casual wear competition outfit (which your pageant may or may not have), but also the clothes you wear in non-competitive settings, such as when you're getting breakfast or at rehearsals. You don't need to spend a lot of money on your clothes. However, I encourage you to look polished and to represent your true sense of style. You never know who you may run into. I have encountered judges and pageant officials numerous times in the elevator of the host hotel.
Now, I am definitely not encouraging you to run around the hotel and search for these people in order to impress them with your casual looks. However, if you happen to meet them for a few moments by coincidence, then that's completely appropriate. I honestly don't believe that such encounters will really make a difference in the pageant scores. However, if a judge sees you in a lovely ensemble with a beautiful attitude and a smile on your face, they may carry that impression with them subconsciously. Also, there's no harm whatsoever in simply looking your best and being at your top game throughout the competition. Honestly, I feel unprepared and a little stressed when I am running around the hotel in pajamas and Velcro rollers. Sometimes that look is understandable because of time constraints. But when my look is put-together, I feel put-together. I strive to make an effort for my appearance as long as I have the time.
Here are some ideas for creating your own original casual wear looks (you do not need to use them all; simply choose what feels best for you):
1. Select a muse or two to set a high standard for yourself. One way to create your casual wear look is to find a muse that you keep on your mind while searching for the pieces of your ensemble. Your muse should embody your vision of beauty, fashion, and ideals. Maybe you are inspired by icons such as Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn. Or maybe you love the style of a modern celebrity such as Rachel Bilson or Keira Knightley. No matter who you choose as your muse, discover why you chose them as your muse. You can contemplate characteristics; for example, Marilyn Monroe was glamorous and full of life. You may understand their sense of style and personality by studying pictures of them. You could look at photographs of the icons or search through galleries on fansites dedicated to these celebrities to find many images and ideas.
You simply want to keep your muse on your mind as you contemplate your apparel choices. Thinking, 'What would Audrey wear?' may gravitate you towards a chic black turtleneck or something else extraordinary.
2. Borrow elements without being a copycat. One of my inspirations is the show Gossip Girl. However, I am not going to take notes on Blair's outfits and imitate the look perfectly. Instead, I analyze the outfit that I am drawn to and look for what in particular I like. Maybe I really love her trendy blazer or a certain crystal-beaded headband. I want to incorporate one or two elements from her look into my own original look. I do not want to give people the impression of Blair; I want to give others a wonderful impression of me. If you look fresh out of a magazine, you may appear to be stylish, but you may not be properly representing your true sense of fashion and identity. Only risk borrowing one or two elements to prevent a dishonest portrayal of yourself.
3. Personalize your look with pieces from unique places. If you find a perfect bracelet at a vintage shop or purchase an original design from etsy.com, you give yourself an edge in originality. You own something that others have a very small, if not impossible, chance of owning as well. Only choose an item or two that truly stands out to you and feels special.
4. Incorporate a meaningful signature piece into every look. This does not necessarily need to be a 'lucky charm,' but this would be a piece that makes you feel secure. This signature piece would be something that has deep meaning to you and connects to you in a special way. You would want to wear this signature piece as often as possible, so jewelry would be the best route.
5. Consider a charitable item as a part of your look. Maybe the bracelet on your wrist has a portion of the proceeds donated to breast cancer research, or you're wearing a pair of Tom's Shoes, where a pair of shoes is donated to those in need with every pair of shoes purchased. Whatever the case may be, wearing a charitable item reminds you of your kindness and service. Try to support a charity you truly care about, and make sure that you are well-informed about the purpose of your purchase. You may receive a compliment about it, where you could explain the cause to the other person with the hope that they will consider purchasing the product to support the charity.
I hope that these tips will guide you towards polished looks that truly represent who you are. I wish you the best of luck in your next pageant!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Now, I am definitely not encouraging you to run around the hotel and search for these people in order to impress them with your casual looks. However, if you happen to meet them for a few moments by coincidence, then that's completely appropriate. I honestly don't believe that such encounters will really make a difference in the pageant scores. However, if a judge sees you in a lovely ensemble with a beautiful attitude and a smile on your face, they may carry that impression with them subconsciously. Also, there's no harm whatsoever in simply looking your best and being at your top game throughout the competition. Honestly, I feel unprepared and a little stressed when I am running around the hotel in pajamas and Velcro rollers. Sometimes that look is understandable because of time constraints. But when my look is put-together, I feel put-together. I strive to make an effort for my appearance as long as I have the time.
Here are some ideas for creating your own original casual wear looks (you do not need to use them all; simply choose what feels best for you):
1. Select a muse or two to set a high standard for yourself. One way to create your casual wear look is to find a muse that you keep on your mind while searching for the pieces of your ensemble. Your muse should embody your vision of beauty, fashion, and ideals. Maybe you are inspired by icons such as Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn. Or maybe you love the style of a modern celebrity such as Rachel Bilson or Keira Knightley. No matter who you choose as your muse, discover why you chose them as your muse. You can contemplate characteristics; for example, Marilyn Monroe was glamorous and full of life. You may understand their sense of style and personality by studying pictures of them. You could look at photographs of the icons or search through galleries on fansites dedicated to these celebrities to find many images and ideas.
You simply want to keep your muse on your mind as you contemplate your apparel choices. Thinking, 'What would Audrey wear?' may gravitate you towards a chic black turtleneck or something else extraordinary.
2. Borrow elements without being a copycat. One of my inspirations is the show Gossip Girl. However, I am not going to take notes on Blair's outfits and imitate the look perfectly. Instead, I analyze the outfit that I am drawn to and look for what in particular I like. Maybe I really love her trendy blazer or a certain crystal-beaded headband. I want to incorporate one or two elements from her look into my own original look. I do not want to give people the impression of Blair; I want to give others a wonderful impression of me. If you look fresh out of a magazine, you may appear to be stylish, but you may not be properly representing your true sense of fashion and identity. Only risk borrowing one or two elements to prevent a dishonest portrayal of yourself.
3. Personalize your look with pieces from unique places. If you find a perfect bracelet at a vintage shop or purchase an original design from etsy.com, you give yourself an edge in originality. You own something that others have a very small, if not impossible, chance of owning as well. Only choose an item or two that truly stands out to you and feels special.
4. Incorporate a meaningful signature piece into every look. This does not necessarily need to be a 'lucky charm,' but this would be a piece that makes you feel secure. This signature piece would be something that has deep meaning to you and connects to you in a special way. You would want to wear this signature piece as often as possible, so jewelry would be the best route.
5. Consider a charitable item as a part of your look. Maybe the bracelet on your wrist has a portion of the proceeds donated to breast cancer research, or you're wearing a pair of Tom's Shoes, where a pair of shoes is donated to those in need with every pair of shoes purchased. Whatever the case may be, wearing a charitable item reminds you of your kindness and service. Try to support a charity you truly care about, and make sure that you are well-informed about the purpose of your purchase. You may receive a compliment about it, where you could explain the cause to the other person with the hope that they will consider purchasing the product to support the charity.
