As I start day four of sitting in a hospital room, it's amazing at how quickly a person's priorities and perspectives on life can change. Since I've been here in Nebraska, I've had many conversations revolving around the quality of life with my family. When a disease like cancer strikes your family, many of the things that stress us out suddenly seem trivial. It's amazing how major life events can help us see the big picture and reorganize our priorities to align with our true values.

This got me thinking about the "Quality of Life" within the pageantry world and some of the drama I occasionally witness. For example, some contestants will get worked up about their placement on stage, or perhaps another contestant is wearing the same dress. Focusing on small stuff like this will drain a person of their energy and lead to a low quality experience at the pageant.

What do you really want from your pageant experience? For the people who's sole focus is only on "THE CROWN", the small stuff that happens in pageantry will be an annoyance and a discouragement. On the other hand, if a person recognizes that pageantry is a vehicle to help develop leadership skills, identify core values, and live a life with purpose, well, that's an entirely different story. As a pageant coach, these are the principles upon which I work with clients.

One life lesson I've recently learned from watching my dad fight his cancer is that time is precious and very finite. There are no guarantees for tomorrow and yesterday is history. All we have is the present and we can choose the quality of the moment.

So the decision is yours. Are you going to sweat the small stuff, or keep the big picture firmly in front of you living each moment to the fullest?

Here I am kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle- Ireland 1985

Legend has it that the single block of bluestone, the same material as the megaliths of Stonehenge, is half of the Stone of Scone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. Every March 17th, I think back to the six weeks I spent traveling Ireland with Up With People in 1985. What an incredible time in my life. Here's a picture of me kissing the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that the 'gift of the gab' (great eloquence or skill at flattery) and good luck are bestowed upon to all who kiss it. Kissing the stone was no easy feat years ago.

Participants were held by their ankles and dangled upside down over the edge to kiss the stone. When a pilgrim fell to his death, they installed safety bars and an assistant to help people achieve this feat safer. You still have to extend a couple feet over the edge upside down to get to the outer wall, but how many times does a person get a chance like this.

 

The WTP bootcamp was this past Saturday. It may have been raining like crazy outside; but inside the room it was shining with all the energy coming off the stage :). The next opportunity for stage practice and a workshop is Saturday, April 24 at the WTP Pageant. http://www.winningthroughpageantry.com/dream-star-pageant.aspx

 

Question: This is my first pageant. When should I start preparing?

 

Answer: If you can watch the pageant in person the year before you enter, that’s ideal. This way you can see firsthand the type of clothes, modeling style and the “look” of the pageant system before you enter. Buying a DVD of the pageant to watch and analyze would be the next best thing. Six months is a good timeline if you need to get sponsors, develop your modeling and interview skills, shop for your wardrobe and decide on your hair and makeup look. It would be a benefit to hire a professional coach to help keep you organized, focused and on track.

The Inside Scoop To Beautiful Skin

Like it or not, in many beauty pageants facial beauty receives a score. As a pageant coach, I am quick to point out to all my clients that beauty is subjective and there isn't ONE definition of beauty. Everyone possesses features that are beautiful. For some people, it may be their eyes while other may have a great smile. However, the foundation to health and beauty lies in your skin.

It is true that some people are genetically blessed with flawless skin. However, we can all take action to nourish and condition our skin so that it's radiant and glowing.

Gently Cleanse Your Skin

Use a cleanser formulated for your skin type and DON'T squeeze pimples. This will cause damage to the under layers of skin and can cause scarring. Instead, look for cleansers that will dissolve and release the impurities from your skin. If you feel you must squeeze – try to follow these precautions in order to minimize damage.

• Be sure to steam your face to open your pores.

• Take facial tissue and place it as a barrier between your fingers and the area that you are going to gently squeeze.

• Only apply enough pressure to release the clogging. If you are hurting yourself, you are only doing more damage. Also, don't repeat squeezing in the same area, once over should be sufficient.

• Apply a mild masque when you are done.

