Our family of five just returned from a week at the America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization (ANTSO) pageant.

Two of my three daughters competed and I know firsthand how stressful and crazy it can be for a family at a national pageant.

We drove 8 hours to Philadelphia for the pageant and I wanted to share some tips with you that made our pageant life a bit easier this week.

Tip 1: Fill one suitcase with food. Put the food in a large suitcase for a couple reasons. First, it looks more professional than a bunch of plastic bags when you're checking into the hotel; and secondly, things won't fall out as you're taking them into the room.

My pageant food list is instant oatmeal, vacuum packed tuna, raisins, plain almonds, peanut butter, whole wheat/low sodium crackers, energy drink (Ocean Spray Cranenergy low sugar/low calorie) cases of bottled water, plain Cheerios, Goldfish crackers, and snack pack of prunes.

Except for the water, I pack this even when I fly. This food doesn't require refrigeration and will fill in the gaps with protein and complex carbs when you don't have time to eat at the restaurant, or when a restaurant isn't close enough to the pageant sight. When I drive, I also bring under ripe fruit like bananas and peaches. Trust me. You'll save yourself time, money and stress by bringing some of your own food.

Tip 2: Make sure you have AAA or some auto plan before leaving home if you're driving to the pageant. Dead batteries, flat tires and locked in keys happen more often than you think. Also, take about $200 in cash for toll roads, fast food and other misc. expenses that don't take credit cards, or if their computers are down.

Tip 3: Get food for contestants while they're in rehearsals. If you don't bring food with you, then get carry out food while the contestants are in required activities. This is a great activity for husbands, dads, boyfriends or other family members who are there to support you. That way when the contestants break, they can eat and relax a bit in the room before they start activities again. Always have bottles of water with you. You don't want the contestants to get lightheaded or get a headache due to dehydration.

Tip 4: Buy a box of gallon and quart sized storage zip lock bags to take to the pageant. Use these to organize everything from jewelry to wardrobe malfunction kits. I put all parts of each competition into a separate baggie and labeled it. You see, no one was allowed backstage at the national pageant. The contestants had to be completely self reliant and organized-even the nine year olds. Baggies will save your sanity.

Tip 5: Put some safety pins, double stick tape, tissue, and moistened towelettes in a baggie to send back stage with your contestant. Stuff happens. But if you're ready for it, the stress is almost non-existent. I always have a small sewing kit with me too.
Tip 6: Pack a small rolling suitcase, one lightweight hanging bag and extra hangers for each person that is going to the pageant.

This way, each person can handle their own luggage. Even a small child can pull a small roller bag and wear a back pack.

Write an inventory list of what is in each suitcase so anyone in the family could pack or unpack the contents to make sure nothing is left behind or forgotten. I even use to take a picture of the contents of the suitcase for my kids when they were little and couldn't read. All they had to do was look at the picture of everything that needed to be in the bag, and they could pack themselves.

Tip 7: Buy a makeup carrier that can organize and hold all of your makeup in one place. Set up your makeup area by the window in your hotel if you can. Natural light is the best source for you to get the right amount of color on your skin.

Tip 8: Consider two hotel rooms if you have young children or a large family. Contestants need time and space to prepare and get ready. If baby Sally is getting tired and fussy, dad can take her to the other room so mom can finish getting Susie ready for the competition. Or if dad wants to watch TV, he can do that and let Susie practice interview or talent without the distraction and noise. If you only have one room, then have a second adult available to take the other children out of the room to do something while your contestant is getting ready.

Tip 9: Allow extra time for elevator congestion. If your pageant is in a big hotel, you need to allow extra time to get on and off the elevators. When everyone is trying to get to the same place at the same time, this creates a problem. At pageants, you don't want to be late. When the production crew or directors say "be here at 10AM", they mean 10AM. It's better to be early than late. 10 minutes early is considered being on time. 

Tip 10: Do your complete hair and makeup for the day before you leave your hotel room. Allow for touch ups for remainder of the day. Many times in pageants there is very little time in between events. If you think you'll have plenty of time to completely do your hair and makeup before the show, think again. The only control of time you have is the early morning before the pageant schedule starts. Plan accordingly.

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Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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 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.

Mastering the pageant walk takes hours of practice and can’t be mastered overnight. I came across this link that shows a great way to master that glamorous Miss Universe walk.http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-walk-like-a-beauty-queen

Now, I realize not all pageants use this walking style; however, the principles of mastering the ability to walk a straight line by crossing over while you walk, and the importance of a smooth, effortless turn are universal.