I hope that these tips will guide you towards polished looks that truly represent who you are. I wish you the best of luck in your next pageant!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Journaling For Pageant Success and Life Fulfillment
Another valuable episode of Pageant Talk Radio, hosted by Valerie Hayes, is her "Journal Your Way To Pageant Success!" episode. Sandy Grason, the author of Journalution: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life and Manifest Your Dreams, is an expert guest on the episode. Please consider listening to the audio of the episode in order to receive the full effect of the information. However, you can simply read my perspective if you would prefer to do so. My words are inspired by the show's discussion, but a few of my own thoughts may also flow into the post. I am not writing out the discussion word for word, but you will see quotes and ideas from the episode included in this post. I try to balance the content of the show with my own personal style in order to emphasize the purpose of the episode efficiently.
In this episode, Valerie and Sandy explain how to achieve personal and pageant goals through journaling to create every-day successes. I have organized the content of the discussion into ten bullets of information. Read on to see what journaling can do for you and how to make the most of your journaling endeavors.
1. Know what journaling is and what journaling can do for you. You want to let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about journaling - whether this be where you write, how frequently you write, what you write about, etc. When you journal, you want to write out your thoughts and feelings so they are no longer trapped inside of you. You want to take an honest look at your feelings, events in your life, your identity, and everything that you need to look at and figure out. You can start writing at any point in your life, and you do not need to write about your entire life all at once. You want your writing to be naturally focused on your emotions instead of writing down forced recollections. You do not need to write every single day unless you want to. However, it is important to remember that you get a little closer to who you truly are every time that you write. You should also keep your journal with you 24-7 so that you can write whenever the feeling strikes. Your journal should be in a form that truly portrays you. If you feel comfortable maintaining a pretty and neat journal, then do so. However, if you want to scribble on an envelope simply because it's the only thing around or write outside of your paper margins, that's perfectly acceptable. Your journal does not need to be organized and pretty all the time. Don't beat yourself up about not writing every day, writing in a messy format, or somehow journaling the "wrong" way. Do not be afraid of journaling the wrong way and just go with what feels right for you.
Journaling can be used for two purposes: finding yourself and setting goals. When you write emotionally, you can uncover the feelings below the surface that may have been holding you back in life. By identifying these feelings, you can discover strength within yourself that helps you move forward and resolve the issues presently in your life. You can start to believe that there is a greater purpose beyond your greatest pain. You can learn to connect with your gifts and your beauty. When you write in order to accomplish your goals, you can stay on track with achieving your goals and creating a life that you love.
2. Hear your inner wisdom speak through journaling. Your inner critic yells at you while your inner wisdom whispers to you. Your inner wisdom is the voice that will guide you throughout life. Your inner wisdom will tell you to follow your dreams and overcome your self-doubt. Your inner wisdom possesses the power to transform your life. You will see your purpose in life and understand that you can make a huge impact in the world. Journaling will nurture that inner wisdom. Over time, you will hear your inner wisdom become louder and louder. Every journaling entry will be a baby step towards greater plans and wisdom in your life.
3. Discover clarity and calm within your mind as you journal. Writing will help you remove the internal chatter that constantly exists inside your mind. This internal chatter prevents you from being in touch with your inner wisdom. A quiet and rational mind can help you find your vision in order to determine what you want from your life. Mental clarity can also help you focus upon recognizing your pageant goals and improving your pageant skills.
In this episode, Valerie and Sandy explain how to achieve personal and pageant goals through journaling to create every-day successes. I have organized the content of the discussion into ten bullets of information. Read on to see what journaling can do for you and how to make the most of your journaling endeavors.
1. Know what journaling is and what journaling can do for you. You want to let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about journaling - whether this be where you write, how frequently you write, what you write about, etc. When you journal, you want to write out your thoughts and feelings so they are no longer trapped inside of you. You want to take an honest look at your feelings, events in your life, your identity, and everything that you need to look at and figure out. You can start writing at any point in your life, and you do not need to write about your entire life all at once. You want your writing to be naturally focused on your emotions instead of writing down forced recollections. You do not need to write every single day unless you want to. However, it is important to remember that you get a little closer to who you truly are every time that you write. You should also keep your journal with you 24-7 so that you can write whenever the feeling strikes. Your journal should be in a form that truly portrays you. If you feel comfortable maintaining a pretty and neat journal, then do so. However, if you want to scribble on an envelope simply because it's the only thing around or write outside of your paper margins, that's perfectly acceptable. Your journal does not need to be organized and pretty all the time. Don't beat yourself up about not writing every day, writing in a messy format, or somehow journaling the "wrong" way. Do not be afraid of journaling the wrong way and just go with what feels right for you.
Journaling can be used for two purposes: finding yourself and setting goals. When you write emotionally, you can uncover the feelings below the surface that may have been holding you back in life. By identifying these feelings, you can discover strength within yourself that helps you move forward and resolve the issues presently in your life. You can start to believe that there is a greater purpose beyond your greatest pain. You can learn to connect with your gifts and your beauty. When you write in order to accomplish your goals, you can stay on track with achieving your goals and creating a life that you love.
2. Hear your inner wisdom speak through journaling. Your inner critic yells at you while your inner wisdom whispers to you. Your inner wisdom is the voice that will guide you throughout life. Your inner wisdom will tell you to follow your dreams and overcome your self-doubt. Your inner wisdom possesses the power to transform your life. You will see your purpose in life and understand that you can make a huge impact in the world. Journaling will nurture that inner wisdom. Over time, you will hear your inner wisdom become louder and louder. Every journaling entry will be a baby step towards greater plans and wisdom in your life.
3. Discover clarity and calm within your mind as you journal. Writing will help you remove the internal chatter that constantly exists inside your mind. This internal chatter prevents you from being in touch with your inner wisdom. A quiet and rational mind can help you find your vision in order to determine what you want from your life. Mental clarity can also help you focus upon recognizing your pageant goals and improving your pageant skills.
4. Connect with your pageantry vision through your journal. Although you would probably get the most from journaling if you did not focus solely on pageants, you can incorporate the benefits of journaling into pageantry success. For example, let's say you wanted to lose 20 pounds prior to your pageant competition. Get a picture of someone at your ideal weight and put that in your journal. Write about how healthy and joyful you would feel at your goal weight in order to connect with the feelings that achieving that goal will evoke. You do not want to write about how you have not reached your goal yet. Instead, focus on how good it will feel to accomplish that goal. You can also use this technique with acing your pageant interview - think about what questions you will be asked, how you will answer those questions, and how you will feel as you answer those questions. Your vision should come from your heart and reflect your ideal situation in a strong and positive manner.
5. Write about a perfect pageant day in your journal. Imagine the perfect day at your pageant competition and write about it. You want to describe this perfect pageant day in complete detail and write about everything little factor in the day. Include what you ate for breakfast, what shampoo you used, what shoes you wore, who you will see and converse with, your feelings, absolutely anything and everything from moment to moment. You want to paint a picture of your perfect pageant day from beginning to end. Write out the day exactly the way you want it to happen. Contemplate how you want to be at the pageant and become in touch with the best version of yourself. Envisioning every detail of your perfect pageant day will help attract the future.
