• 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.

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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?

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In the game of darts, it's important to locate the target before you start throwing. In darts, your goal is to hit the bull's-eye for maximum points. The more skilled you are at aiming the darts, the more rewarding the game will be.

The same is true in pageantry. The first step you need to take is figuring out what your real target is. Only you can decide this. Maybe it is to capture the title; but for some, it is to come from the interview feeling confident that you clearly shared your message with the judges and it was received. Perhaps, some want to make it through the pageant without their nerves controlling them. But, you need to decide.

Once you identify the target, you'll want to perfect your aim so you can hit the bull's-eye as many times as possible. So let's say you get the question, "why do you want to be Miss Fabulous?" and your answer is "I would like to be Miss Fabulous because I want to be a positive role model for the women of this country." That answer would land you on the board; but on the outer edge worth 20 point-not the 100 you need. Why only 20? Because any contestant can say this and it tells me very little about who you are.

To move closer to the bull's-eye, you're going to need to go deeper. Try these three tips to help you with your aim.

• Schedule daily time for personal exploration and growth. Even 10 minutes of daily reading from an inspirational book will get you thinking about what you value and what motivates you.

• Journal. Use a question or two to start your thought process, set the timer and start writing. You'll be amazed at what comes out.

• Work one-on-one with a pageant coach. You can acquire all kinds of knowledge through reading, but if you don't know how it pertains to you, you're not going to take action. No action means no results. It's normal to have some blind spots about ourselves. A coach can help you sort through your choices, develop a focused plan and help you to take action to move closer to your target.

If you want some help in this area, consider my A.I.M. session next Tuesday evening. In this session, I will go into depth on creating your application (or judge's bio), interview skills and message so you can hit your target with greater ease.

Go ahead and get your planner-I'll wait :). Now take a look at this week and set aside some time each day for yourself. Even if it's only 5 minutes, write it down and commit to it. Next decide what you're going to do during your ALONE time. Maybe you want to pray, read or meditate; but choose what you want to focus on this week.

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.

In my opinion, if you're going to participate in the pageant world, there are three very important facts that you must know upfront and accept, or you'll drive yourself and those around you crazy.

FACT 1: Everything in pageantry is subjective, or based on opinion. That means there isn't one universal winning dress, hairstyle, makeup or answer that is PERFECT. You'll drive yourself mad if you are expecting perfection. Instead, the overall queen is chosen from the average score of a panel of 5 or more judges' opinions.

Even within the judging panel, the opinions will vary greatly. Three judges love your dress while the other two hate it. Four will think you are well spoken and articulate while one thinks you're opinionated and over rehearsed. Sometimes it happens that the panel will be split on a decision if it is an even number of judges. This is normal. Seldom are the results of a pageant a unanimous decision.

FACT 2: Every judge, audience member, family member, hairstylist, makeup artist, photographer, wardrobe consultant, and pageant coach has an opinion.

FACT 3: The only definitive opinion that matters if YOURS. I don't mean for this statement to be interpreted as an arrogant attitude like "I'm right, and they're wrong." Rather, be open and teachable to the feedback you're receiving. Listen for reoccurring patterns. If the majority of the judges are saying something similar, you may want to take a serious look at what they're saying. However, bottom-line is it's your decision as to what action you'll take based on the opinions and advice you're receiving.

For a brief period of time, I struggled with the contradictory feedback I was receiving from the judges, my coaches, family and friends. I quickly came to the conclusion that ultimately it was ME up on the stage, not them; and that I had to feel totally confident with my hair, makeup, wardrobe and answer choices.
So, in my opinion :), this is what I did to sort through this situation.

• Be very selective from whom you are receiving feedback and advice. What is this person's area of expertise? How credible are they? Can I learn from this person?
• Take time to get to know your values, boundaries, likes and dislikes. You know the old saying, "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". If you're trying to follow everyone's advice and basing your actions on the opinions of other people, you may find yourself feeling frustrated and confused.
• Take personal ownership and responsibility for your actions and decisions. Absolutely seek out mentors and people who can help you become more than what you are at the moment, see other options and explore different opportunities. But, it's up to you to make a decision as to what course of action you'll take.

The whole idea of being selective from whom you receive mentorship is key to your success. No one is a self made success story. Successful people associate with other successful people and all have mentors. Whose opinion has been influencing you? Do you respect them? Are they living what they preach? Are they where I want to be? Spend some time this week evaluating the circle of influence in which you circulate. If you're not where you want to be, step out of your circle and find people who can inspire, support and cheer you on to whatever you dream or goal may be.

Question: I just received my pageant score sheets from the judges, and they seem to contradict each other. How am I to improve if one judge tells me one thing and another judge says the opposite?

Answer: Yes, this can be very frustrating. To answer your question, I'm going to use the supermarket analogy. When you go to the grocery store, most of the time you go with a list and purchase those items you need at that time. You don't buy everything in the store. If you need peanut butter, you have numerous choices as to which brand you'll buy. You make your choice based on taste, nutritional facts, cost and one that meets your needs. Think of advice and opinions in the same way. Take what applies to you at the time and leave the rest…for now :).

