Entitled To The Crown

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. You are not better than any other contestant.

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

4. Everything happens for a reason.

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

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

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

-Miss Pageant Prep

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

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

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.

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

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

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