6. Write about the things you don't want to write about. You can write about anything and everything in your journal. Sometimes you may not want to write about certain events and feelings. But you can release the negative feelings that you carry around in your mind and your heart by writing entries started by the prompt: "I don't want to write about..." These topics may scare you and you may feel safe hiding from the truth. But once you get it all out, you can grow from your writing or possibly realize that writing about the feeling or event was not such a big deal. If you need to, you can always rip up the particular journal entry. Your journaling can expose all parts of you - the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. But journaling is about becoming in touch with your true feelings and honest identity.
7. Journal after your pageant competition to improve as a contestant. After the pageant, if you did not do as well as you had hoped, you may feel anger and disappointment with others or yourself. We look at what went wrong instead of celebrating the good things. Instead of journaling about the negative emotions you most likely feel, celebrate all of the amazing things that you accomplished. Find the joy in your successes and give yourself permission to claim your magnificence. You may not have been crowned, but simply competing in the pageant should be something to be proud of. You can also write about what you would like to do differently in your next competition, maintaining a positive and constructive tone in your writing. You can rewrite your ideal perfect day as well with the experience from your competition.
8. Use your journal to become and remain your best self. Your journal can help you understand who you are and who you want to be. You want to stay connected to the best version of yourself as often as possible. Even when you are not journaling, remind yourself of who you really want to be in the world with every moment. You can see drastic changes in your words and actions and feel better about yourself once you reach that genuine peak.
9. Make a list of your accomplishments from the information in your old journal entries. While it is not necessary to reread old journal entries - follow your intuition on if you feel this is right for you - you may need the reminder of what you have accomplished. You can go back after a year of journaling (or less time even), to remember your accomplishments and maybe read about petty things that were once important but have since been forgotten. You can make a list of the big and small accomplishments described in journal entries in order to celebrate the progress you have made. Once you have finished with your list, you can start with new goals. Even if you have not written any journal entries yet, feel free to create a list of your accomplishments anyway to extract the energy and greatness into your life.
10. Develop a system to confront your obligations with flair. We all have our obligations that may be hard to get over with. We may put them off and not complete what we need to get done. However, you can manage your energy effectively with different ideas all part of a [your name here + licious] System. You can listen to a song in between every task on your to-do list to get you pumped. You can create a vision board of people that you need to call or fill it with inspiring and uplifting pictures and words that remind you of how great you are. You can think of everyone you need to work with as a "ten" by enjoying their presence. Also, regularly reward yourself for completing tasks and celebrate your achievements with something like a piece of chocolate, some ice cream, a manicure, a massage, a new pair of shoes, etc. You want to get things done and move towards your great vision but constantly have fun and feel fabulous at the same time.
I would like to emphasize my personal belief that a contestant should focus on being your best self, not only in pageantry but in life itself. An internal unresolved conflict in your life unrelated to pageantry can hold yourself back in your competition. The negative energy you carry from an event such as a recent break-up or your parents' divorce unknowingly may be affecting your pageant performance. Maintaining a non-pageant journal can strengthen your pageant performance by helping you release the negative energy and feel lighter and more joyful all around.
Consider using a journal to become a better person and a stronger pageant contestant. I wish you all the best in your next pageant competition and your journaling pursuits.
-Miss Pageant Prep
Relaxation During Preparation
Every day life can be stressful and busy. Your life may or may not revolve around pageantry, and so you may have other things going on in addition to preparing and competing. Regardless of the fact, I want to ask you when you have a little bit of time to relax on a daily basis. You may not have made time to do so, or maybe you do not believe that giving yourself a moment to relax would be beneficial. Peaceful non-pageant activities and thoughts can help you become a better contestant. You can strengthen your performance by eliminating stress as you complete your pageant goals. You cannot prepare efficiently if you feel tense, overwhelmed, frustrated, or carry any negative emotions.
While you are preparing for your pageant, one of the best things you can do is to choose wise actions unrelated to pageantry. By taking a moment to relax and feel at peace with the world, you feel happier and lighter when you do return to your preparation. Your one relaxing moment can come from drinking a lovely cup of tea, reading a magazine (rememeber that this is unrelated to pageantry, so this is not the time to read Pageantry Magazine), watching a movie you love, taking a bubble bath, or whatever helps you relax and keep your mind off of preparation. This "vacation" will help you feel inspired and refreshed for when you do return to preparation and activities in your every day life.
The exception to non-pageant activities is fitness. Whether you are a runner, a yoga enthusiast, or whatever, fitness is a wonderful method of de-stressing. I say fitness for the fact that you need to look good for the pageant. But when you exercise, you should not be thinking about the pageant. Even though it may be related to the pageant, keep your mind off of what you need to accomplish with your fitness activity. Instead, focus on how good you feel or how hard you are working as you exercise.
During the pageant, you may not find much time to have a relaxing moment for non-pageant thoughts. If you don't, you can always close your eyes, remember a tranquil moment during your preparation, and channel your calm state from that moment.
By taking the time to engage in relaxing non-pageant activies and thoughts, you give yourself an edge in preparation. It is much easier to be the calm and collected contestant as you prepare when you have the opportunity to become that individual. I wish you all the best of luck in your pageant endeavors.
-Miss Pageant Prep
While you are preparing for your pageant, one of the best things you can do is to choose wise actions unrelated to pageantry. By taking a moment to relax and feel at peace with the world, you feel happier and lighter when you do return to your preparation. Your one relaxing moment can come from drinking a lovely cup of tea, reading a magazine (rememeber that this is unrelated to pageantry, so this is not the time to read Pageantry Magazine), watching a movie you love, taking a bubble bath, or whatever helps you relax and keep your mind off of preparation. This "vacation" will help you feel inspired and refreshed for when you do return to preparation and activities in your every day life.
The exception to non-pageant activities is fitness. Whether you are a runner, a yoga enthusiast, or whatever, fitness is a wonderful method of de-stressing. I say fitness for the fact that you need to look good for the pageant. But when you exercise, you should not be thinking about the pageant. Even though it may be related to the pageant, keep your mind off of what you need to accomplish with your fitness activity. Instead, focus on how good you feel or how hard you are working as you exercise.
During the pageant, you may not find much time to have a relaxing moment for non-pageant thoughts. If you don't, you can always close your eyes, remember a tranquil moment during your preparation, and channel your calm state from that moment.
By taking the time to engage in relaxing non-pageant activies and thoughts, you give yourself an edge in preparation. It is much easier to be the calm and collected contestant as you prepare when you have the opportunity to become that individual. I wish you all the best of luck in your pageant endeavors.
-Miss Pageant Prep
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Power of Music During Competition
Let's face it, the pageant can be a very stressful time for you. But there is one thing that can help you maintain a healthy level of confidence and develop the necessary attitude for every moment of the pageant. Music is a powerful element that can change your attitude in a moment. Instead of feeling nervous prior to your interview, a single song can help you become properly focused again. Why not take advantage of that power and use it to your advantage for your pageant competition?
You can create a playlist to listen to at the right times during the competition. However, you can add or remove songs for other competition needs. You could listen to a song while you were doing your make-up, eating breakfast, or whenever you could fit the time in. I recommend ten songs, each for a different purpose. Let me break them down for you. Please note that you do not need to use the songs that I list unless you want to, and that they are merely examples for explaining the purpose. Include the songs that work best for you on your pageant competition playlist.
