After two weeks at the beautiful Greenbrier Inn (www.greenbrier.com) in White Sulphur Springs, WV, a new Mrs. America was crowned Thursday evening.
Here are my notes from the evening. First of all, let me say if you have never been to the Greenbrier, you’re missing out. I can’t wait to take my family there next year.
It was so good to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Each year a new class of amazing married women competes for the title of Mrs. America. Being a detailed oriented person, I always want to know the statics of the group. Below are my notes about the top 15 from what the announcer said about each woman during the bathing suit portion of the competition. [Read more…]

Understanding the scoring and judging methods of a beauty pageant can be confusing at times. Sometimes, members of the audience, or even the judges for that matter, walk away from a pageant scratching their heads wondering how the end results came to be. The first step to demystifying pageant judging is to understand the different ways the scoring can take place. [Read more…]

In mastering the pageant interview, you need to ask the director what type of interview style the system uses. There are 5 different types of beauty pageant interview styles: one-on-one interview, panel interview, press conference style (or media) interview, on-stage questions, and talk show style. How to prepare for and have a winning pageant interview will be much easier once you know the style of interview and understand how each one is conducted.

Also, ask the director if the interview will be closed (for the judges); or done in front of the audience. Will you be standing or sitting? Will you be using a microphone? How long is the interview?

One-On-One Interview

This is a closed interview where the judges are seated at individual tables around the interview room. Contestants will enter the room in groups based on the number of judges, and you will rotate around the room in a round-robin style. Each contestant in that group is being interviewed at the same time in different spots within the room. When the time runs out, you stand up and move to the next table. For example, if there are 5 judges and each interview is 4 minutes in length, you’ll be interviewing for 20 minutes. Each interview will be different because each judge is different.
Panel Interview

Can be either a closed or open interview setting. All the judges are seated at one long table. You enter the interview space and will either sit or stand in front of the panel to answer your questions. The interview is usually 5 minutes in length, and every judge hears the same answer. Depending on how long it takes you to answer each question, every judge may not get an opportunity to ask you a question.
Press Style Conference or Media Interview

Can be conducted in a closed interview setting, but it is usually held on stage where the audience can also participate. You will stand either holding a microphone or behind a podium and answer questions from the judges and audience. Questions can be random and are asked quickly. Think of a presidential press conference and that will give you a good idea of this type of interview.
On-Stage Question

You will be onstage with the emcee. You will be asked either predetermined questions that you pull out of a bowl; or the emcee will ask you impromptu questions based on the information you wrote on your emcee card.
Talk Show Interview Style

Think Oprah, or any other talk show format, and you will know what this setting looks and feels like. The finalists are onstage as a group and sitting in chairs. The emcee will then ask each finalist a question or two. It is supposed to have a more casual, conversational feel so the contestants can express their personalities.

Pageants also have a tendency to shake things up from year to year. They may try a different style, or blend two of the styles to create a hybrid format. The more diversified and experienced you become in your interview skills; the less likely you are to be caught off guard or feel uncomfortable.

As a titleholder, you will be interviewed on stage, over the radio, on TV and for newspaper articles. Knowing how to express yourself in a concise and articulate fashion is very important. The best way to develop your Q&A skills is to practice, out loud, with an individual who can give you honest feedback and bring out your very best information.

If you want practice questions, purchase my interview cards under the resources tab.
March 30, 2011 07:22

Natural Pageants

Pageant systems that fall under this category are National American Miss (NAM), Miss American Coed Pageant (MAC), America’s National Teenager (ANTSO), Cinderella, America’s Outstanding Teen, Miss America, Miss USA, Mrs. America, Mrs. United States and Mrs. International. There are many more but this is a sampling of nationally familiar systems within the pageant world.