Learning the pageant walk starts with a pair of high heeled shoes. In no time, you’ll be strutting in those 5” stilettos if you make sure your shoes fit properly and you’re using good technique.

Start with a low heel and once you’ve mastered it, move up an inch at a time. When you walk, you want to make sure your feet are crossing over and not walking in parallel. Again, watch the video. Working with a pageant coach will really help you develop your style, too. 

You’ll want to walk going heel, toe, heel, toe; and make sure the weight is on your whole foot before taking the next step. Make sure your step isn’t too long. As a pageant coach, I see this all too often when clients try to power walk in high heels like they’re in their tennis shoes. I’m not talking about speed. It’s the length of the step. Smaller steps and slow down.

Another link I want to share with you has some exercises to help strengthen the muscles in your feet so you don’t experience cramps and excessive fatigue.http://www.videojug.com/film/exercises-for-wearing-high-heels

 
To reduce fatigue, I highly recommend Dr. Scholl’s for Her High Heel insoles. They are clear insoles that you can put in strappy sandals or any high heel. Not only do they make my feet feel better, but my heel doesn’t slip around or off the shoe.Putting foot cushions and non slip pads on the bottom of your shoes will reduce the possibility of a slip on smooth stages.

Have you spent hours shopping for those beige colored shoes you see other children wearing at pageants for interview and wondered “where in the world do mother’s get those shoes?” I’ll tell you. They’re dance shoes and you need to order them online because they’re not normally carried in the dance stores.

For little girls and girls who aren’t quite into women’s sizes yet, you’ll need to buy dance character shoes or tap shoes without the taps attached to wear with your interview suit. These can be purchased online from www.discountdance.com. Take special care in ordering because the sizing can be a bit tricky. If in doubt, call the customer service department first to help you with ordering.

Theatricals Child Graduated Heel Tap Shoe – (taps not attached)
http://www.discountdance.com/frame_set.php3?mf=/dancewear/shoes/page1

Capezio® Women's "Jr. Footlight" Tap Character Shoe
http://www.discountdance.com/frame_set.php3?mf=/dancewear/shoes/page1

Now, once you get your shoes, break them in by walking in them every day for weeks leading up to your pageant. Resist the tendency to keep them “brand new” looking for the pageant. Walk for 15-20 minutes in your house and then take them off if you must.

Realize this though, when you get to your state or national pageant, you’ll be on your feet for hours in those high heels for several days. You’ll want your feet ready for that kind of action. Walk in your high heels everyday to make sure you’re ready.

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Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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.

The pageant interview suit, swimsuit, fitness wear and gown are always the first items pageant contestants shop for. However, sometime between a couple weeks to days before the pageant, a few people hit the panic wall. They realize the pageant is here and they still have a list of outstanding pageant necessities they need to buy. In a frenzy, they drive all over town hunting for these items.
Because of the urgency, contestants (and their mothers) may experience very high levels of stress for a couple reasons:

1. The selection isn't as good, or they don't have your size or color.

1. 2. They have what you need, but you have to pay full price for it.

2. 3. You can't find what you're looking for because it's either been

3.     discontinued, out of stock or out of season.

As a former pageant contestant, titleholder, pageant coach and pageant mom, I know and understand all too well the level of stress this creates. This is not where you want your energy to be focused right before the pageant. So, where this list is by no means inclusive, it will serve as a starting point. If your intension is to compete in multiple pageants over several years, here is a list of items to keep in your closet. By shopping ahead, you can get the size and color you want, get things on sale, and rest up before your big pageant weekend when otherwise you would be spending your time zooming all over town.

SHOES

• Clean white tennis shoes with clean white socks. These are needed for the opening number and rehearsals in most children's pageant systems; and fitness wear for teens and ladies.

• Silver, black and nude open-toed strappy high heeled sandals. Realize for teens on up, the height for high heels is at least 4". These shoes are used for swimsuit and opening number productions at state and national pageants.

• Closed toe nude or neutral shoes for interview.

• For little girls, an assortment of flats in white, black and nude colors to go with your gowns. The hardest put about having a child who enjoys doing pageants is that they GROW! And, as a parent, we don't know how much or when the growth spurts are going to take place. So, what I have done for years, is when I find a pair of shoes that fits, I buy multiple pairs in a couple sizes too big. This way I have them when I need them. If they outgrow before they get to wear them, I sell them. The reason flats are great is because the child can wear the gown with an age appropriate height heel to start with. If the growth spurt takes place between state and nationals, put the flats on them so you don't have to buy a new dress.