1. Arrival song: This song will be fun. It doesn't need to be focused. Even though you want to do your best at your pageant, you should also be able to look back on the time and feel like you had an enjoyable experience. An example arrival song could be P!nk's "Get The Party Started."
2. Mingling song: You want to go for a song that makes you transform into a social butterfly. You may have some ice-breaker situations with other contestants or time where you get to know each other. You never want to be one of those catty contestants who is too good for everyone else. This song will encourage you to have a good time with the other contestants without reminding you about the competition. "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas could work as a song for socializing.
3. Relaxation song: You want a soft song that will ease your nerves if you feel stressed or anxious. This is a song that you can take deep breaths to. An example relaxation song could be "Let Go" by Frou Frou.
4. Beautiful song: Your beautiful song makes you feel beautiful from head to toe. This is the song you could listen to whenever you feel insecure and reminds you that you are beautiful, inside and out. An example song could be "Beautiful" by Akon.
5. Positive Attitude song: You want a song that helps you focus on having a positive attitude. This song should not be too serious. "Life's What You Make It" by Hannah Montana could be an example for a positive attitude song.
6. Dance song: Your dance song makes you want to dance, plain and simple! This is perfect for listening to for your opening number rehearsals. You may not have the opportunity to listen to your dance song prior to the actual opening number, but you can try to listen to it in your head. An example dance song could be "I Came 2 Party" by Cinema Bizarre and Space Cowboy.
7. Upbeat song: The swimsuit competition can be the most fun of them all. You want a bubbly song that helps you express the fun side of your personality. Your song can have a summery and sultry vibe if you want to have a bit of a sassy attitude. An example upbeat song could be "Temperature" by Sean Paul.
8. Smooth song: You want a very smooth and elegant song to reflect the mood of your evening wear competition. The music could possibly include a piano, jazz elements, or a classical orchestra. "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys could work as a smooth song.
9. Focus song: Find a peaceful song that enables you to concentrate and focus at your best level. You may not want to use music that includes vocals, so that your mind will be free from a voice other than your own. If you go with a classical piece, make sure that you feel relaxed by the song and not stressed out because of it. An example focus song could be Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5".
10. Bigger Picture song: Your bigger picture song helps you come down to earth and realize that there are other, if not greater, plans for you once the pageant is over. This song is wonderful for you to hear right before the finale. Regardless of whether or not you win, this is a great reminder that life goes on after the pageant. An example song to help you remember the bigger picture is "So Small" by Carrie Underwood.
Music can help you become the best contestant you can be in a moment. I encourage you to use music during your next pageant competition and wish you the best of luck!
-Miss Pageant Prep
You can create a playlist to listen to at the right times during the competition. However, you can add or remove songs for other competition needs. You could listen to a song while you were doing your make-up, eating breakfast, or whenever you could fit the time in. I recommend ten songs, each for a different purpose. Let me break them down for you. Please note that you do not need to use the songs that I list unless you want to, and that they are merely examples for explaining the purpose. Include the songs that work best for you on your pageant competition playlist.
1. Arrival song: This song will be fun. It doesn't need to be focused. Even though you want to do your best at your pageant, you should also be able to look back on the time and feel like you had an enjoyable experience. An example arrival song could be P!nk's "Get The Party Started."
2. Mingling song: You want to go for a song that makes you transform into a social butterfly. You may have some ice-breaker situations with other contestants or time where you get to know each other. You never want to be one of those catty contestants who is too good for everyone else. This song will encourage you to have a good time with the other contestants without reminding you about the competition. "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas could work as a song for socializing.
3. Relaxation song: You want a soft song that will ease your nerves if you feel stressed or anxious. This is a song that you can take deep breaths to. An example relaxation song could be "Let Go" by Frou Frou.
4. Beautiful song: Your beautiful song makes you feel beautiful from head to toe. This is the song you could listen to whenever you feel insecure and reminds you that you are beautiful, inside and out. An example song could be "Beautiful" by Akon.
5. Positive Attitude song: You want a song that helps you focus on having a positive attitude. This song should not be too serious. "Life's What You Make It" by Hannah Montana could be an example for a positive attitude song.
6. Dance song: Your dance song makes you want to dance, plain and simple! This is perfect for listening to for your opening number rehearsals. You may not have the opportunity to listen to your dance song prior to the actual opening number, but you can try to listen to it in your head. An example dance song could be "I Came 2 Party" by Cinema Bizarre and Space Cowboy.
7. Upbeat song: The swimsuit competition can be the most fun of them all. You want a bubbly song that helps you express the fun side of your personality. Your song can have a summery and sultry vibe if you want to have a bit of a sassy attitude. An example upbeat song could be "Temperature" by Sean Paul.
8. Smooth song: You want a very smooth and elegant song to reflect the mood of your evening wear competition. The music could possibly include a piano, jazz elements, or a classical orchestra. "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys could work as a smooth song.
9. Focus song: Find a peaceful song that enables you to concentrate and focus at your best level. You may not want to use music that includes vocals, so that your mind will be free from a voice other than your own. If you go with a classical piece, make sure that you feel relaxed by the song and not stressed out because of it. An example focus song could be Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5".
10. Bigger Picture song: Your bigger picture song helps you come down to earth and realize that there are other, if not greater, plans for you once the pageant is over. This song is wonderful for you to hear right before the finale. Regardless of whether or not you win, this is a great reminder that life goes on after the pageant. An example song to help you remember the bigger picture is "So Small" by Carrie Underwood.
Music can help you become the best contestant you can be in a moment. I encourage you to use music during your next pageant competition and wish you the best of luck!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Monday, August 3, 2009
Five Rules For Interview Preparation
The interview competition will be an asset or an enemy. The sole factor that determines so is your preparation. If you do not prepare or you prepare inefficiently, then you will struggle during the competition. However, if you prepare for your interview properly, you can certainly succeed. Here are five rules for how to use your voice as a successful tool for your interview competition preparation.
Rule Number 1: Do not memorize your answers.
You could have the perfect interview answer memorized... wait, did I just say memorized? For any top pageant contestant, you should know that reciting answers to questions is the wrong way to go. You could rehearse your answers a thousand times to appear natural. However, this defeats the purpose of what the interview competition is all about. Yes, the content of your response is important, but only to an extent. The judges are really looking to see how well you can communicate with adults, respectfully announce your opinions, express your true personality, and they want to see that all happening in the moment. The judges want you to know what your opinions are, but they want you to vocalize them on the spot. However, this does not mean you would simply prepare just by knowing how you feel or what you believe about a particular subject.
Rule Number 2: Prepare by reading a good book aloud.
Read aloud. Pick up a book that you love with strong emotions or actions. Flip open to a random page, read a paragraph in your mind, and then read the same passage aloud. Did you read that paragraph in a boring, monotone voice? Or did you convey the proper intensity and volume needed for that particular paragraph? If you read that paragraph in a flat, emotionless tone, let me explain why that is an issue. Every interview question provides you with the opportunity to express your personality and your opinion. This is one of your few chances to shine for the judges! If your voice does not convey your passion or personality in your answer, the judges will not get to know the real you. That's why you want to make the most of every answer, even if you're answering a silly question about what fruit you would be or a serious political question as well. Keep practicing with reading from the book aloud, never reading from the same passage twice to prevent memorizing your answer. Try to read passages that express different kinds of feelings, just as you would answer a more casual question differently in comparison to a serious question.