• Generally speaking, the makeup guideline for children under 12 is zero. Some will allow only mascara and lip gloss on stage under the bright light. Makeup used on teens and women is to enhance the natural beauty, not to become the focal point or to make them look like someone they’re not. The same goes for hairstyle. Always make sure to check with your director about the specifics for your pageant.
• Clothing is tasteful and has sparkle to it; but is not overly ornate. Wardrobe is usually purchased off the rack at a store and subtly embellished or customized by the contestant to reflect their sense of personality and style. The wardrobe is to always bring attention back to the girl wearing it. Not the other way around.
• Modeling style for gown is elegant and smooth. Arms and hands are close to your body moving in natural opposition (when you step forward with your right foot, your left arm is moving forward and so forth). For fun fashion or casual wear modeling, the style is more upbeat than in formal wear and has a runway feel; but elaborate routines and stunts are not appropriate.
• Facial expressions are natural with the energy of the eyes and smile matching.
• Communication skills are developed through an on-stage introduction, personal interview and on-stage question.

Glitz Pageants

There are many glitz pageants across the country. Glitz pageants are about creating an illusion and offer the opportunity for young children to get use to being on stage before they can speak.

• In glitz pageants, you will see the use of hairpieces, heavy make-up, deep spray tans, fake teeth (called flippers), false eyelashes, and color contacts worn by the majority of the contestants. Just make sure your child can tolerant having their hair teased, eyelashes glued on, and wearing heavy makeup. Glitz pageants are high maintenance and expensive. They are plentiful and easy to find for young children.
• Clothing for glitz pageant is more costume-like clothes and the short cupcake dress is primarily what you will see on the younger contestants. A cupcake dress is a dress that is several inches above the knee, has multiple layers of lace and is heavily stoned and bedazzled. Most of the dresses you see on the TV show Toddlers and Tiaras are cupcake dresses filmed at glitz pageants.
• Glitz pageants have their own style of modeling. Because of the full cupcake skirt, contestants learn to walk with their hands held away from their body with their finger tips gentle curving around the outer ruffle of their dress. When they walk, their arms don’t move in the natural oppositional way. Instead, they move in the same direction (if you step out with your right foot, the right arm moves slightly with it). The modeling routines are filled with tricks, stunts and elaborate moves to create a character on stage.
• Facial Expressions tend to be exaggerated with lots of eyelash batting, tilting of the head from side to side, and blowing kisses. You will see elaborate performance routines onstage.
• Oral communication skills are not the focus of glitz pageants. If the contestant speaks, it is brief or only to say her name, age and where she is from. This may be because most of the contestants are babies and toddlers whose speech isn’t yet develop. Again, the focus is on outer beauty. The crowns are enormous and the trophies are as tall as the children. There are usually lots of prizes, too.

Because the natural and glitz environments are so different, it’s hard, but not impossible, for children to successfully transition between the two. The habits are hard to break.

If you’re going to compete in pageants, the best advice I can give is to make the decision to compete in either glitz or natural. Don’t bounce between the two. It will only cause confusion and frustration for both you and your child. Once you’ve decided on the type of pageant, find the system that is the best fit for your goals and personal strengths and stick to it to obtain the best results.

Pat Miller, national director, created the Pure American Pageants system from her experience of competing in different systems over the past 6 years with her three daughters.

Pure American Pageant system is a wholesome, natural pageant with the focus on growing a girl’s self esteem, confidence and helping each contestant reach her dreams. In my interview with Pat, she shared with me that pageantry is a great way for girls and women to learn how to be ladies, develop their public speaking skills, and (for some) feel beautiful for the first time in their lives.

The national pageant will be very family oriented and have an optional prayer service on Sunday morning. In addition to offering a new pageant for contestants, the Miller family is offering business opportunities for people looking to be directors on the local and state levels.

Below are some of the details about this new and upcoming pageant.

