People participate in pageants for different reasons. Some just want to have fun. Others contestants want to use pageants as a stepping stone more opportunities. Many need external events help motivate them to take action to accomplish specific goals. The more honest you are with your expectations and reasons for competing in a pageant, the more rewarding the experience will be.
Personally, I don’t believe in wasting [Read more…]
There are goals and then there are S.M.A.R.T. goals. If you want real results, then make the S.M.A.R.T. decision right now and get started. Today is a new beginning for you. Let go of the excuses, fear, complaints, anger, envy, and frustration of the past.
What is it that you want to accomplish this year? If entering a pageant or two is one of your goals, then you need to [Read more…]
Your expectations lay the groundwork for how positive your national pageant experience will be. Today I share 5 tips that will help you at your national pageant. [Read more…]
So you want to do a pageant? Believe me when I say, if you want to win a crown, there is a pageant for you somewhere out there. With hundreds to choose from, how do you decide which pageant is right for you?
Each pageant system has prerequisites so you need to make sure you have the qualifications they are looking for to ensure your best possible chance at winning the title. I’m going to tell you upfront, pageantry is an expensive hobby sport. If you want the greatest return on your investment, do your research and plan wisely. You’ll want to enter pageants that score highest in the areas where you are strong and avoid those pageants whose focus is on the areas where you are weak.
For example, if my goal was to be Miss USA, depending on which state I live in and how many contestants there were competing, I might win the state title only being 5’3”; but my odds of winning the Miss USA title are a long shot. In my 40 years of watching the pageant, the shortest Miss USA I’ve ever seen crowned was 5’5” and she had other assets to make up for being on the shorter side. There are always exceptions to the rules but image how frustrated I would have become competing year after year in a system where the odds were against me. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow your heart if that’s truly your dream. Just be realistic in understanding that whenever you’re going against the odds, the journey may be harder.
Oh yes, I know some of you reading this may be thinking “but the paperwork says nothing about a height requirement and the director told me it doesn’t matter how tall I am”. Remember, there are always exceptions to the rules and a director doesn’t want to discourage contestants from participating in their pageant; but, this is where your power of keen observation will serve you well. Read the guidelines and watch what is actually happening at the pageant.
Another statement that you will see on applications is that “pageant coaching is not necessary”. But I am telling you, 99% of all titleholders have received some degree of coaching, advice, or help (whatever you want to call it) from an inside pageant person. This may occasionally happen in small local pageants or small preliminaries, but not in big pageants.
Before you enter any pageant, check out its credibility. Here are a few things to look for.
When I go to a website, if there isn’t a name and complete contact information easily identifiable on the home page, red flags go up in my mind. This is just me personal, but I want first and last names of the people running the pageant, not just some “production company”.If a person has integrity, they’re going to attach their name to whatever product they are selling to make it easy for me to reach them.
If the pageant has been around for more than 5 years and the number of contestants remains the same or grows each year, it has a track record for you to check. Do your research. Most importantly, talk with current and former titleholders and contestants. Ask them about their experience. If possible, go watch the pageant first or ask if there is a DVD you can purchase so you can see the quality of the production. Believe me, the money you spend going to watch a pageant pales in comparison to how much money you’ll spend competing.
Do you make good grades? Are you heavily involved with a service project? Are you a strong public speaker? Are you extremely photogenic? Do you know how to work the catwalk? Do you want to do pageants t hat have bathing suit competition? Do you have a strong talent? What do you want to do with your title? How old are you and what is your marital status? Once you have your list, start looking for pageants that showcase your strengths.
If you have a grand total of $1000 to spend on a pageant, then you need to look local and small because you will easily spend at least $500 of that $1000 on your interview attire and formal gown alone. Realistically, you’ll spend $1000 just on your shoes, accessories, interview suit and gown. But there are pageants at all price points. The key is you must have clear boundaries upfront about your budget or you will quickly get in over your head financially. Instead of experiencing the fun and positive benefits you can develop through pageantry, you’ll be left feeling stressed out and have a bitter taste in your mouth about how much money it cost you.
If you insist on doing one of the big pageants your first time out, do yourself a huge favor and get a qualified coach to help guide you through the process. I’ve seen too many contestants spend their entire budget on a gown they thought was wonderful and it was not appropriate for the pageant system they were competing in. Not only did they not have a competition gown, but there was no more money for additional clothing, training, hair, makeup, professional headshot, travel expenses, and other required pageant fees.
There are new pageants springing up every year. If you’re a young girl or woman who wants to experience a pageant, there is one that is a fit for you. To find them, contact your state festival board, search online and ask people around in your community.