Rule Number 3: Prepare mentally with easy-access index cards.
Write down some sample interview questions on index cards; one question per index card. You can take these with you anywhere. Now, if you have a few moments of waiting for a doctor's appointment or any time that you have a few moments to spare, pull out one index card and read the question in your head. Give yourself a little bit of time to compose your answer. Once you have created your opinion, read your response in your mind as if you were answering the question at the actual competition. At the real competition, you can give yourself about three seconds to think about what you want to say before you start to speak. Now, after you have answered in your head, reflect upon your answer. Do you believe that your answer would have provided you with a successful interview score at the pageant? Did you deliver your response with confidence? Were you comfortable with your opinion? If you answered no to any or all of those questions, write an 'X' in the corner of that index card. This indicates that you should work on this question prior to your pageant. You can erase the X as soon as you believe that you can answer the question properly. You can also take this one step further by figuring out new ways to answer your question while being true to yourself.
Rule Number 4: Practice your delivery with a knowledgeable friend or adult.
You want to choose a friend that you know as an effective communicator. They do not necessarily need to be involved in pageantry. You can also look for a willing adult; for example, I once contacted my local police department and asked them to help me prepare with a mock interview. They asked me questions about myself and my opinions, and provided me with constructive criticism at the conclusion of the interview. You want to arrange this according to your interview set-up. If the interview is in set up in an one-on-one format or in a private room with the judges, use a private room with just you and the interviewer. If the interview competition takes place on-stage, you can select a public setting (the people at this public setting do not need to observe, but you want to have the potential distractions around so you can learn to block them out). Try not to provide the friend or adult with a list of questions so that they are not reading from the list and that you will not know exactly what to expect. However, you may recommend a few questions that you feel are key to the competition. As the practice interview endures, behave the exact way that you would during the interview competition - maintaining strong eye contact, demonstrating good posture, exuding confidence, etc. At the conclusion of the interview, listen to the constructive criticism the friend or adult can offer. If you have a friend, please emphasize that your feelings will not be hurt by the criticism. Think about how you can apply the criticism to preparing for interview. Also, feel free to arrange further mock interviews to analyze your progress. You should consider using different friends and adults in order to prevent becoming too comfortable with an individual that is supposed to represent your competition judge and to give yourself valuable feedback from a variety of people.
Rule Number 5: Do not go overboard with preparation.
You certainly don't want to prepare too little, but obsessing over this part of the competition can damage your performance. When I say obsess, I mean that you focus solely on the interview competition that you neglect other areas of preparation. Even if you believe that you have a solid pageant walk, you still want to give yourself time to walk in your heels and dress. Make sure that you use a healthy amount of your time for the interview competition so you can also address other areas of preparation. Also, you can obsess by overwhelming yourself with interview preparation. Even if you are giving yourself a sufficient amount of time for other areas of the competition, you really do not need to take too much time to prepare. As long as you start to prepare at least a month prior to your pageant, taking as little as fifteen minutes a day can do wonders for your progress. Finally, too much preparation can make you become over-confident. If you feel too ready for the competition, you may be thrown off during the actual interview if something goes a little unexpectedly. It is important to feel ready and prepared for your interview, but if you believe you know exactly what to expect, then you have the wrong attitude and may have prepared too much.
By using these five rules on a regular basis to prepare for your interview competition, you can truly make a positive difference in your interview competition. I wish you the best of luck in your interview preparation and your pageant competition!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Rule Number 1: Do not memorize your answers.
You could have the perfect interview answer memorized... wait, did I just say memorized? For any top pageant contestant, you should know that reciting answers to questions is the wrong way to go. You could rehearse your answers a thousand times to appear natural. However, this defeats the purpose of what the interview competition is all about. Yes, the content of your response is important, but only to an extent. The judges are really looking to see how well you can communicate with adults, respectfully announce your opinions, express your true personality, and they want to see that all happening in the moment. The judges want you to know what your opinions are, but they want you to vocalize them on the spot. However, this does not mean you would simply prepare just by knowing how you feel or what you believe about a particular subject.
Rule Number 2: Prepare by reading a good book aloud.
Read aloud. Pick up a book that you love with strong emotions or actions. Flip open to a random page, read a paragraph in your mind, and then read the same passage aloud. Did you read that paragraph in a boring, monotone voice? Or did you convey the proper intensity and volume needed for that particular paragraph? If you read that paragraph in a flat, emotionless tone, let me explain why that is an issue. Every interview question provides you with the opportunity to express your personality and your opinion. This is one of your few chances to shine for the judges! If your voice does not convey your passion or personality in your answer, the judges will not get to know the real you. That's why you want to make the most of every answer, even if you're answering a silly question about what fruit you would be or a serious political question as well. Keep practicing with reading from the book aloud, never reading from the same passage twice to prevent memorizing your answer. Try to read passages that express different kinds of feelings, just as you would answer a more casual question differently in comparison to a serious question.
Rule Number 3: Prepare mentally with easy-access index cards.
Write down some sample interview questions on index cards; one question per index card. You can take these with you anywhere. Now, if you have a few moments of waiting for a doctor's appointment or any time that you have a few moments to spare, pull out one index card and read the question in your head. Give yourself a little bit of time to compose your answer. Once you have created your opinion, read your response in your mind as if you were answering the question at the actual competition. At the real competition, you can give yourself about three seconds to think about what you want to say before you start to speak. Now, after you have answered in your head, reflect upon your answer. Do you believe that your answer would have provided you with a successful interview score at the pageant? Did you deliver your response with confidence? Were you comfortable with your opinion? If you answered no to any or all of those questions, write an 'X' in the corner of that index card. This indicates that you should work on this question prior to your pageant. You can erase the X as soon as you believe that you can answer the question properly. You can also take this one step further by figuring out new ways to answer your question while being true to yourself.
Rule Number 4: Practice your delivery with a knowledgeable friend or adult.
You want to choose a friend that you know as an effective communicator. They do not necessarily need to be involved in pageantry. You can also look for a willing adult; for example, I once contacted my local police department and asked them to help me prepare with a mock interview. They asked me questions about myself and my opinions, and provided me with constructive criticism at the conclusion of the interview. You want to arrange this according to your interview set-up. If the interview is in set up in an one-on-one format or in a private room with the judges, use a private room with just you and the interviewer. If the interview competition takes place on-stage, you can select a public setting (the people at this public setting do not need to observe, but you want to have the potential distractions around so you can learn to block them out). Try not to provide the friend or adult with a list of questions so that they are not reading from the list and that you will not know exactly what to expect. However, you may recommend a few questions that you feel are key to the competition. As the practice interview endures, behave the exact way that you would during the interview competition - maintaining strong eye contact, demonstrating good posture, exuding confidence, etc. At the conclusion of the interview, listen to the constructive criticism the friend or adult can offer. If you have a friend, please emphasize that your feelings will not be hurt by the criticism. Think about how you can apply the criticism to preparing for interview. Also, feel free to arrange further mock interviews to analyze your progress. You should consider using different friends and adults in order to prevent becoming too comfortable with an individual that is supposed to represent your competition judge and to give yourself valuable feedback from a variety of people.