UNDERGARMENTS

• Nude and black strapless bras.

• Nude dance trunks or body shape to wear under fitted dresses or the opening number outfit.

• White and nude camis (especially for younger girls and tweens).

• Pantyhose that match your skin tone perfectly and don't shine on stage.

• Clear straps for convertible bras.

• Silicone bra pads and an assortment of breast petals and nipple concealing items.

• Hollywood tape to secure a neckline that may open up. Remember, we want to keep it a family show.

Black leggings, white Capri pants , and a clean well-fitted white t-shirt are always good to have in your closet , too. These are seasonal items so pick them up when their available, or watch the clearance racks.
If you have a pageant coming up within the next 60 days, make your list and get it done. Your nerves will thank you.

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What have you been putting off? Tomorrow, break it down step by step as to what needs to happen and then start. Like the famous slogan says "Just Do It".

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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.

For the person whose only exposure to beauty pageants is from what they see on television, it’s difficult to understand why anyone would choose to do a beauty pageant. After all, showcasing the benefits of doing a beauty pageant wouldn’t get the ratings that the drama does. But there are definite benefits or else pageantry wouldn’t be a multi-billion dollar industry.

Of the many benefits to participating in a pageant, I’m going to share my top five reasons.

1. Recognition.

People feel valued and appreciated when they receive recognition for their hard work. Some pageant systems offer cash prizes along with on-stage recognition for optional areas of participation such as talent, speech, commercials, modeling, community service, scholastic, letters of recommendation, career achievement and creative arts through scrapbooking, ad pages and decorating contests .

1. 2. Personal Development.

   The more a person recognizes and understands their strengths, values, likes, dislikes, beliefs, and personality style, the greater fulfillment and satisfaction they’ll experience from their life. The greatest self discovery and personal growth can come from working with an expert pageant coach who understands in depth how to use pageantry as a tool to develop the excellence within you.

2. 3. Communication Skills.

   The ability of articulate ones thoughts into written and spoken words is priceless. We live in an age where masses consider quality communicate as texting or posting an update on Face book. The skill of having a meaningful face to face conversation with another human being is being greatly diminished by technology. As an expert pageant coach and judge, I regularly encounter contestants with poor writing and verbal communication skills. This is very apparent in the paperwork that is submitted. By developing your communication skills, the relationships in your life will also develop in a life giving way.

3. 4. Confidence.

   The ability to face ones fears and take action anyway develops great confidence. It’s common knowledge that speaking in front of a crowd is the number one fear of people. Well, in pageantry there’s plenty of opportunity to get in front of large groups of people on a regular basis and develop a comfort level with being on stage. Through the interviewing process and introducing yourself to many people, your speaking skills will blossom in this arena.

4.  

5. 5. Handling Stress, Pressure and Disappointment.

   These reactions are a part of life. Your attitude and thoughts around these reactions can either move you forward towards fulfillment or break you down. Stress, pressure and disappointment don’t have to be viewed as negative things. In fact, they can be powerful motivators to accelerate you to the next level. It all depends on how you look at them. In pageantry, you will experience these to the fullest extent, and with guidance, you can learn how to flip them to work to your advantage.

Recognition, personal development, communication skills, confidence and handling the stress, pressure and disappointments in life are the benefits you’ll take with you from doing pageants. And if you really enjoy modeling, hair, makeup and fashion, oh the fun you will have learning these life lessons.

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Take a moment to list the benefits you receive from each of the activities you participate in. If you struggle to come up with benefits, decide if that is an activity you want to be spending your time doing.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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.

• Do I need a pageant coach?
• What can a pageant coach do for me?
• When is the best time for me to start working with a pageant coach?
• How do I find and choose a pageant coach?

Had I known the answers to these four questions before I entered my first professional beauty pageant, I would have saved precious time and money. Because I had been experiencing all the success I wanted in local and festival pageants, imagine the shock I received when I made the jump into the big time pageant scene using only the skills I had developed on my own for the lower levels of pageantry. It’s a pretty hard pill to swallow going from winning every pageant you enter to not making the top ten.

I vividly remember the numb feeling I had walking off the stage after the top ten had been announced and I wasn’t one of them. What did I do wrong? What could I have changed? I did everything I knew right. It didn’t make sense to me. Moments after the pageant, I received valuable insight that helped answer the questions that were running through my mind.