• This first pageant will be an at-large competition where contestants can come straight to the national pageant without competing at a state or preliminary pageant.
• No flippers (fake teeth), hair extensions, wiglets, or hair pieces of any kind are allowed.
• No makeup on children under the age of 8.
• Ages 9-11 may wear mascara and lip gloss ONLY.
• Ages 12-19 may wear AGE appropriate make up. You want to look as natural as possible.
• Each queen commits to attend a minimum of 5 public events during her reign to promote the pageant; attend next year’s competition to help with the pageant and crown her successor; and work to recruit contestants for the pageant.
• Titleholders can compete in other pageant systems while holding a Pure American Girl title.
• National fee is $295 with a $50 sibling discount. May 1, 2011 is the deadline to pay all fees.
• Contestant’s age division will be determined by age as of January 1, 2011 through the National pageant date. Here’s an example: A contestant may be 3 years old as of January 1, 2011, and turn 4 in March or April 2011. The contestant has the choice of moving up to the 4-5 age group, or staying in the 2-3 age group.

AGE DIVISIONS

Baby
Age 1

Toddler
Ages 2-3

Tot
Ages 4-5

Little
Ages 6-8

Junior
Ages 9-11

Young
Ages 12-14

Miss
Ages 15-18

Ms.
Ages 19-29 (married or unmarried)

Woman
Ages 30+ (married or unmarried)

SCORING

Scoring is as follows:

For ages 3 and under

• Dress Wear 25%
• Casual Wear (Fashion) 25%
• Personality 25%
• Model of the Year 25%

Ages 4 and up:

• Personal Interview 25%
• Formal or Dress Wear 25%
• On-Stage Info-mercial 25%
• Model of the Year 25% (three different outfits)

Categories of Competition

• PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Personal Interview is the best way for judges to get to know the girls on a personal basis. Ages 4-11 can wear a church-style dress for interview. Ages 12 and older should wear a suit. The judging will be done in a “round-robin” style. This means that each girl will get 2 minutes to sit and talk personally with a judge and then move to the next judge. There will be three or four professional judges judging the pageant. Ages 3 and younger will not have a personal interview.

 

• ON-STAGE INFO-MERCIAL EXAMPLES (commercial)

Write an info-mercial that tells the judges about your school, community, town, or state. You will recite this info-mercial from memory during the evening wear competition. The info-mercial should not exceed 30 seconds.

 

• MODEL OF THE YEAR

Contestants choose three outfits from any of the following 10 categories. 
Western Wear
Pajamas
Formal Wear/Dress Wear
School Wear
Decade Costume
Seasonal Wear
Interview Wear
Favorite Sports Team
Party Wear
Outfit of Choice (this can be anything you want-ethnic outfit, dance wear, casual wear, etc. Swim wear is NOT allowed.)

• (A contestant should not wear the same formal-wear outfit for this portion of the competition that she will be wearing later for the formal wear separate judging. You can only wear 1 outfit in each category.)

• FORMAL WEAR

All contestants should wear a formal gown to show their elegance and poise. Ages 11 and younger can wear a long or short (knee length) pageant dress. For young contestants, fancy church dresses (Easter, Sunday, Christmas, and flower-girl style dresses are acceptable. Little girls’ formals are also acceptable). Ages 12 and older should wear floor length gowns. No plunging necklines, stomach cut outs, or super high slits, please.

When it comes to natural pageants for girls and teens, National American Miss (NAM), American Coed (Coed), and International Junior Miss (IJM) are the popular choices for many families. Because these three pageant systems have similar categories of competition when you prepare for one, the transition is easy to compete in the other two.

The 3 main areas of competition for state pageants are [Read more…]

Think back to the last beauty pageant you watched and tell me the color of the winner’s gown. Most of you will answer white, or some shade of it. Neutral colors of white, beige, gold, champagne, and black dominate the crowning moment followed by shades of blue and red.

Neutrals colors are safe for teens and women because they draw focus to the woman in the dress and don’t elicit strong emotional reactions from the judges.

Every human being has emotional reactions to colors. You love some colors and dislike others. So you don’t want to wear something that will potentially turn off the judges. However, not everyone looks their best in white or in a neutral color. Some skin tones need brighter colors to make the contestant look radiant. For girls under the age of 18, judges like to see vibrant shades of pink, blue, and coral along with white. Black and dark colors are too mature for young girls.