Rule Number 5: Do not go overboard with preparation.
You certainly don't want to prepare too little, but obsessing over this part of the competition can damage your performance. When I say obsess, I mean that you focus solely on the interview competition that you neglect other areas of preparation. Even if you believe that you have a solid pageant walk, you still want to give yourself time to walk in your heels and dress. Make sure that you use a healthy amount of your time for the interview competition so you can also address other areas of preparation. Also, you can obsess by overwhelming yourself with interview preparation. Even if you are giving yourself a sufficient amount of time for other areas of the competition, you really do not need to take too much time to prepare. As long as you start to prepare at least a month prior to your pageant, taking as little as fifteen minutes a day can do wonders for your progress. Finally, too much preparation can make you become over-confident. If you feel too ready for the competition, you may be thrown off during the actual interview if something goes a little unexpectedly. It is important to feel ready and prepared for your interview, but if you believe you know exactly what to expect, then you have the wrong attitude and may have prepared too much.
By using these five rules on a regular basis to prepare for your interview competition, you can truly make a positive difference in your interview competition. I wish you the best of luck in your interview preparation and your pageant competition!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Ten Steps Towards Pageant Success
One of my favorite episodes of Pageant Talk Radio, hosted by Valerie Hayes, is her "Make 2009 Your Best Pageant Year Ever!" episode. This episode was created for the new year. Although we have just started August, it's not too late to take advantage of her wonderful ideas. I encourage you to listen to the episode on your own in order to interpret her content in your own way. However, you can simply read my perspective and summary if that is what you would prefer to do. (As a note, my descriptions mainly reflect Valerie's own words, but occasionally I may add something of my own. I do not write word-for-word, but I strive to maintain her point and emphasize the purpose in my own style as well.)
Valerie describes ten steps to help you improve as a pageant contestant. Please follow each step carefully for ultimate results.
The first step is to make a list of all of your accomplishments. You can list accomplishments from the previous year and possibly include the year before. This step will help you truly acknowledge what you have already accomplished instead of focusing on what you need to do in the future. You can list pageant successes - even if you did not make it into the top ten, something as simple as wearing an evening wear gown in a flattering color and style can count as an accomplishment. Try to include as many positive accomplishments as you can, and ask family and friends for their opinions if you need to. You can list academic and extracurricular accomplishments as well. Finally, recall the accomplishments you have made in your personal life, such as becoming more organized.
The second step is to list the character traits, skills, and abilities that you possess that enabled you to accomplish the achievements in your first list. You want to acknowledge how you accomplished those things. Your organized nature, your patience, your discipline, etc could have played a role. Be as thorough as possible! Ask family, friends, teachers, coaches and others if you are having a hard time determining these qualities.
The third step is to choose two areas for improvement that you think will make the biggest impact on your pageant performance. These areas are what you need to work the most on. Do not choose the areas that you are interested in - for example, selecting your pageant wear gown even though you don't necessarily need to improve in that aspect. You want to choose the areas that you are the weakest in. It may be helpful to ask a qualified pageant individual that can provide constructive criticism and feedback, such as a pageant director.
The fourth step is to write down three action steps for each one of your two areas of improvement. For example, if you wanted to improve your interview, your three action steps could include developing your platform, practicing questions on a regular basis, and becoming more informed about current events. After you have chosen your action steps, go back to step two and focus on how you can use those skills and abilities to accomplish the action steps you have put down.
The fifth step is to get your own contestant fan club. A fan club consists of people who cheer you up and cheer you on at the pageant. These people will not tell you how you need to improve, correct you, criticize you, compare you to other contestants, or provide any form of negativity. Your fan club will provide you with provide energy to help you stay in a positive mindset during the competition. A pageant coach would not be in this club. Your coach cannot help you by only providing you with positive encouragement that you would need to hear from members of your fan club. Your fan club may be composed of family members, your best friends, pageant friends, or any other positive supporters. Constructive suggestions can be tolerated (for example, this person would tell you to choose a different dress color for your next pageant instead of telling your that your gown color is hideous), but you want to do your best to be surrounded by positive, uplifting people that believe in you.
The sixth step is to find high-quality pageant friends. You may compete with other girls, but develop friendships with some of them at the same time. You may not keep in touch frequently, but you will care about each other and touch base a few times throughout the year. Pageant friends are wonderful to have because they also understand the pageant process of preparing and competing. You want to connect with contestants whose skills sets are equal to or greater than your own in order to inspire you to become the best contestant you can be. These friends will motivate you to keep moving forward in your pageant career. These girls genuinely understand that competing is a personal competition. They want you to be the best you can be so they can push themselves to becoming their personal best as well.
The seventh step is to regularly read and/or listen to inspirational materials. Preparing for a pageant can consume a lot of your energy. You may not realize that your energy is draining until it is too late. With inspirational and/or religious materials, you can maintain your energy at a healthy level as you prepare for the pageant. These materials can help you become positive, focused, upbeat, and relaxed for the competition.
The eighth step is to create your own defensive shield against negative energy. This does not mean that you ignore the negativity, but that you will not dwell upon it constantly. Competing for a pageant is an emotional challenge, and this "invisible bubble" will protect you from destructive negativity. If you receive constructive criticism, use the information to change and move on. If you receive feedback that is not valuable and helpful, let it go immediately. Do not stress about things you cannot control or things that are irrelevant to the competition. Remember that you can mentally lose the pageant before it even begins by focusing on the wrong details, such as believing your shoe choice will cause you to lose the pageant.
The ninth step is to develop confidence by practicing your skills. You need to prepare for the competition in order to be successful. The best way to approach practice is through frequent but short intervals. For example, you could practice answering interview questions 4 to 5 times a week for 10 to 15 minutes a day. You will see amazing improvement in your pageant skills.
The tenth step is to consider hiring a coach or other expert to help you improve. Make sure you choose a professional that has worked with contestants in your pageant system and age group, and has worked with contestants that possess a variety of personal styles.
Also, never assume that you have won. The other contestants have the same opportunity and an equal chance of winning the competition. You need to always compete at your top game, and to keep competing at your best level until the winner is crowned. If you give up or give less during the competition, your can affect your chances of pageant success.
These ten steps will help you improve as a pageant contestant if you use the information to your advantage. I wish you the best of luck in utilizing this knowledge for your next competition!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Valerie describes ten steps to help you improve as a pageant contestant. Please follow each step carefully for ultimate results.
The first step is to make a list of all of your accomplishments. You can list accomplishments from the previous year and possibly include the year before. This step will help you truly acknowledge what you have already accomplished instead of focusing on what you need to do in the future. You can list pageant successes - even if you did not make it into the top ten, something as simple as wearing an evening wear gown in a flattering color and style can count as an accomplishment. Try to include as many positive accomplishments as you can, and ask family and friends for their opinions if you need to. You can list academic and extracurricular accomplishments as well. Finally, recall the accomplishments you have made in your personal life, such as becoming more organized.