My roommate won the title that year. When I congratulated her, she hugged me and told me I needed to work with her pageant coach for next year’s pageant. Pageant coach? What on earth is a pageant coach? No one had told me there were people who helped get you ready for a pageant. Why would I even need someone like that anyway, after all, it’s a pageant. How hard could it be?

Well, apparently I was missing some information because there I stood, having spent all this money and didn’t even make the first cut after I had already won four titles before this pageant. A month after that pageant, I started working with Willa, my pageant coach. For me, it was the key that unlocked the door to all the opportunities and benefits possible in pageantry.

To answer do I need a pageant coach, I would ask, are you getting the results you want? If you’re completely happy with the results and experience you’re having in pageantry, no you don’t need help. But if you’re not getting what you want from the process, then a qualified professional may be able to help you reach your goals. Sometimes tweaking just one or two things can have dramatic results. Don’t get hung up on the label “pageant coach”. Everyone has help and support from people to learn skills that will help them succeed. You just need to figure out what you want and how to find the right people to help you.

What can a pageant coach do for me? A great pageant coach can partner with you to help clarify the results you want, identify what makes you unique, create and implement detailed steps on how to reach your goals, hold you accountable to your action plan, help you break through blocks that are standing in your way, and support you in an objective, nonjudgmental way that brings out your best qualities. The result is a pageant experience that is less stressful, more enjoyable and you walk away from the event with no regrets. Areas that a coach can help you refine are wardrobe selection, hair, makeup, walking, posing, paperwork prep, onstage introductions, interview, budgeting, planning, checklists, mental preparation and more.

At this point, I need to share a very important piece of information with you. Everyone has an opinion and all kinds of advice on what you “should “do. Some people will offer it even when they’re not asked. Be selective about whom to listen to. Ultimately, the only opinion that matters is yours. After talking and working with different people, you need to trust your inner feelings and do what is best for you. If you allow yourself to be talked into wearing, saying or doing something that doesn’t feel right to you, you won’t feel confident and that will be evident to everyone.

When is the best time to start working with a pageant coach? Ideally, six months to a year before your first pageant. After that, three to six months is a good rule of thumb. Why? It may take you a year to raise the money necessary to do the pageant. Plus, certain skills take longer to develop. Great communication and interview skills cannot be mastered a few days before the pageant. The same thing goes for learning how to walk and pose in 4” heels. If there is swimsuit competition, time is on your side in getting fit. Simply put, transforming your body and mind takes time.

How do I find and choose a pageant coach? You can find pageant coaches through referrals or on the internet. There are many people who call themselves pageant coaches so take your time to ask questions and do your research. Some specialize in just hair, makeup and wardrobe while others are runway modeling experts. Talk with them. Find out how diversified their abilities and experiences are within the pageant world. Trust your feelings and ask yourself if they are a good fit for what you want?

How much time or help each person needs is different. Typically, children up to the age of 10 or so will spend most of their time learning how to walk, speak and model. Although interview time is kept to a minimum, the foundation is being laid at this age. Using proper and respectful language should be encouraged by the parents in the child’s day to day life.

Feeling completely safe and comfortable at all times with your coach is a necessity. The secret is in finding the right fit.
If you're not getting the results you want on your own, perhaps it's time to seek out a coach to help you get to where you want to be. I'd love to talk with you and help you create your winning plan. To schedule a 15 minute get acquainted call, email appointments@winningthroughpageantry.com.

One of my favorite parts of pageantry was working with my coach. The self discovery and personal growth I experienced in getting ready for the pageant was exhilarating. I was in my best physical shape, intellectually stimulated and spiritually aware of my inner purpose. I was not dependent on my coach or her “advice”. As a matter of fact, she never gave me advice. Instead, it was a partnership in which I felt safe to explore and discover what truly made me special and different from everyone else. That was my experience, and that is the environment I have created as well for those girls I choose to work with. The pageant is just the beginning, not the end, of the journey.

I received my life coach training through iPEC because I wanted to be able to coach people in a way that would enable them to have lasting results in their lives long after the pageant. After all, to discover who we are and how we can apply our talents to every aspect of our life is a wonderful blessing.

Before becoming a full-time pageant coach, I enjoyed my years as a pageant contestant. The decades have been filled with the overwhelming joy of hearing my name called out as the titleholder many times; but the disappointment and depression of being a runner-up even more.

Wait, did I say depression? Oh yes, I did.
Few people will talk openly and honestly about this. They feel it's poor sportsmanship or it may come across as sour grapes by the fact they didn't win the crown. But I want to reassure you that it happens frequently and is a normal reaction.