Never judge a book by its cover. We hear that saying over and over; and yet, the fact remains that we all make assumptions about people, places or things by their outward appearance.  The contents of a particular book may be the exact information we are seeking, but we'll never get a chance to read it because the cover didn't capture our attention. We didn't even pull it from the shelf because something about it initially turned us off.

But if the outside is pleasing to you, your first thought may be "Hmm, this book looks interesting. Let me see what's on the inside." Although it's not impossible, it is harder to reverse a bad first impression.

The first impression that the pageant director, staff and judges form of you is from your submitted paperwork and photo.  The first photo you submit should be the best and most current headshot you have. Choose a colored photo that is well lit, sharply focused, and is from your shoulders up.  Remember, based on your initial contact with the pageant office, you're going to be viewed as a contestant that is either ready now, needs a little polishing, or needs more time to develop.

Most pageants have their paperwork forms in a PDF file that contestants can fill out online. This is the preferred choice. Resist the urge to quickly complete and submit your paperwork.  Instead, print out the forms and take your time drafting your final version.  Have your English teacher proof read it or have a friend that is experienced in reviewing job applications take a look.

If your pageant still uses paper forms, ask the director if you can retype the application, exactly as it appears, into your computer so you can submit your paperwork in a clean, easy to read format. Follow the directions of your director to the letter. If they say one page, you do one page. Copy the font style and size exactly so your computer generated copy looks as close to the original as possible.

If you must handwrite, and this is absolutely the last choice, use your neatest printing or have someone who does have neat handwriting print it for you. Although the idea of having your 8 year old daughter fill out the form herself is touching, if the information can't be easily read, or if there is one smudge or a misspelled word, it will have a negative impact. Write your information on another sheet of paper, and only write on the application when you are 100% ready with your information. Again, I would avoid handwriting at all costs.

What is the purpose of the paperwork?  It introduces you to the pageant staff and the judges.  Your judges bio, which is the equivalent of a job resume, should peak the judges interest and curiosity. If proper constructed, the judges will be able to create a picture of who you are just by glancing at your bio. Here are a few helpful hints to creating an introduction on paper that will make a favorable impression on anyone who reads your bio.

• Make it easy to read. Font size should be no smaller than 11 or 12 and in a style that is easy to read. Use either short complete sentences or a bullet point structure for your bio. Choose and use one style for the entire bio and don't bounce back and for between the two. Keep your bio to one page.

• Peak the judges curiosity with interesting tidbits. Don't write out your whole story or include every little detail about yourself. That's what you can talk about when you are face to face with judges. There isn't time on the judges part to read long paragraphs.  But you don't want to state just the facts either. Think about how the headlines on the front of a magazine cover make you pick it up and buy it because you are curious to get the whole story. The same is true about your bio. Think headlines.

• Be very selective with your word choice and what information you include on your bio.  Put only the best information about yourself on your bio. This is where working with a coach is very helpful. Most people don't know what information is most interesting and best about them. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to help you identify what's important about your inside.

• Your bio should show a well-rounded, diverse person.  The most common categories on your bio might include education, career ambition, platform, talent, hobbies, awards, community service, and interesting facts. A well-rounded contestant will have something interesting for all the stated areas. If you only have one hobby, it's time to explore other possibilities. The same thing goes for community service. If you have no community service, it's time to look within yourself to see what blessings you have that you can share with others.

• Your bio must be grammatically correct, use proper punctuation and free from all misspelled words and typos. Spell check is great, but you can't rely on it alone. After all, the words hear and here are both spelled correctly but have very different meanings. Have someone else read your bio out loud to you. Listen for phrases that don't make sense or need more detail. Have many different people look at your bio.

• Limit your use of acronyms and abbreviations.  Your judging panel may come from many parts of the state or country. If there is an organization that is very active and well respected in your community and everyone in your hometown knows it by TWBG, there will be someone on the panel that has no idea that it stands for The World's Best Group. Use the words to avoid any misunderstandings.

• Work with a coach who is skilled in interview.  Your interview skills begin with the creation of your paperwork and cannot be mastered overnight.  The ideal way to plan for your interview and onstage question is to hire a skilled coach at least 3 months (6 is better) before your pageant. Create your paperwork together so the image that comes off the paper is consistent with the person they meet in the interview room.

Follow these basic guidelines and you will be on your way to creating the winning image you desire.  If you haven't already, be sure to request my FREE interview card that contains the beginning 10 questions that everyone doing an interview needs to have an answer for.

Being able to create your image in writing will serve you well in your career.  Take a few moments to look at how balanced your life is in the areas of personal development, family, education, career, community service, recreation and spiritually.  Are there some areas that could use some attention? Why wait for a pageant to take action. Contact me and we can work together to create the life and balance you want to live.