The second step is to list the character traits, skills, and abilities that you possess that enabled you to accomplish the achievements in your first list. You want to acknowledge how you accomplished those things. Your organized nature, your patience, your discipline, etc could have played a role. Be as thorough as possible! Ask family, friends, teachers, coaches and others if you are having a hard time determining these qualities.
The third step is to choose two areas for improvement that you think will make the biggest impact on your pageant performance. These areas are what you need to work the most on. Do not choose the areas that you are interested in - for example, selecting your pageant wear gown even though you don't necessarily need to improve in that aspect. You want to choose the areas that you are the weakest in. It may be helpful to ask a qualified pageant individual that can provide constructive criticism and feedback, such as a pageant director.
The fourth step is to write down three action steps for each one of your two areas of improvement. For example, if you wanted to improve your interview, your three action steps could include developing your platform, practicing questions on a regular basis, and becoming more informed about current events. After you have chosen your action steps, go back to step two and focus on how you can use those skills and abilities to accomplish the action steps you have put down.
The fifth step is to get your own contestant fan club. A fan club consists of people who cheer you up and cheer you on at the pageant. These people will not tell you how you need to improve, correct you, criticize you, compare you to other contestants, or provide any form of negativity. Your fan club will provide you with provide energy to help you stay in a positive mindset during the competition. A pageant coach would not be in this club. Your coach cannot help you by only providing you with positive encouragement that you would need to hear from members of your fan club. Your fan club may be composed of family members, your best friends, pageant friends, or any other positive supporters. Constructive suggestions can be tolerated (for example, this person would tell you to choose a different dress color for your next pageant instead of telling your that your gown color is hideous), but you want to do your best to be surrounded by positive, uplifting people that believe in you.
The sixth step is to find high-quality pageant friends. You may compete with other girls, but develop friendships with some of them at the same time. You may not keep in touch frequently, but you will care about each other and touch base a few times throughout the year. Pageant friends are wonderful to have because they also understand the pageant process of preparing and competing. You want to connect with contestants whose skills sets are equal to or greater than your own in order to inspire you to become the best contestant you can be. These friends will motivate you to keep moving forward in your pageant career. These girls genuinely understand that competing is a personal competition. They want you to be the best you can be so they can push themselves to becoming their personal best as well.
The seventh step is to regularly read and/or listen to inspirational materials. Preparing for a pageant can consume a lot of your energy. You may not realize that your energy is draining until it is too late. With inspirational and/or religious materials, you can maintain your energy at a healthy level as you prepare for the pageant. These materials can help you become positive, focused, upbeat, and relaxed for the competition.
The eighth step is to create your own defensive shield against negative energy. This does not mean that you ignore the negativity, but that you will not dwell upon it constantly. Competing for a pageant is an emotional challenge, and this "invisible bubble" will protect you from destructive negativity. If you receive constructive criticism, use the information to change and move on. If you receive feedback that is not valuable and helpful, let it go immediately. Do not stress about things you cannot control or things that are irrelevant to the competition. Remember that you can mentally lose the pageant before it even begins by focusing on the wrong details, such as believing your shoe choice will cause you to lose the pageant.
The ninth step is to develop confidence by practicing your skills. You need to prepare for the competition in order to be successful. The best way to approach practice is through frequent but short intervals. For example, you could practice answering interview questions 4 to 5 times a week for 10 to 15 minutes a day. You will see amazing improvement in your pageant skills.
The tenth step is to consider hiring a coach or other expert to help you improve. Make sure you choose a professional that has worked with contestants in your pageant system and age group, and has worked with contestants that possess a variety of personal styles.
Also, never assume that you have won. The other contestants have the same opportunity and an equal chance of winning the competition. You need to always compete at your top game, and to keep competing at your best level until the winner is crowned. If you give up or give less during the competition, your can affect your chances of pageant success.
These ten steps will help you improve as a pageant contestant if you use the information to your advantage. I wish you the best of luck in utilizing this knowledge for your next competition!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Creating a Preparation Calendar
Preparing for a pageant can seem like a daunting process if you think about everything you need to accomplish prior to the pageant all at once. This particular blog entry will focus on how to break down what you need to accomplish into small goals that you can fulfill on a regular basis.
First of all, write down your large pageant goals. You can list as many goals as you would like relating to your pageant, and add to your list whenever you like. A large pageant goal would be something without a lot of detail or a particular deadline, such as losing weight, preparing for the interview competition, practicing your pageant walk in high heels, starting a regular fitness program, etc. I recommend that you write each large goal on the front of separate index cards, leaving the lines on the back blank for the moment.
Now, choose one of your index cards and focus on the large goal. Think about small, manageable steps that would help you accomplish that larger goal. For example, if your large pageant goal was to lose weight, you could list any of these three plans as your small steps:
a)Your first small step could be to keep a food diary for a week without changing your regular diet. You would need to keep track of what you ate or drank, the time you consumed the food or drink, along with the portion. If you believe that you eat emotionally, you could write down your current mood along with each entry. You could continue with the food diary after this week with more conscious decisions.
b) Your first small step could be to choose three foods that you feel prevent you from losing weight and to find three healthier alternatives to replace the three foods with. You could continue replacing unhealthy foods with alternatives at a steady pace until you had created a comfortable diet.
c) Your first small step could be to create a meal plan every day, either early in the morning before breakfast or the night before after dinner. You could choose five small meals to eat throughout the day and even determine what time to eat each meal.
You want to create small steps for every large goal. Write these small steps on the lines of your index card. (If you need help creating small goals, feel free to comment on my blog.)
Next, determine what you pageant calendar is going to be. You need to make "appointments" for all of your pageant steps. You can create these appointments for as many aspects as you need to. You could use your Blackberry, a planner book, a wall or desk calendar, or whatever would work best for you.
Once you have committed to a source to be your pageant preparation calendar, make regular apppointments for each of your small goals. You could spend ten minutes every morning at 7am creating your meal plan for the day. You want to create a set appointment for each small goal that you have created to follow on a regular basis. This will help you establish a pageant preparation routine for achieving your goals at a pace that will not overwhelm you. Do not focus on looking for results. Instead, focus on completing each small step to the best of your ability in that moment, and trust that your larger goals will become accomplishments in the right time.
A preparation calendar is the perfect way to break down intimidating goals into small steps that you can make appointments for. If you make a commitment to fulfill each appointment, your goals will soon become achievements that you can be proud of. If you happen to miss an appointment or give less than your all, forgive yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. You can make all of your pageant goals come true with the focus and discipline that come with staying true to your pageant calendar. I wish you the best of luck in your pageant endeavors!
-Miss Pageant Prep
First of all, write down your large pageant goals. You can list as many goals as you would like relating to your pageant, and add to your list whenever you like. A large pageant goal would be something without a lot of detail or a particular deadline, such as losing weight, preparing for the interview competition, practicing your pageant walk in high heels, starting a regular fitness program, etc. I recommend that you write each large goal on the front of separate index cards, leaving the lines on the back blank for the moment.