For months leading up to the pageant, a pageant contestant will rearrange her schedule, move priorities around and spend precious time and money preparing for the big event. It's natural to feel a bit depression when it's all over and you didn't come away with the crown. Personally, after Mrs. America, I ate nonstop for weeks following the pageant and didn't work out for months. After watching everything that went into my mouth and working my body to the point of exhaustion, I needed a HUGE break.

The disappointment or depression didn't last long with me because I had learned some strategies along the way that helped lessen the effects of this state of mind.

• Plan an event to do right after the pageant. This can be as big or as small as you want it to be; but it needs to be something that you enjoy and look forward to. Weeks before I left for nationals, I booked appearances for the very next week after nationals. I am so thankful that I did. It gave me something to look forward to when I got home and it reassured me that I was making a difference as Mrs. Ohio.

• Write down all the positive benefits you have received in preparing for the pageant. Start a positive thoughts journal when you begin your pageant preparation. Write down every discovery and positive thing that happens to you in the months leading up to the pageant. When you look back and see the tangible benefits you've experienced in preparing for the pageant, not receiving the crown THIS TIME AROUND doesn't seem as bad.

• Keep a mementos box of your appearances. As soon as you receive a title, whether it's a preliminary one leading up to the state or the state title, start making appearances ASAP. Take pictures, save the thank you cards you receive, and keep anything that reminds you of the fun and positive effects you are having with your title.

The reality of a pageant is that only one person will be selected to wear the crown for the year; but that doesn't mean there's only one winner. Give yourself permission to feel the disappointment and acknowledge your feelings. Then celebrate the advances you've made and reset your goal.

If you're not getting the results you want on your own, perhaps it's time to seek out a coach to help you get to where you want to be. I'd love to talk with you and help you create your winning plan. To schedule a 15 minute get acquainted call, email appointments@winningthroughpageantry.com.

Have every weekly article I write delivered directly to your email. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Just click the GET YOUR FREE REPORT button at the top of this page. Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

Whether it's graduation, a birthday, family reunion, or any other event that requires a great deal of planning, it's normal to feel a little depressed when the activity is over. Be sure to schedule something just for yourself like a massage a couple days after the big event. Perhaps have someone take the kids for the afternoon so you can have some quiet alone time. Whatever it is, make it relaxing and something that you really enjoy so you have something to look forward to.

Question: What should I be doing one month before the pageant?

Answer: Your focus should be on maintaining your positive mental attitude (stop following the other contestants on FB), wrapping up loose end, and getting as much rest as you can before your pageant. No major changes or decisions should be left to the last month. Your entire wardrobe should be purchased and in your possession by now. The decisions of how you're going to wear your hair and makeup for each category of competition should already be done, too. Start packing by laying out each of your complete outfits with everything that goes with it –shoes, jewelry, etc. Schedule all your tanning, hair, manicure and pedicure appointments. Keep up with your fitness routine, drink lots of water and get plenty of rest.

INTERVIEW CARD

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.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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 about what pageant systems are available to babies and young children. Since I was a judge at the Ohio Sunburst State Finals this past Saturday, I wanted to share this system with all of you.

 
Sunburst is now celebrating its 32 year and has been featured on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. The Sunburst system has launched the movie, TV and print work careers of many of its titleholders. The main focus of the pageant is on facial beauty. The judges and agents prefer a wholesome, age appropriate look on the younger contestants so please, no makeup on children 6 years of age and younger. This is taken right out of the state information guide.

 
For the beauty title, there are two areas of scoring-Interview (up close appraisal) and formal wear.
The interview is really an Up Close Appraisal; each contestant is in front of the judges for the same amount of time and will receive a facial beauty score only.

To help the contestants feel more comfortable, the judges may ask one question to help break the ice; but the answer is not scored nor is it a hard question. Typical interview questions would be like how old are you? What do you like to do? What pets do you have? What’s your favorite toy? What’s your favorite TV show? What school do you go to? What activities are you involved in?

Children 1 mos. - 4 years old must be accompanied by one adult. The attire for this event is an official Sunburst T-Shirt (which you receive at check-in) with your own white, denim or khaki shorts, skirts or pants, and shoes of any type.

 
Having judged this pageant for the past 8 years, I can’t stress this enough, please don’t put fake hair, flippers and makeup on your babies and young children here.

