Mastering the pageant walk takes hours of practice and can’t be mastered overnight. I came across this link that shows a great way to master that glamorous Miss Universe walk.http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-walk-like-a-beauty-queen
Now, I realize not all pageants use this walking style; however, the principles of mastering the ability to walk a straight line by crossing over while you walk, and the importance of a smooth, effortless turn are universal.
Learning the pageant walk starts with a pair of high heeled shoes. In no time, you’ll be strutting in those 5” stilettos if you make sure your shoes fit properly and you’re using good technique.
Start with a low heel and once you’ve mastered it, move up an inch at a time. When you walk, you want to make sure your feet are crossing over and not walking in parallel. Again, watch the video. Working with a pageant coach will really help you develop your style, too.
You’ll want to walk going heel, toe, heel, toe; and make sure the weight is on your whole foot before taking the next step. Make sure your step isn’t too long. As a pageant coach, I see this all too often when clients try to power walk in high heels like they’re in their tennis shoes. I’m not talking about speed. It’s the length of the step. Smaller steps and slow down.
Another link I want to share with you has some exercises to help strengthen the muscles in your feet so you don’t experience cramps and excessive fatigue.http://www.videojug.com/film/exercises-for-wearing-high-heels
To reduce fatigue, I highly recommend Dr. Scholl’s for Her High Heel insoles. They are clear insoles that you can put in strappy sandals or any high heel. Not only do they make my feet feel better, but my heel doesn’t slip around or off the shoe.Putting foot cushions and non slip pads on the bottom of your shoes will reduce the possibility of a slip on smooth stages.
Have you spent hours shopping for those beige colored shoes you see other children wearing at pageants for interview and wondered “where in the world do mother’s get those shoes?” I’ll tell you. They’re dance shoes and you need to order them online because they’re not normally carried in the dance stores.
For little girls and girls who aren’t quite into women’s sizes yet, you’ll need to buy dance character shoes or tap shoes without the taps attached to wear with your interview suit. These can be purchased online from www.discountdance.com. Take special care in ordering because the sizing can be a bit tricky. If in doubt, call the customer service department first to help you with ordering.
Theatricals Child Graduated Heel Tap Shoe – (taps not attached)
http://www.discountdance.com/frame_set.php3?mf=/dancewear/shoes/page1
Capezio® Women's "Jr. Footlight" Tap Character Shoe
http://www.discountdance.com/frame_set.php3?mf=/dancewear/shoes/page1
Now, once you get your shoes, break them in by walking in them every day for weeks leading up to your pageant. Resist the tendency to keep them “brand new” looking for the pageant. Walk for 15-20 minutes in your house and then take them off if you must.
Realize this though, when you get to your state or national pageant, you’ll be on your feet for hours in those high heels for several days. You’ll want your feet ready for that kind of action. Walk in your high heels everyday to make sure you’re ready.
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Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC trained personal development life coach. She created Winning Through Pageantry™, to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation and achieve winning results in life through pageantry. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.