The style and color of your gown should work together to highlight your physical beauty. More importantly, the gown should bring attention back to your face.  If they’re admiring (or distracted by) the color and detail of your gown, they’re going to miss YOU. That’s where you get comments like “the dress wore her”. The contestant must wear the dress not the other way around.

When you’re at a Red Carpet event or making an appearance, you can make a bolder statement in your gown selection. But for competition, a classic gown with tasteful embellishments will appeal to the masses.

Choose a pageant gown with a color and fit that highlights who you are without being overbearing. It isn’t the color alone that wins. It’s what the color and style brings attention to that makes it a winning gown.

It use to be once a woman got married or aged out of the Miss America or Miss USA systems, the pageant door closed in her life. For women who enjoy using pageants as a tool for personal growth and a way to experience the different opportunities they provide, this is a bittersweet moment.

Then the pageant door reopened for married women with the creation of the big three married women’s pageants – Mrs. America, Mrs. United States and Mrs. International. Over the years, more and more pageant systems have been created to accommodate the dynamic changes in the demographics of the contestants in the pageantry world.

Just because we get older and get married, that doesn’t decrease our love of competing in beauty pageants. So I am always excited when I see different pageant systems created because it provides continual opportunities for women to keep growing as individuals. This week I interviewed the national director of the American Dream Pageant, Stephanie McClain, and the reigning Miss American Dream queen, Kristin Adams, to tell me about the American Dream Pageant http://www.americandreampageants.com/.

Stephanie has a long pageant history and has served as a pageant director for many years. Some women only dream of participating in a pageant. Stephanie wanted to provide an opportunity to help fulfill that dream; and, support an opportunity for the titleholders to use their platforms to make a difference in the world.

There are 7 different age divisions in the American Dream Pageant:

Teenager (13-16) – 5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.americandreamteenager.com/information/
Teen (16-19)-5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.teenamericandream.com/information/
Miss (19-29)-5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. Never been married, pregnant, or had children. http://www.miss-americandream.com/information/
Mrs. (21-no maximum age) 5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.mrsamericandream.com/information/page3.htm
Ms. (21- no maximum age)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.msamericandream.com/information/
Lady (40-59)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.americandreamlady.com/information/
Ms. Senior (60- no maximum age)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.mssenioramericandream.com/information/

When I asked Stephanie what she was looking for in her titleholders, she told me the system is looking for real women in today’s society. All of the American Dream queens must have strong speaking skills and a platform they want to do something with. Stephanie highly recommended joining a group like Toastmasters and working with an interview pageant coach to hone these skills. It’s also, very important to complete and submit your paperwork on time.

The wardrobe for each age group must be age appropriate, classy and in good taste. If you’re 13, don’t dress like you’re 18; and if you’re 60, don’t dress like you’re 25.
The focus is to have fun, and make your dreams come true. Winning the crown should be the beginning of journey, not the end.

Kristin Adams is a graduate of North Central State College in Mansfield Ohio with a

degree in Radiological Sciences. She is employed by a local health system as a registered radiologic technologist. In her spare time she enjoys nature photography, lifting weights, running, and spending time with her bulldog and retired greyhound.

Her platforms are the Soldiers’ Angels organization where she has sent over 100 letters and care packages to American troops serving overseas; and the Central Ohio Greyhound Rescue where she rescued her greyhound, Ray.

Kristin’s pageant background includes the Bellville Fair Queen, Sunburst and Miss Ohio USA pageants. In recent years, she missed competing and started looked for a pageant that she could enter. The fitness wear competition was the motivation she needed to get back into shape.