It is true that you will see both glitz and natural pageant contestants at the Sunburst pageant. However, the pageant system really wants the natural beauty of its children under the age of 6 to shine. Will you see some younger children wearing these things? Yes, but if something is really inappropriate or over the top, a judging panel will take this into consideration when giving a score.

 
Remember, they are looking for a wholesome, age appropriate look. That goes for all of the age groups.  With the main criteria being facial beauty, a beautiful face can be spotted with or without makeup. You want everything to be tasteful.

 
The second scored area is Formal Wear. Attire for 1 mos.- 10 year old girls can be short or long party or pageant dresses. Adding my personal opinion here, the most flattering length for short dresses on young girls is a couple inches above the knee so the whole knee cap is exposed. A long dress should touch the floor. Fit is everything. The dress can’t be too tight, too big, too long or too short. Since children grow, have it tailored about 10 days before the pageant. That means finding a good seamstress before the pageant and having her reserve that time for you.

For girls ages 11-27, the formal wear attire is long gowns that are age appropriate. All boys are to wear a suit or tux.

For babies 1 month -4 years, each child will go to the center stage with one adult where they will receive their score. Girls 5-27 years are judged from the center stage. Do all your modeling in the center only.

There are no extra points given if little 9 month old Sally holds your finger and takes 30 seconds to step, step her way to center stage. Then when she gets to center stage, she’s so tired that she wants to sit down. When you try to make her stand and face the judges, she throws a fit because it took all her energy to walk there. Do yourself a huge favor, carry your young child to the center and then let her stand IF she is able. You want her best behavior to be at center stage because that is where the judges are told to award the score. A tantrum does not score high.

 
There are many side awards for prettiest eyes, hair, smile, personality, and attire; along with optional model search, daycare/school wear, swimwear, photogenic, talent, portfolio, composite and mail-in photo contests for the contestants to participate in as well.

 
State Pageant Age Groups
Age is determined by age the contestant is on the 1st day of the State Pageant:

Girls

• 0-15 mos.

• 6-23 mos.

• 2 yrs.

• 3 & 4 yrs.

• 5-6 yrs.

• 7-10 yrs.

• 11-13 yrs.

• 14-17 yrs.

• 18-27 yrs. ( contestants may be married or single)

Boys

• 0-23 mos.

• 2-4 yrs.

For questions about the preliminary and state pageants in your area, go to the national website at http://www.sunburstbeauty.com/

Have every weekly article I write delivered directly to your email. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Just click the GET YOUR FREE REPORT button at the top of this page. Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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 an expert pageant coach, I help contestants identify their strengths and choose pageants that match those qualities. A couple months ago, I highlighted the Miss America organization system. This week we'll turn our attention to the MISS UNIVERSE system.

The titleholders of these three pageants tend to gravitate towards the modeling, TV and movie industry. Once they are crowned, they move immediately into their New York City apartment and spend the year traveling, making appearances at numerous fund raising events and attending fashion galas for a year.

The MISS USA®, MISS UNIVERSE® and MISS TEEN USA® are all owned by the same organization. To find your state website and pageant, use the search engines and type in Miss Teen Ohio USA or Miss Ohio USA, for example. Each state pageant is independently owned and produced by different directors. The state preliminary pageants start as early as September and go until January. In most states, the Teen and Miss pageants are held the same weekend.
Contestants are judged in three equal categories consisting of Personal Interview, Swimsuit, and Evening Wear. Performing a talent is not a requirement.

The national website for all three is http://www.missuniverse.com. The below information was taken from the official website for informational purposes only. For the most up-to-date information and more specific details, please contact and speak with the state director of the state in which you reside.

HOW OLD ARE THE COMPETITIONS?
The Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions began as concurrent events in 1952 in Long Beach, California. Miss Teen USA made its debut in 1983 in Lakeland, Florida.

ARE THESE COMPETITIONS SEPARATE FROM THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits, formerly a Miss America sponsor, founded Miss Universe and Miss USA in Long Beach, California as product promotion. Although some women compete in both Miss USA and Miss America, the two systems are completely separate. Miss USA goes on to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition.

ARE THE PAGEANTS HELD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE EACH YEAR?
Now they are. When they were initiated, the Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions were held in Long Beach, California. Eight years later in 1960, the two competitions moved to Miami Beach, Florida, where they remained until 1971. Since 1972, they have been separate live television specials that are telecast from different locations around the country and the globe.

HOW ARE THE SITES CHOSEN?
The Miss Universe Organization works throughout the year with private enterprise, State and City government officials and, in the case of the Miss Universe competition, with foreign governments to establish the Host Site for each production. The city or country offering the optimal venue and support to the organization is chosen.