Drink Water

Did you know that if you waited until you felt thirsty to drink water; your body is already partially dehydrated?Headaches, lack of energy and feeling tired can result from being mildly dehydrated. The secret is to consistently drink water throughout the day to keep your body working smoothly and your skin to look its best. Don't consume all your water at one sitting.

Eat a diet rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and omega-3 fatty acids (EFAs)

This would include fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt, legumes, eggs, vegetable oils, whole grains, green tea and water. Here are some specific examples of high quality foods.

• A-Mangos, low-fat yogurt, cantaloupe, carrots,

• B-Whole grains, sprinkle wheat germ in yogurt, avocados,

• C- Acerola cherries (usually in drinks) spinach, broccoli, green beans, and berries.

• E- Almonds

• Selenium-Cottage cheese

• Omega-3 (EFAs) found in salmon, mackerel, walnuts, flaxseed and safflower oils. Just one teaspoon of flaxseed oil per day provides 2.5 grams of Omega 3s, which, in turn, hydrate the skin. Essential fatty acids also dilute sebum and unclog pores that otherwise leads to acne.

Wear Sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun

The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more-serious problems, such as skin cancer. For the most complete sun protection:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun's rays are the strongest.

• Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. You might also opt for special sun-protective clothing, which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable.

• Use sunscreen when you're in the sun. Apply generous amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

Exercise, eliminate unnecessary stress from your life and get plenty of sleep

Exercise will keep things moving through your body, reduce the effects of stress and burn those extra calories that want to stay in your fat cells. The skin repairs itself at night when you sleep so try to get those 8 hours.

Our outer appearance is a reflection of our inner substance. We all know that when we consume higher quality foods and drinks, our outer appearance reaps the benefits. The same holds true of every thought and feeling we have as well. Positive thoughts and feelings produce positive actions. This week take a look at your mental diet. What types of information and dialogue have you been feeding your brain lately? Your outward actions are a direct reflection of what's going on inside. Are you getting the results you want? If not, contact me and let's take a look at what we can do to design a healthy mental diet.

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.

You may absolutely share this newsletter with people you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy!
The Pageant Secrets™ Newsletter is written by Rhonda Shappert and WinningThroughPageantry.com. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: Info@WinningThroughPageantry.com.
WinningThroughPageantry.com, 3971 Hoover Road, Suite #357, Grove City, OH 43123

© 2009-2010 Winning Through Pageantry. All Rights Reserved.

Let's take a look at the Kennedy-Nixon debates of 1960 to answer the question. The four Kennedy-Nixon debates were the first presidential debates held on television. Nixon appeared pale, sickly and he refused makeup for the first debate. Kennedy, however, appeared tanned, confident, and relaxed during the event. Of the approximate 80 million viewers who watched the debate on TV, most people believed Kennedy had won, while radio listeners (a smaller audience) believed Nixon had won. For the remaining three debates, Nixon wore television makeup and appeared more forceful than his initial appearance. However, up to 20 million fewer viewers watched the three remaining debates.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1960

 

I'm not saying Kennedy won the presidency solely based on his TV appearance; however, I think Nixon would have worn makeup and took greater care in his appearance for that first national TV debate could he have done it all over again.
So, how important is your pageant makeup? Very important. This week I interviewed Jennifer Kalman to gain her insight to some frequently asked questions I receive.

photo courtesy of LiDestriPhoto.com

About Jennifer:
Commercial Makeup Artist, Jennifer Kalman, has 18+ years of experience applying makeup for thousands of proms, pageants, weddings, personalities, print media, TV and video. Her professional credentials have included makeup for LeAnn Rimes, Troy Aikman, Dixie Chicks and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Counted among her many commercial makeup clients are Pepsi, American Airlines, Frito-Lay, Dr. Pepper, and Verizon. This expertise contributed to the development of www.QDazzle.com and QDazzle(R) High-Pigment Makeup Colors. Jennifer has created a resource that coaches women on how to polish their makeup skills (skills they can use for a lifetime) rather than applying their makeup for them once. Her website, designed to help pageant contestants of all ages refine their makeup skills so they can be prepared and confident on stage, contains makeup instruction, techniques, and 'Jennifer's Makeup Tips Blog', along with brilliantly-hued High-Pigment Makeup Colors. http://www.qdazzleprom.com/.