Unwinding at the end of a long day, you pick up your favorite magazine and notice that the model on the cover has a thick gorgeous head of hair that seems suspended in mid air. You happen to turn on the TV and an awards show is on. Actress after actress grace the stage perfectly manicured and when the TV zooms in for its close up, one can't help but notice the beautiful locks that frame their faces. After watching for awhile, you decide to turn in for the evening. You walk into the bathroom and that's when it happens….you see your own hair in the mirror. *Sigh*

Can I share something with you? 80% of the population has normal to fine hair. Only about 20% are blessed with naturally thick hair that is full of body. So what can the other 80% do to "pump up the volume"? Three words…color, product and extensions.

This week I interviewed Monae Everett to get her expert advice on hair. Monae is a licensed Cosmetologist with nine years of experience. She owns Monae Artistry, LLC where she is an editorial and commercial hair and makeup artist specializing in photo shoots, videos, and movies. Ms. Everett has contributed to hair care and makeup articles in Upscale and Omo Naija magazines. Her work has been published in magazines including Celebrity Short Cuts, Sophisticates Black Hair, Sports and Entertainment Today, Today's Black Woman, etc. She now writes for Hair's How magazine. Having competed in the Miss Teen Virginia USA pageant herself, she knows firsthand the expectations and demands put on hair.

Color – When adding both highlights and lowlights to your hair, you create dimension and movement. Your hair will instantly look thicker and fuller.

Product- Next to a great haircut, the quality of the styling products you use is critical for creating hair that will look great for hours on and off stage. Healthy hair has body, shine and MOVES! The goal is to create the stiff lift at the roots and have the ends moving as you walk on stage. Monae made this suggestion to get the most body from your hair:

• When hair is wet, apply a golf ball size amount of root thickening product to your roots.

• Using a round natural bristled brush, blow dry your hair lifting up at the roots. Lightly spray with a reshaping spray.

• Next, set hair on hot rollers and allow the rollers to completely cool before removing them.

• Style hair into the desired shape and spray with hairspray.

• Two of Monae's favorite products are Professional Sebastian Thickefy Foam and Sebastian Reshaper.

Monae also said not to be afraid to wear the super sleek look if you can pull off. Your hair should beg people to reach out and touch it.

Extensions- If there's a Hollywood secret to fabulous hair; here it is ladies---Extensions. Sometimes product isn't enough to get the full bodied effect people want from their hair so they turn to extensions.

However, not all extensions are created equally. Lower quality extensions (ranging in price from $30-$60) can't be reused and are made synthetically, which means they cannot be styled with heat. Higher end extensions are made of real human hair are reusable. They can cost up to $150 per ounce and you'll need between 4-8 ounces of hair.

There are many factors to determine whether you're a good candidate for hair extensions starting with your natural hair texture, the bonding method you choose, and how long you want them to stay in your hair. Here are a few of your choices:

• A few hours - taped in extensions.

• A day - clip in extensions but don't sleep in them.

• A week - glued in extensions.

• 1-3 months - sewn in extensions.

• 3-4 months - strand by strand Microfusion

When done by a highly skilled professional, hair extensions won't hurt your natural hair, will look natural and can be easily maintained. If you're considering extensions, consult with an experienced stylist so you can get the product and end results you're dreaming of. One size does not fit all and you'll need professional help to evaluate and select the right extensions for you.

To see Monae's new video on how to get Big Sexy Voluminous Hair, click on this link to see step by step instructions. www.HairandMakeupBlog.com.

About Monaé Everett

Monaé Everett was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the Washington D.C. area. She earned her cosmetology license while in high school. To quench her thirst for education, she attended college at George Mason University where she majored in Communications and Sociology. It was there that she was introduced to the fashion and commercial industries, and her passion was ignited. She became excited about hair and makeup artistry. While continuing her education at GMU, she began to establish herself as the hair and makeup artist to see for clean beauty.

While managing a salon, she continued to work behind the scenes at fashion shows and photo shoots. This helped her to hone her skills as a hair stylist. She developed a love for hair color and became an American Board Certified Haircolorist. Monaé used her knowledge and industry insight to form her business, Monaé Artistry, LLC. Monaé has earned a strong reputation for being professional, discreet, and passionately professional. She displays her talent in print, film and theater. Monaé has had work featured in "Essence" magazine, the "Georgetowner" newspaper, "Sports and Entertainment Today" magazine, "Celebrity Short Cuts" magazine, etc. She has also had the privilege to work on "We Are the World" 25 year anniversary music video as well as the "Eclipsed" theater production.

These experiences opened the door for her to become an educator for a major hair care line. Monaé loves to make people look good which in turn, makes them feel good. She looks forward to opportunities to color and style hair for fashion, catalog, and print advertisements. She loves the makeup artistry of Pat MacGrath and Jay Manuel and notes Hadiiya Barbel and Josh Wood among her hair inspirations. The words of Josh Wood best summarize her goal "To drive style trends in the media". For more on Monae, check out her website and blog.

http://monaeartistry.wordpress.com/
http://www.monaeartistry.com/