HOW MANY WOMEN COMPETE?
In the case of Miss Universe, between 75 and 85 countries send a candidate to compete. For Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, 51 contestants participate in the competition.

ARE THERE AGE REQUIREMENTS?
Yes. Miss Universe and Miss USA contestants must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by February 1st in the year they compete in the national competition. Miss Teen USA candidates must be at least 14 and under 19 years of age by February 1st in the year they compete in the national competition.

CAN A DELEGATE COMPETE MORE THAN ONCE?
Contestants may compete more than once in the preliminary (state) competition but may only compete in Miss Universe and Miss USA once. Miss Teen USA may compete in Miss USA but only after her reign has ended and after she has reclaimed her state title.

ARE CONTESTANTS REQUIRED TO HAVE A COACH?
No. While some feel more prepared when they work with an experienced person who can give them tips on competition, many women have won titles without any outside training. Candidates also turn to their state and national directors for assistance as the directors are experienced in providing effective counsel about the competition. Generally, state and national directors provide contestants with the confidence and experience needed to compete.

CAN CONTESTANTS BE MARRIED?
No. contestants may not be married or pregnant. They must not have ever been married, not had a marriage annulled nor given birth to a child. The titleholders are also required to remain single throughout their reign.

HOW DO CONTESTANTS GET TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION?
For Miss USA and Miss Teen USA some cities and all states have preliminary competitions, which are produced by local and state directors. The winner of the city competition goes on to compete in the state event for her home city; state winners go on to the national competition. However, a delegate may enter a state competition without having won a city title. Miss Universe contestants must win their respective competitions to compete in the contest. In the case of the United States, Miss USA goes on to represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant.

WHEN ARE THE COMPETITIONS HELD?
Miss USA is always the first event of the year and is generally held in February or March. Miss Universe follows in the Spring, with Miss Teen USA held at the end of Summer.

WHO TELEVISES THE COMPETITIONS?
NBC Universal broadcasts the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions live during prime time in the United States. NBC Universal distributes the shows to international markets (approximately 170 countries). The three events are packaged together for international distribution.

WHO PRODUCES THE LIVE TELEVISED EVENTS?
The MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® specials are produced by the Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture.

Have every weekly article I write delivered directly to your email. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Just click the GET YOUR FREE REPORT button at the top of this page. Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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.

Have every weekly article I write delivered directly to your email. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Just click the GET YOUR FREE REPORT button at the top of this page. Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

You have your dream dress and you’re physically ready for the pageant. You’re feeling confident and excited, and then it happens. You arrive at the pageant and you see her, Patty, the national queen from the age division below you. Patty has aged up and is now in your division. Quick, what are you thinking?
If thoughts like "I’m not as good as her, why bother" or "she has this in the bag" start running through your head, STOP thinking them immediately.

Assuming that because a contestant won a prior pageant guarantees her the crown this time, is the mindset that could eliminate you from the pageant before it begins.

This thought process happens more often than you think. If you’ve ever felt like this, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone. However, if these thoughts continue to occupy your mind during the pageant, your self-doubt and lack of confidence will come through in everything you say and do. The judges and the audience will pick up on this negative energy and the crown will go to someone else.

So what can you do if you find yourself in this trap? Start speaking the truth to yourself.
Just because it happened in the past doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again.Why you may ask?

• Each pageant is different. The pageant may have a new director, or it may be held at a different time of year or location. The field of contestants will be different each year, too. Each pageant is a clean slate.

• Different set of judges look for different things. The judging panel will be different every year which means the results will vary. Judging is subjective so everyone’s opinion will be different.

• People peak at different times in their lives. No one stays the same. Everyone goes through growth and changes physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Directors, judges and contestants alike. This is just a fact of life. The only life we have any say so about is our own so focus on you.

Positive statements such as "I possess everything needed to be Miss___" and "I know exactly what I will do with this opportunity when given the chance" will keep you in a positive mindset. This will only work however, if you really believe the statement. That’s why the inner game is really where the pageant is won or lost. If you spend all of your preparation time on the outer game of hair, wardrobe, and makeup, you’re underestimating the power of your mind.

As an expert pageant coach, I make sure the contestants I work with personally have looked at their mindset because it is the most important component between feeling like a winner or feeling like a loser.

Perhaps the reason that Patty has won several titles is because she has mastered her inner game and is no longer controlled by assumptions, comparisons and negative self-talk that held her back at one time. Then again, you don’t know what is going on in Patty’s life at this moment.