The ability to answer questions about you, your purpose, current events, and controversial topics in a clear way is an important life skill that everyone can benefit from. The more you practice, the better you will get. These handy interview cards are a great way to practice with a partner or use by yourself to get you thinking about the topic.
The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview situation. Then each month you will receive a new card in the mail with fresh questions.
Now preparing for your interview is easy and for a limited time FREE.
Occasional my Facebook posts seem to hit a chord with people. I received so many direct inbox messages on this one that I thought it would be good to share with all of you in case you’re not on Facebook. I feel it is especially timely coming off a pageant weekend when there were so many deserving girls and women who were competing for one opportunity.
“You always pass failure on the way to success-Mickey Rooney.” When we’re in the moment, disappointments may feel like failures. However, it’s been my experience that they are merely rest stops on the way to our final destination. It’s our choice as to whether we keep driving forward to get there, or stop in our tracks. The choice is ours, and I say put the pedal to the metal and press on :). Of course, this has resulted in a few speeding tickets in my life (LOL) but nothing ventured, nothing gain.
www.facebook.com/RhondaShappert.WinningThroughPageantry
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, Mrs. Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 22 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .
I’m not sure what it is about our human nature that makes us want to do everything on our own. Some people say with great pride and wear it like a badge of honor; “I did it all by myself”. But how much do we really do ALL BY OURSELVES? For some people, the only time they reach out for help is when they are in dire need or as a last resort. However, time and time again, we see that more is accomplished when 2 or more are gathered for the same purpose. If you’ve been trying to do pageants on your own and still aren’t getting the results you want, perhaps it’s time to seek out the help of a pageant coach. But when is the best time to hire a pageant coach?
In an ideal world, the very best time to hire a beauty pageant coach is before you enter your first pageant. Why? Because you’ll save time by not reinventing the wheel; you won’t waste money purchasing the wrong wardrobe and you’ll be less frustrated because you’ll know what to expect. As I’m walking out to my car from a pageant, I’ll typically hear comments like “I wished I’d known that before I got here”, “Next time I’ll say this”, or “Next time I’ll wear my hair and makeup like that”. The list goes on and on.
Many times when a contestant comes to me with their clothing already purchased (and the tags snapped off) there’s not a whole lot I can do for them in regards to helping with their wardrobe. And yet, a different gown is sometimes the difference between 1st runner up and the queen. Pageant gown, interview, mental attitude, talent, swimsuit, fitness, casual wear, modeling, introduction, onstage question, hair, makeup, shoes and accessories all must come together in the winning combination for you. Your combination is different from the next contestant so you can’t just copy what you see someone else doing on stage because that might not be right for you.
It’s best when a contestant can explore different options with a professional experienced coach before they purchase or commit to anything. If you do buy things, keep all tags on the garment and your receipts. Get to your coach ASAP to get feedback so you can return things if necessary.
If you’ve done a couple pageants and you’re still not getting the results you want, then it’s time to hire a pageant coach who can help you identify and refine the areas that need work. Remember, however, not all pageant coaches are the same, nor do they all work in the same way. This goes for your stylists, personal trainers or anyone else you choose to bring into your team. You need to do your research and trust your instincts.
Are there really secrets and tips to preparing and winning a pageant? After all, everybody says “just be yourself.”
After doing this for decades, my answer is, yes [Read more…]
The pageant contestants I have coached know what sets them apart from the others. They are thoroughly prepared, and experience less drama in their lives.
Coaching isn’t a hobby of mine or something I do on the side. While being a full time Certified Professional Coach and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner through iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching), I am also a member of the International Coaching Federation. When you combine my professional coaching certifications, my decades of extensive experience in all areas of pageantry, and the unique process of how my clients and I work together, you have a winning combination that’s different from other pageant coaches.
Some hairstylists, makeup artists, personal trainers, wardrobe stylists, modeling/talent instructors, and photographers call themselves pageant coaches when in reality they’re consultants. Consultants give answers to specific external needs. The problem is their advice is usually one dimensional and isn’t always integrated with the other areas of your pageant preparation. Plus, if the person is inexperienced within the pageant world, their expertise isn’t going to benefit you to the fullest extent.
Usually,with consultants there’s very little accountability or follow up to make sure you stay on track. Plus few are Professional Coaches who are skilled at addressing both the physical and mental obstacles that come up when preparing for a pageant (and we all know that most of the drama within pageantry is caused by internal issues, not external).
I’m a unique blend of a consultant and Professional Coach. My expertise within pageantry allows me to address all the external needs, however, unlike the traditional consultant I integrate all pieces of the pageant puzzle. As a Certified Life Coach, I partner with you to create a plan based on your agenda that will help you grow internally and live the life you want. I help you work through the internal and external obstacles, and hold you accountable to what you say you’re going to do.
