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.

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.

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.