From Stage Fright to Sash Success: My Top Pageant Tips and Secrets

Hello!

I'm so excited to dive into today's blog post! Many aspiring contestants wonder how to transition from admiring pageant winners online to confidently commanding the stage themselves. Before we dive in, I suggest checking out my previous post about my own pageant journey. Then, read about my 5 tips that will revolutionize your approach to pageants.

1. Research

   Entering a pageant requires more than just a pretty dress – it demands diligent research. Understanding the pageant's organization is crucial. What is their mission and vision? What characteristics do they seek in their titleholder? What are the competition rounds? Consider this your first and most important step. Aligning your values with the organization is essential, particularly if your platform is a key focus. If you dream of Miss Universe, will this pageant propel you towards that goal? Selecting the right pageant requires careful consideration. Study past competitions, and competitors!—observe, analyze, and identify areas for improvement. This proactive research will set you up for success and increase your knowledge. Before all else, prioritize in-depth research of the pageant. Specifically, understand the scoring system for each round. Analyze how your existing skillset aligns with the judging criteria. Identify rounds where you excel naturally, and, more importantly, pinpoint areas needing significant improvement and dedicated focus. Knowing the scoring breakdown is crucial for strategic preparation.

   
   

2. Invest in a Coach

   Finding a pageant coach can be incredibly beneficial and finding one that best fits your needs, will be crucial. Coaches have diverse coaching styles, so seek one whose approach resonates with you and with whom you have great chemistry with, as you'll be working closely together. For newcomers to pageantry, starting your search for a coach as early as a year in advance is highly recommended (after completing your initial research). While it may seem early, consider your existing commitments – work, school, etc. – which limit your availability for coaching sessions. Also, remember that a coach is a guide, not a dictator. While their expertise is invaluable, you ultimately retain control over your decisions (unless your agreement specifies otherwise). They are there to support your vision, not impose their own. If you're unable to find a coach that matches your needs or hiring one is out of your budget, I recommend watching videos from Dani Walker. She is an amazing previous title holder and pageant coach that offers free advice on her YouTube Channel.

   
   

3. Be Open Minded

   Pageantry can be a new and competitive environment. Introducing you to unfamiliar experiences like elaborate heels, unusual attire, or even a change in hair color can all be overwhelming as a first time. A pageant coach offers expert guidance, envisioning your overall presentation and suggesting enhancements to optimize your look. While some recommendations might feel outside your comfort zone, I encourage you to remain open-minded. If something causes discomfort, explore the root cause of those feelings. Communicate all your thoughts and concerns openly with your coach, to navigate these challenges. Don't hesitate to express your opinions. A skilled coach will be receptive to your perspective and work with you to find solutions that align with both your vision and their expertise.

   
   

4. Believe in Yourself

   While a coach will provide you guidance and support leading up to the pageant, remember that ultimately, it is you who will grace the stage. Their expertise can only take you so far; your individual performance hinges on your own unwavering self-belief. Reflect on the journey that brought you here. The very act of initiating research, completing your application, and daring to compete signifies an existing foundation of faith in your potential. Nurture and amplify that inner confidence.

   Continuously reinforce your belief in your abilities by diligently practicing and perfecting the skills you've rehearsed. Remember, if you lack faith in yourself, projecting confidence to the judges and audience becomes an uphill battle. Cultivating courage and self-assurance through positive thinking, visualization, and embracing your strengths is key. By actively manifesting these qualities and consistently reaffirming your self-worth, you empower yourself to shine on stage. Your belief in yourself is the catalyst for unlocking your full potential and achieving peak performance. Believe in the hard work you've invested, the lessons you've learned, and the unique qualities you bring to the competition.

   
   

5. Build Awareness

   As you dedicate yourself to refining your performance, you will start to gain a deeper understanding of pageantry itself, along with the acquisition of techniques to hone your skills. Beyond the scheduled sessions with your coach, countless evenings will be spent rehearsing independently. During these solo practice sessions, actively cultivate your self-awareness. Develop the ability to critically evaluate your performance, pinpointing areas for improvement, such as identifying flaws in your turns and corrections in your speech. As your self-awareness expands, you'll gradually gain the ability to anticipate and proactively address potential errors, similar to your coach. This will extend beyond your own performance. You will also build your awareness around your competitors. Train yourself to objectively analyze their strengths and identify areas where they could potentially improve. Building this awareness will equip you with the knowledge and insights to refine your own strategy and ultimately, elevate your performance.

I've shared my top 5 tips for young women contemplating entering the world of pageantry. As I'm focusing on my education and family for 2025, I won't be coaching this year. I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on these tips. Have you considered any of them during your own pageant journey? Please share your own advice or insights in the comments below or ask a question for clarification! Also, if you know someone who's interested in pageantry but doesn't know where to begin, please feel free to share this post with them. Wishing you all the best on your pageant journey!

PC: GFlower.jpg; SHNY 24-25 with Miss Yeev Yvonne Vang