What general advice would you give young ladies and women about makeup?

• Spend time practicing and learning makeup application techniques so you can look great in and out of the pageant. Most of the time you'll be responsible for your own makeup application so practice and learn how to emphasize your best features.
• Take pictures of yourself so you can see the results and compare different looks.
• Make sure there are no harsh lines, everything is well blended and eyes, cheeks and lips are in balance.
• For 'natural pageants', natural makeup should enhance your features and not be too glamorous or dramatic. Your features still need to show up on stage under the lights. 'Natural' does not necessary mean a bare face with no makeup.
• Use translucent powder to control the shine on your face. A shiny face looks greasy, like you're sweaty and nervous.
• Use a good lip balm that will keep your lips in great condition. Avoid putting Vaseline on your lips because it will fade your lip color and can cause breakouts around your mouth.
• The cost of a product doesn't necessarily determine the quality. Find the mascara, eyelashes, eye shadows, etc. that work for you.
• Wear your false eyelashes at home for a while so you can get used to how they feel before the pageant.
• Buy highly-pigmented makeup.

How do I find a good makeup artist?

• Take the time to interview them beforehand and look at their portfolio. Do you like their work?
• Ask them about their experience with makeup for pageants, ask to see photos of makeup they have done for pageants, as well as makeup they have done for women with your skin tone.
• Don't be afraid to assert yourself. It's very important that the makeup artist listen to what you want and the two of you work together as a team to create your desired look.
• Look frequently in the mirror each step of the way. Remember, you're the one that is going out on stage and must let your beauty and confidence shine.
• If you hire a makeup artist, allow at least 45-60 minutes for them to do your makeup. TIP: Have them put a smudge of the blended lip color on the mirror of your compact so you can touch up your lips with a lip brush right before you go on stage.

What tips can you share for women of color?

(C) Rinderart. Image from Big StockPhoto.com

• Ask the makeup artist if they are experienced in applying makeup to women of color.
• Your foundation must be a perfect match.
• Makeup tones that flatter women of color are usually deep, rich tones. To show off your natural skin tone, select highly-pigmented makeup shades for more brilliant color.
• Specific color suggestions for women of color are divided into two different categories below: light-to-medium skin tones and dark skin tones.
• Basic eye shadow contouring and color placement, along with blush and lip color placement, is the same for ALL skin tones.

Click the following link to read more on this subject.
http://www.qdazzleprom.com/blog/2010/02/02/glowing-makeup-ideas-for-women-of-color/

What tips can you give about choosing a foundation?

• To provide a smooth canvas for lip, eye and cheek colors, a foundation that is perfectly-matched to your natural skin color is essential.
• The purpose of a perfectly-matched foundation is to simply 'even out' the facial skin tone,not to add color to the face. A perfectly-matched foundation color will match your neck as well, so that there is no tonal difference between the face and neck (no mismatched colors at the jaw line and no applying foundation to the neck).

Click on the following link to read more on this subject.
http://www.qdazzleprom.com/blog/2009/12/29/selecting-a-foundation-to-match-your-natural-skintone/

What is highly-pigmented makeup and why should I select highly-pigmented makeup colors?

                                                 (C) Rinderart. Image from Big StockPhoto.com

• Makeup colors that look best for photography and stage are usually highly-pigmented, meaning they contain strong color pigments and are not sheer.
• A highly-pigmented makeup color product will allow the user to apply a small amount to achieve a bit of natural color, or it can provide darker, dramatic color when applied more heavily. This allows flexibility for the user to achieve her preferred look.
• Along with being longer-lasting, the strong color pigment in highly-pigmented makeup colors will hold up against the harsh lighting from cameras and stage lights (no washed-out, ghostly makeup looks).

                                                   

How can I tell if an eye, cheek and lip color is highly- pigmented?