I absolutely love what I do and have a passion for coaching, teaching and learning. I started teaching dance lessons at age 14 and have continued throughout my life. Family is central to me, and especially the relationship between mothers and daughters. I’ve home educated my three daughters for the past 12 years. This has been a blessing in more than one way to our family. No two people learn in the exact same way. I have developed my ability to isolate a person’s learning style and speak their language so the information makes sense to them. By knowing how to take big principals and break them down into easy understandable parts, both children and adults can relate to me.
Finally, what sets me apart from others is how I view pageantry and winning. Pageants are a fun tool that women can use to develop themselves and strengthen their relationships. My definition of winning doesn’t refer to just the crown. If you’re looking to achieve winning results in your life THROUGH pageantry, then you’ve found the right expert pageant coach. Welcome to Winning Through Pageantry®.
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, Mrs. Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .
At age 5, my mom brought home a full length royal blue, crushed velvet dress she had borrowed from my cousin. To complete the outfit, she also had long white gloves, white patent leather shoes and a beautiful pearl headband. The ensemble was now fit for a princess. She announced that I was going to be in the local Snow Queen contest. I had no idea what that meant, but I loved the outfit and I was very excited to get all dressed up.
Besides the thrill of being on stage under the bright lights, walking down the long runway, the laughter/cheering of the audience, and receiving a brand new silver dollar from gigantic snowmen (OK, the businessmen who dressed as snowmen were a bit scary at the time), what I remember most about the evening was the special time I had with my family, feeling good about who I was, and most definitely wanting to do it again! Yes, I was hooked and that was the beginning of a lifetime of pageantry.
As a teen, I won four local and state titles, and enjoyed every aspect of pageantry. For me, each pageant was a time for self discovery, family bonding and, oh, so much fun. Most of my fondest memories and closest relationships stem from my years in pageantry.
After the birth of my third daughter, I discovered the world of pageantry for married women. Nothing will motivate a woman faster to shed that baby fat than having to wear a bathing suit in front of an audience. With the exceptions of my first and last pageants, of the eleven I participated in, I always placed in the top five. I was honored to receive the state title of Mrs. Ohio America 2005 (www.MrsOhioAmerica2005.com), and the national title of Ms. American Women Over 30.
During this decade of my life, I also became an experienced judge; a polished emcee/public speaker; and a pageant staff member. Hoping to help others receive the same joys and life skills that I developed when working with my pageant coach, I started pageant coaching on the side.
This whole time, my daughters observed what I did, participated in my public appearances, and grew up. At ages 11, 9 and 7, they expressed an interest in trying pageants for themselves. They started as festival queens and moved up to Cinderella state titleholders. At first it felt odd to be the mother of pageant participants, realizing the circle of life had begun. But it was a natural progression as our family continued our journey with pageantry in a style that focused on balance, personal development, quality family time and service to others.
My transition from hobby status into professional pageant coaching began when my daughters and I attended an international pageant in Las Vegas. Although I had seen negative pageant behavior on TV shows, it was the first time I had personally witnessed the devastating effects a demanding mother could have on her daughter’s self esteem and self worth. I was in absolute shock over what I was seeing and hearing. I didn’t personally know that mother/daughter team; however, I did know there was going to be long lasting consequences not only to that little 8 year old girl’s self image, but to their relationship as well.
When I came back, I started exploring how I could use my decades of deep expertise of the industry to help contestants experience the fullness of pageantry and strengthen their relationships in life. With that, I created Winning Through Pageantry- Succeed From the Inside Out®.
If you would like to use pageantry as a fun tool for self discovery, I encourage you to participate in one of my bootcamps, teleclasses or private coaching sessions.
Your ability to see beyond the pageant night will determine how fulfilling your pageant experience will be. If you only want a crown, then I would suggest taking the money you’re going to spend on your pageant shoes alone, and buy the prettiest crown you can find online. You’re investment of time and money preparing for the pageant will far exceed the price tag of a crown. However, if you’re looking at pageantry as a vehicle to drive you to other places in your life, then you’re in the right place.
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, Mrs. Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .
Krista Yovanno, Mrs. Ohio America 2004 and co-director of Mrs. Ohio America; Kimberly Miller, Mrs. Ohio America 2010; Michelle Moore, Mrs. Ohio America 2002 and co-director of Mrs. Ohio America, and Rhonda Shappert, Mrs. Ohio America 2005 and owner of Winning Through Pageantry®.