Every pageant is a fresh start. Make no assumptions about the final outcome.

This week when you’re confronted with one of your assumptions, stop for a moment and ask yourself, just because this happened before, what makes me think that it has to happen again? What in your life is different now that will lead to a different end result?

Congratulations Ms. Ohio Plus America 2010- Ocipare McKinley!

Photo courtesy of Studio RM - Rick Martinez and make-up by Ryan Harris.

Key McKinley's entry for 2010 Ohio Plus America Cover Girl Competition. Photo sponsored by Studio RM - Rick Martinez and make-up by Ryan Harris.

Ocipare’s platform and passion is Autism Speaks: Awareness, Education and Action! With a daughter, niece and nephew who are all autistic, she knows firsthand the effects autism has on the family. I am so proud of Key and look forward to being a team member that’s getting her ready for the national pageant in Monroe, LA July 13-17, 2010.

Question: I don't generally get nervous before pageants, but this year I'm in a pageant with a girl who has won before and I'm scared I won't do as well. What can I do to calm my nerves?

Answer: It’s common for there to be at least one former titleholder competing in the pageant with you. For some contestants, this can be very intimidating; but it doesn’t have to be. Recognize that this is an assumption that you are making, and we all know what happens when you assume, right? Assumptions are seldom truth, so just because it happened in the past, doesn’t mean it has to happen now. There are no guarantees in pageantry, and there’s no guarantee that the former queen will win this crown. Focus on you and enjoy the experience.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained 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. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. 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.

What would the Miss USA pageant be without a scandal. The latest controversy is over the series of sexy lingerie photos the 51 contestants display from their photo shoot with high fashion photographer Fadil Berisha to promote the upcoming Miss USA 2010 pageant this Sunday night.

I was disappointed that I missed the call yesterday from a reporter with the CBS News Early Show to give my opinion on the subject (as a former Mrs. Ohio, expert pageant coach and mother of three daughters, I would have loved to chime in regarding this topic) but I’ll do so here on my blog. I love America and our freedom of speech.

Because one of my clients is among the 51 contestants, I have been following the Miss USA website very closely. I was very curious to see what theme the organization would use this year in their fashion shoot to introduce the ladies to the public.

Honestly, when I pulled up the screen, my first reaction was “Oh my!” and I looked over my shoulder to see if my teenage daughters were around me.

There’s no denying that the photos are beautiful photos and,true, the ladies don’t reveal any more skin than if they were wearing bathing suits. In fact, Victoria’s Secret could save a ton of money for their next catalogue. They should just buy these photos from the Trump organization. All 51 ladies are stunning and Fadil did a magnificent job in capturing the sensual side of these women.

However, there is a difference between swimwear and lingerie. Lingerie infers an entirely different mental environment and feel. There’s all this talk within the pageant world about bringing pageants into the 21^st century. So why do organizers continue to dip back into the pot of “sex sells everything”? This is neither a creative nor a progressive thought and does nothing to empower men nor women. Instead what it says to men is “this is what’s sexy in a woman”, and to women it says “ I have to look like that in order to be worthy of anyone’s love.”

I love fashion and glamour. I appreciate and admire an artistic photographer who can capture the external beauty in anything; but only a genius photographer can capture the essence of a person’s inner qualities. Displaying the inner qualities in a tangible form…that would be progress. I feel God’s most beautiful creation is the human being, both body and soul, and I support appropriate celebration of such.

But by choosing the stereotypical genre of sexy lingerie, I feel it furthers the opinion some people hold that pageants exploit the external beauty of women. The photos certainly do not capture the total package of a woman being beautiful, spiritual, intellectual,  articulate, involved in her community and a positive role model for young girls. There are other ways to test a woman’s self confidence than seeing how she reacts to the amount of skin she exposes.

These photos show one side of these ladies, and I’m sorry, I have to giggle.  The title of the photo shoot was “Waking Up in Vegas”.  No one wakes up in the morning looking like that.

I know the depth that some of the women in this pageant possess and it’s a shame that a portion of the public will never open their minds to seeing the remarkable things these women are doing in their home states and communities. After all,  a picture is worth a thousand words and opinions are being made based on the photographs. I feel the organization could have chosen a more appropriate theme to showcase these beautiful women and took a step backwards not forward in advancing women.

Perhaps next year, they’ll really test the photographers creative abilities to capture the beauty of the “total package” because, in my opinion, they blew it this time around. What do you think?