Some products will state they are highly pigmented. If it's not stated, you can test the color on your hand. When you add more of the product, the color should get darker or more intense. Sheer color products won't change much in color regardless of how much is used. Sheer color products won't stay on as long nor will they hold up under the lights.

What is the best way to use frosted colors?

Use frosted eye shadow in the center of your eyelid to bring attention to the pupil of your eye, and lightly under the brow for an eye opening effect. It's very important to blend the color and don't use a frost over the entire lid for a headshot, TV work, or pageantry. On the lips, a little frosted lip color in the center of your bottom lip creates a fuller looking lip.

Be sure and check out Jennifer's website and beauty blog. It is filled with wonderful tips for beginners and pros.
http://www.qdazzleprom.com

I'll be the first to admit, I love it when a professional does my makeup for a special event. It is very relaxing for me to just sit in the chair for an hour or so, doing nothing but opening and closing my eyes. When they're finished, I look in the mirror and feel fabulous. EASY.

However, having grown up in the theater, one of the first lessons I learned was the importance of doing your own makeup and doing it well. Most of the time, there was no one to do my makeup for me. Had I not learned the skills myself, I wouldn't have landed many jobs. Armed with my supplies and solid application techniques that I had learned over the years, I was a self-reliant actress and could make myself look the part in minutes.

 

At times, it can be easy to have someone else do things for us like household chores, fixing our problems, or perhaps resolving a problem that we were responsible for creating. But if we are to become self-reliant, choosing to accept personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions is a life skill that we’ll benefit from on a recurring basis.

 

 

Congratulations to Aunjanna Million!

Miss Ohio High who was chosen 3rd Runner Up from the field of 50 contestants at the national Miss High School America Pageant this past weekend in Branson, MO. Aunjanna also won the Community Service award.

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.

You may absolutely share this newsletter with people you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy!
The Pageant Secrets™ Newsletter is written by Rhonda Shappert and WinningThroughPageantry.com. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: Info@WinningThroughPageantry.com.
WinningThroughPageantry.com, 3971 Hoover Road, Suite #357, Grove City, OH 43123

March Makeover: Your Pageant Wardrobe

Spring is just around the corner! Do you know what that means? The snow will melt and there will be proms, weddings, graduations and pageants!

Now’s the time to start shopping in order to get the best selection of dresses.

This past weekend, my three daughters and I had the pleasure of not only meeting Heather French Henry, fashion designer and Miss America 2000, but she graciously spent time helping my three daughters select their gowns.

http://www.heatherfrenchhenry.info

Even though I was wearing the MOM CAP during this fun adventure, I learned some valuable information from Heather that I felt you might benefit from as well.

Is there a difference between pageant and prom dresses? Yes!

• To accommodate the 4-5” heels that pageant contestants wear, the pageant line of dresses are constructed several inches longer than the prom line of dresses. So petite ladies, look in the prom line of dresses, too. That way you might not have to cut off a decorative bottom to make your dress the correct length.

• There is more fine detail in the construction of a pageant dress than a prom dress. In a pageant dress, there are usually multiple layers throughout, particularly in the bodice to provide proper support and ensure a snug, smooth fit. Higher quality crystals are usually added to pageant dresses so they really sparkle under the stage lights. The quality of the fabric between the two lines is different as well. For example, pageant dresses will be made of real silk where the prom line of dresses won’t. The quality and weight of the material used determines how the gown will fit and flow with your body when walking on stage. This is why pageant gowns are more expensive than prom gowns.

• Every designer uses different measurements to create their dresses so don’t get hung up on what size the tag says. You need to try on every dress because a Heather French Henry size 2 may be different from a Sherri Hill or Johnathan Kayne size 2. Forget the numbers. It’s all in the fit.

• 

  Avoid cutting your body in half with the line of the dress. As a guide, think of the body in thirds. Notice in this Heather French Henry pageant gown, about 1/3 of the dress is focused on the waist up and 2/3 from the waist down, thus creating a longer line. The 2/3 to 1/3 ration is a great guide for petite ladies. For petite ladies,it’s better to wear one color from head to toe to create length and be very careful not to have too much volume in the skirt as this will shorten you and look too overwhelming on your frame.