So you‘ve decided to enter a pageant. What are pageant directors expecting from you?
Here is the short list of what directors expect from contestants:
A pageant director is no different than the owner of a traditional business.They’re responsible for all the logistics of finding a facility for the pageant; securing judges for the event; putting together sponsors and prizes for the contestants and queens; advertising; creating all rules, paperwork, and judging criteria; hiring a staff to help run the event; arranging for entertainment and an emcee; and marketing the pageant to find contestants. WOW! That’s a lot.
The more you understand and appreciate all that directors do to create this opportunity for you, the more tolerant and patient you’ll be when things don’t logistically flow as smoothly as they could. Directors put out thousands of dollars in advance and countless hours into the pageant they’re producing. They need a certain number of contestants to financial break even, and to make a profit. Yes, making a profit is important for the pageant’s continuation.
The director is your primary source of information regarding their pageant system. It’s appropriate to ask general questions about the style of clothing worn for this pageant, the schedule, financial obligations and qualities that the pageant seeks in their titleholders. Specific questions like: is this the most flattering dress on me, what should I do with my hair, and is this a good answer if the judges ask me this question are all questions that a pageant coach, or similar professional can help you with. Not the director. I would enjoy working with you if you feel you’re ready to take your pageant preparation to the next level.
What directors are expecting and wanting are ladies that are professional, respectable, accountable and responsible to represent not only themselves with pride, but also the pageant system in which they are a titleholder.
Being professional, respectable, accountable and responsible are qualities that carry over into all areas of your life. I’m a firm believer that how we handle the small things in our lives is how we handle all things. Be a person of your word and always remember, your actions speak so loud people can’t hear what you’re saying.
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, Mrs. Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .
As a pageant coach, I’m frequently asked these questions:
I love it when people ask about my coaching style because I am different from most of the people who call themselves pageant coaches.
What the person really wants to know is how I am going to give them my very best and help them to become a winner. Everyone wants to feel special and have complete attention given to their needs. I know I felt that way when I was competing and looking for a pageant coach.
What makes me different and sets me apart from the other pageant coaches is that my focus is totally on YOU.
When we work together, my whole focus is to help you define your meaning of winning, identify your needs, set and reach your goals, and clarify your purpose for doing the pageant so you get the most from your experience.
This is your growth process and journey, not mine. You’re responsible for the action you take and the results you receive. It’s true, I do get very excited and happy when I see contestants grow, accomplish their dreams and finish what they start; but a contestant doesn’t win solely because they work with me or any other coach. Winning happenings when the sum of all the parts come together at the right time. It takes many people and ,sometimes a lot of time, for the formula to finally complete itself. But you don’t need to walk away with the crown at the end of the night to be a winner.
Because I’m a professional certified life coach through iPEC and member of the International Coaching Federation, I follow the ICF Standards of Ethical Conduct. The ICF Code of Ethics is very specific about privacy, confidentiality and conflicts of interest. None of my clients ever have to worry about me sharing their information with anyone from our coaching sessions.
I don’t play favorites, have a hidden agenda, or have a vested interest in the outcome of any pageant. In an honest pageant, no one person has the control of the outcome of the pageant. There are no guarantees.
Because my sole focus is on providing professional coaching that meets the needs of each individual client and is tailor made for their personal development, I can remain objective throughout the coaching process. Coaching is my full-time career. It isn’t a hobby or something I do on the side. It is what I am and I continue to grow and strengthen my skills every day.
My clients share with me what they want, we create a plan, and my objective is to partner with them to keep them on track. That is the only outcome I’m focused on. If in the process, they win the title too, woo hoo! But that’s the frosting, not the cake.
After working together, you’ll realize what makes you unique and special. You’ll no longer feel compelled to compare yourself to others because you’ll be confident, appreciate and know who you are.
I don’t create cookie cutter queens or have a “one mold that fits all” mentality. It doesn’t matter to me if all my clients are in the same age division in the same pageant, or spread out. When I’m working with someone, I meet them where they are and all my energy is focused on the unique individual that is before me.
So here are the answers to the questions I posed at the beginning.
Clients that work with me will learn about interview, hair, makeup, clothing selection, and modeling. But most importantly, the personal development and life coaching they’ll receive will benefit them in all areas of life. Their relationships will be stronger, their communication skills articulate, and their life purpose clearer. And that’s what I mean by “Beyond The Pageant”. Visit my website to see how you can partner with me to win in life through pageantry.
www.WinningThroughPageantry.com
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC certified personal development life coach. She created Winning Through Pageantry™, to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation and achieve winning results in life through pageantry. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world, was Mrs.Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.