I asked Kristin for her list of helpful hints for winning the national title of Miss American Dream. Here is her winning list:

• Don’t go into debt to do a pageant. Invest in coaching and a well-tailored interview suit.
• Write out your packing list and start packing 10 days before you leave.
• Arrive a day before the national pageant begins so you have time to unpack, steam your clothes, and relax.
• If flying, take an empty suitcase or one that is almost empty, so you have room to bring back your contestant gifts, souvenirs, and new trophies and crown.
• Pack some protein powder, protein bars, almonds, raisins, and other healthy snack foods.
• An empty water bottle that you can refill and have with you all the time.
• Hire a coach to work on your interview skills.
• Thoroughly prepare, stay positive, have fun and be yourself.

What does Miss America 2011Teresa Scanlan, Mary Hart, Vanna White, Oprah, and Sarah Palin all have in common? All these women competed in pageants. The degree of how far they went in pageants varies, but no one can deny that all these women are successful in their own fields.

Mary Hart competed in the Miss America pageant in 1970 as Miss South Dakota, and finished in the top ten. She later became an Entertainment Tonight correspondent. Vanna White of Wheel of Fortune was the fourth runner-up in the 1978 Miss Georgia Universe Beauty Pageant. Sarah Palin came in second in the Miss Alaska Pageant in 1984. And even Oprah was in pageants. At 16, she was the first black Miss Fire Prevention for Nashville.

There are countless women who have launched their careers by entering pageants. And many of them never won the title they were seeking.

Sometimes, the title we THINK we need to be successful isn’t where our greatest success will come from. Participating in pageants means you’ll come in contact with pageant judges, pageant sponsors, and audience members who are connected in the community. People are the doors to opportunity. It’s a myth to think that only the titleholder is the “winner” and the only one who was successful the evening of the pageant. In fact, many of the runners up tend to achieve greater success in life than the queen.
The self discovering and skills that pageant contestants develop through competition make them more desirable in the market place.
So I’ll ask you to question your definition of success. What would need to happen at a pageant for you to feel successful? What opportunities are you hoping the physical crown will lead to? Do you need a crown to follow your dreams? What benefits are you getting as a person from participating in pageants?
If you’re ready to explore these questions further, contact me and let’s get started on putting together your plan for success.

Night One – Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier, Lifestyle & Fitness Winner

Night One -Miss North Carolina – Adrienne Core, Talent- clogging performance to “Soul Man”

Night Two- Miss Alabama – Ashley Davis, Lifestyle & Fitness

Night Two- Miss Rhode Island – Deborah Saint-Vil, Talent -vocal performance of “Smile”

Night Three-Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan, Talent -piano performance of ”White Water Chopped Sticks”

Night Three-Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West, Lifestyle & Fitness

Miss America will travel approximately 20,000 miles each month speaking to audiences about her platform of Eating Disorders: A Generation at Risk, and acting as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals, is the national platform partner of the Miss America Organization.
In addition, Miss America 2011 will be the official spokesperson for Joseph Ribkoff International Clothing Company, who will provide Teresa with a full wardrobe for the year.
Teresa, age 17, will be a student at Patrick Henry College. Her scholastic ambition is to attend law school and she ultimately hopes to become a judge and eventually a politician. Along with the title of Miss America 2011, Teresa won a $50,000 scholarship sponsored by Artistry exclusively by Amway to continue her education. For the talent portion of the competition, Teresa performed “White Water Chopped Sticks” on the piano.

The first runner-up was Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady who earned a $25,000 scholarship. Her talent performance was Vocal-Ventriloquism to “I want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” and her personal platform is Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Second runner-up honors and a $20,000 scholarship were awarded to Miss Hawaii Jalee Fuselier. Her talent was a vocal performance to “Feelin’ Good,” and her personal platform is “Ready for the Real World.”
Additional information about the Miss America Organization can be found atwww.MissAmerica.org.

All photos courtesy of the Miss America Organization.