• To have a custom made gown, expect to spend $3000- $5000 and allow plenty of time for the gown to be created.

• Try on a number of different colors and different shades of the same color. Your perfect shade is the color that makes your skin look radiant, healthy and glowing when you put it on. For all three of my daughters, the colors we went into the store THINKING we wanted to buy were not the colors we walked out with. You have to be open to trying on a lot of dresses. When you find the perfect one, you’ll feel it and know it!

• Try on different necklines to see which one brings emphasis not only to your chest and shoulders, but draws the eyes up to focus on your face. Halter, sweetheart, scoop, off the shoulder, v-neck, straight…try them all on. See which neckline accentuates your positive assets.

• Be open to trying on different cuts of gowns to see which style line creates proportion, symmetry and curve for your body type. Empire waist, mermaid, Grecian, wrap around, gowns with a drop waist… designers are having so much fun, you have fun too. Try on everything to see how your body looks in it. Take pictures of yourself in the gowns and look at them later. After awhile, you can lose perspective and get burnt out trying things on. Expect to go out several times and allow at least 3 hours per shopping trip.

Size doesn’t matter, shape does.

The silhouette, or outline, of your body doesn’t change with diet or exercise because it is based on your skeleton and genes. Your weight may fluctuate throughout the years, but your basic body line cannot be altered. In the book, Color Me Confident by Veronique Henderson, they explain there are basically seven different body shapes. It’s important to know your body type so you can shop for clothes that emphasize or diminish certain physical features. See if you can identify yours.

1. Hourglass
   • Wear the same size top and bottoms.
   • Have a clearly defined waist.
   • Have a curved bottom.

2. Full Hourglass
   • Buy a slightly larger top for your bust.
   • Waistbands are often too large.
   • Straight skirts rise up on you.
   • Feel most comfortable in more fluid fabrics.

3. Triangle (pear shaped)
   • Wear a larger size on your top half than your bottom.
   • Have a clearly defined waist.
   • Have narrower shoulders than hips.
   • Carry weight on your hips and thighs.

4. Inverted Triangle
   • Wear a larger size on your top half than your bottom.
   • Have wider shoulders than your hips.
   • Have a straight ribcage.
   • Prefer an uncluttered look.

5. Lean Column
   • Wear the same size on your top and bottom halves.
   • Have a minimal bust
   • Little waist definition.
   • Flat hips and bottom.

6. Rectangle
   • Shoulders and hips in line.
   • No waist definition.
   • Flat hips and bottom.
   • Extra weight around your middle.

7. Round (apple shaped)
   • Rounded shoulders.
   • Fullness in the tummy area.
   • Wonderful shapely legs.
   • Feel uncomfortable when clothes are tucked in.

The aim in choosing clothing is to create the illusion of having a neat hourglass figure and look proportional. That means:

• Shoulders and hips in line

• A defined bust

• A waist (even with a softly curved tummy)

• A curved bottom

To emphasize a physical trait you like, look for a gown, or clothing, with stones, a style or a special feature to bring attention to that part of your body.

Heather French Henry is one of my favorite Miss America’s. I vividly remember watching the 2000 pageant and falling in love with her personality and style on the TV. Ten years later when I finally met her in person, I can see how she won the hearts of the judges. She’s every bit as energetic, gracious, humble and service oriented now as she was then. The woman makes the title, not the other way around. She continues to walk the talk she spoke on national TV ten years ago. There were neither TV crews nor news reporters around the day we met her in the dress shop. She was just being herself.

This week, be aware of what you do when no one is watching. Are your actions consistent with your words? If there is a difference between how you are acting, and who you want to be, you have the ability to bring these things into alignment. Perhaps you’d like a little help. Feel free to contact me and we can explore this area of your life.

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Rhonda Shappert is a pageant coach and a professionally trained personal development life coach through iPEC.  She created Winning Through Pageantry™, to help her clients achieve winning results in pageants, and help them Succeed From The Inside Out™ in their lives. 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 who home educates her three children has been married 20 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and is 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.