Now, choose one of your index cards and focus on the large goal. Think about small, manageable steps that would help you accomplish that larger goal. For example, if your large pageant goal was to lose weight, you could list any of these three plans as your small steps:
a)Your first small step could be to keep a food diary for a week without changing your regular diet. You would need to keep track of what you ate or drank, the time you consumed the food or drink, along with the portion. If you believe that you eat emotionally, you could write down your current mood along with each entry. You could continue with the food diary after this week with more conscious decisions.
b) Your first small step could be to choose three foods that you feel prevent you from losing weight and to find three healthier alternatives to replace the three foods with. You could continue replacing unhealthy foods with alternatives at a steady pace until you had created a comfortable diet.
c) Your first small step could be to create a meal plan every day, either early in the morning before breakfast or the night before after dinner. You could choose five small meals to eat throughout the day and even determine what time to eat each meal.
You want to create small steps for every large goal. Write these small steps on the lines of your index card. (If you need help creating small goals, feel free to comment on my blog.)
Next, determine what you pageant calendar is going to be. You need to make "appointments" for all of your pageant steps. You can create these appointments for as many aspects as you need to. You could use your Blackberry, a planner book, a wall or desk calendar, or whatever would work best for you.
Once you have committed to a source to be your pageant preparation calendar, make regular apppointments for each of your small goals. You could spend ten minutes every morning at 7am creating your meal plan for the day. You want to create a set appointment for each small goal that you have created to follow on a regular basis. This will help you establish a pageant preparation routine for achieving your goals at a pace that will not overwhelm you. Do not focus on looking for results. Instead, focus on completing each small step to the best of your ability in that moment, and trust that your larger goals will become accomplishments in the right time.
A preparation calendar is the perfect way to break down intimidating goals into small steps that you can make appointments for. If you make a commitment to fulfill each appointment, your goals will soon become achievements that you can be proud of. If you happen to miss an appointment or give less than your all, forgive yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. You can make all of your pageant goals come true with the focus and discipline that come with staying true to your pageant calendar. I wish you the best of luck in your pageant endeavors!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Become Familiar With Your Resources
You have already accomplished one step in becoming familiar with your resources on your pageant journey by viewing this blog. This blog is one tool that can assist you in pageant preparation. However, I would like to encourage you to become familiar with three additional key sources. I will explain the benefits from all three sources I recommend:
First of all, Valerie Hayes has created an ingenious web radio show called Pageant Talk Radio. She updates on a regular basis, and has episodes filled with incredible advice from insightful pageant experts in all aspects of pageantry. I am a huge fan of both Valerie and her show. I will give you the link to all of her episodes. However, I will be posting my own personal perspective and breakdown of my favorite episodes on this blog in case listening to every single episode seems too intimidating for you. Her voice is definitely one that needs to be heard when preparing for a pageant!
Second of all, Justin Rudd has a "Five-A-Week" Club where pageant contestants can receive five sample interview questions via e-mail. You can use these questions any way you like - for example, asking yourself one question a day for five days, and then asking yourself all five questions at once for the remaining two days. This is a perfect way to become familiar with questions you could be asked at a pageant as well as to become more comfortable with creating an opinion on such short notice. Interview is a crucial part of the competition, and these regular questions are a wonderful way to prepare for success!
Finally, you want to become familiar with at least one local news source, one national news source, and one international news source. Your local newspaper is a perfect way to get to know your community and your local politicians. You can also watch your local news channel for additional coverage. Second of all, take some time to investigate national and international news channels. Sit down and watch the news on various channels until you can determine what channels are your favorites and commit to watching them regularly (if the program's time is an issue, befriend TiVo and watch the news as soon as you get the chance). You can also keep up with online articles, which you can read from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and/or Time Magazine. If you want to go a step further in the process, write down events and people that interest you or have a high impact on society, and then write down notes to help you develop your personal opinion. No matter what title you compete for, you need to be informed about the area you represent and current events in the rest of the world.
By becoming familiar with your preparation resources, you provide yourself with amazing information and incredible opportunities that you could not have accessed without these resources. Make a commitment to honoring these resources and you will learn so much! I wish you the best of luck with your next pageant!
-Miss Pageant Prep
First of all, Valerie Hayes has created an ingenious web radio show called Pageant Talk Radio. She updates on a regular basis, and has episodes filled with incredible advice from insightful pageant experts in all aspects of pageantry. I am a huge fan of both Valerie and her show. I will give you the link to all of her episodes. However, I will be posting my own personal perspective and breakdown of my favorite episodes on this blog in case listening to every single episode seems too intimidating for you. Her voice is definitely one that needs to be heard when preparing for a pageant!
Second of all, Justin Rudd has a "Five-A-Week" Club where pageant contestants can receive five sample interview questions via e-mail. You can use these questions any way you like - for example, asking yourself one question a day for five days, and then asking yourself all five questions at once for the remaining two days. This is a perfect way to become familiar with questions you could be asked at a pageant as well as to become more comfortable with creating an opinion on such short notice. Interview is a crucial part of the competition, and these regular questions are a wonderful way to prepare for success!
Finally, you want to become familiar with at least one local news source, one national news source, and one international news source. Your local newspaper is a perfect way to get to know your community and your local politicians. You can also watch your local news channel for additional coverage. Second of all, take some time to investigate national and international news channels. Sit down and watch the news on various channels until you can determine what channels are your favorites and commit to watching them regularly (if the program's time is an issue, befriend TiVo and watch the news as soon as you get the chance). You can also keep up with online articles, which you can read from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and/or Time Magazine. If you want to go a step further in the process, write down events and people that interest you or have a high impact on society, and then write down notes to help you develop your personal opinion. No matter what title you compete for, you need to be informed about the area you represent and current events in the rest of the world.
By becoming familiar with your preparation resources, you provide yourself with amazing information and incredible opportunities that you could not have accessed without these resources. Make a commitment to honoring these resources and you will learn so much! I wish you the best of luck with your next pageant!
-Miss Pageant Prep
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Welcome to My Site!
Pageant contestants, you may be just like myself in wanting to compete successfully in a pageant. You may have contemplated hiring a professional coach and there is absolutely nothing wrong desiring such a service. However, you may not be able to obtain a coach, whether the reason be that you cannot afford a proper coach, your parents do not want you to have a coach, or maybe you worry that a coach would negatively affect your individuality. Or, maybe you want to prepare for your pageant with a coach's experience along with your personal preparation endeavors. Whatever the case may be, you have come to the perfect blog for tips on how to prepare for your next pageant!
I will share tips on different methods for preparing for a pageant. You may love all of my advice, or maybe you will simply choose certain methods that you feel accomodate your personality best. No matter what you do, I hope I can assist you on your journey to your next pageant.
Thank you for choosing my blog, and the best of luck to you in pursuing your pageant goals!
-Miss Pageant Prep
I will share tips on different methods for preparing for a pageant. You may love all of my advice, or maybe you will simply choose certain methods that you feel accomodate your personality best. No matter what you do, I hope I can assist you on your journey to your next pageant.
Thank you for choosing my blog, and the best of luck to you in pursuing your pageant goals!
-Miss Pageant Prep
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