Miss America 2011

• Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan

Runners Up

• Miss Arkansas – Alyse Eady (1st Runner Up)
• Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier (2nd Runner Up)
• Miss Washington – Jacquie Brown (3rd Runner Up)
• Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West (4th Runner Up)

Top 5 (In Random Order)

• Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier
• Miss Washington – Jacquie Brown
• Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan
• Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West
• Miss Arkansas – Alyse Eady

Top 10 (In Random Order)

• Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan
• Miss Washington – Jacquie Brown
• Miss Arizona – Kathryn Bulkley
• Miss California – Arianna Afsar
• Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West
• Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier
• Miss Delaware – Kayla Martell
• Miss Virginia – Caitlin Uze
• Miss Arkansas – Alyse Eady
• Miss Kentucky – Djuan Trent

Top 12 (In Random Order)

• Miss Texas – Ashley Melnick
• Miss Arkansas – Alyse Eady
• Miss Delaware – Kayla Martell
• Miss Arizona – Kathryn Bulkley
• Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier
• Miss Washington – Jacquie Brown
• Miss Kentucky – Djuan Trent
• Miss California – Arianna Afsar
• Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West
• Miss Virginia – Caitlin Uze
• Miss New York – Claire Buffie
• Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan

Semi Finalists (In Random Order)

• Miss Oklahoma – Emoly West
• Miss Nebraska – Teresa Scanlan
• Miss Texas – Ashley Melnick
• Miss Rhode Island – Deborah Saint-Vil
• Miss Utah – Christina Lowe
• Miss Washington – Jacquie Brown
• Miss Arizona – Kathryn Bulkley
• Miss Hawaii – Jalee Fuselier
• Miss Virginia – Caitlin Uze
• Miss Arkansas – Alyse Eady
• Miss California – Arianna Afsar
• Miss New York – Claire Buffie (America’s Choice)
• Miss Delaware – Kayla Martell (America’s Choice)
• Miss Kentucky – Djuan Trent (Contestant’s Choice)
• Miss Oregon – Stephenie Steers (Contestant’s Choice)

Rhonda Shappert

January 20, 2011 07:44

With the holidays behind you, it’s time to shift your focus to the year 2011. In last week’s newsletter, I stressed the importance of planning if you want your results in 2011 to be different than 2010; but a plan without action is worthless.

Every January 1st, people set all kinds of resolutions with good intentions. Then, by the middle of February, most of those resolutions are distant memories. Yes, there’s power in setting a goal-tremendous power in writing it down. It’s the first step to making change happen. However, what is it that gets in your way of making those intentions happen? I’ll tell you what it is.It’s your enormous BUT.

I would do it now BUT I don’t have the time.

I would do it BUT I don’t have the money.

I would do it BUT I don’t know how.

I would do it BUT I’m not good enough.

I would do it BUT it’s too late.

BUT is a mental block that will keep your physical butt from taking action to make your dreams come true. So time of truth, HOW BIG IS YOUR BUT? How much longer are you going to allow your mental blocks hold you back from the dreams and desires of your heart?

You want a stronger spiritual life? Then spend more time in daily prayer. You want to be of greater service to those around you? Then start looking at ways that you can offer your gifts of time, talent or money to make a difference in your community. Don’t use your BUT (or sit on your butt) for another year thinking things are going to happen on their own. Start small if need be. Just start.

What is it that will move you to take action? For most people, they need someone or something to hold them accountable. Personally, if I tell someone I am going to do something, I will take the necessary action to do it. BUT, if I keep it all to myself, it’s much easier NOT to take the action because no one else knows about it – except me. Or, if I pay for an event before it takes place, the chances of me attending are greater than if I wait until the last minute and pay at the door.

What action can you take to help hold you accountable to your new year’s resolutions? If you’re planning on participating in a pageant this year and want a winning experience by :

Feeling confidently relaxed at the pageant because of your thorough preparation.

Presenting your very best self to the judges.

Experiencing less pageant drama than you have in the past.

Answering interview questions with ease in a natural conversational style.

Developing a specific skill set that will help you succeed in life beyond the pageant.

January 5, 2011 06:04