Krista Yovanno, Mrs. Ohio America 2004 and co-director of Mrs. Ohio America; Kimberly Miller, Mrs. Ohio America 2010; Michelle Moore, Mrs. Ohio America 2002 and co-director of Mrs. Ohio America, and Rhonda Shappert, Mrs. Ohio America 2005 and owner of Winning Through Pageantry®.

So you‘ve decided to enter a pageant. What are pageant directors expecting from you?

 
Here is the short list of what directors expect from contestants:

• Behavior and appearance will be professional and respectful at all times.That includes rehearsals, parties, and down time when you are walking around the hotel or event area.

• All deadlines will be met without constant reminders from them. This includes financial payments, paperwork, ad pages, ticket orders and all other logistics they inform you of.

• Contestants will be on time for all activities. FYI, on time means arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

• Take personal responsibility for your own pageant preparation. The director’s main focus is to create a wonderful pageant experience for ALL contestants and share the information equally among everyone. Your questions about the competition should be answered by the director either in the paperwork they’ve produced, through group orientations, or a quick email or phone call from you. They’re not your coach. Some directors will coach their state titleholders to get them ready for nationals; but that is an entirely different topic. Be respectful of their boundaries and time.

• Titleholders are expected to follow through on their obligations. If you’re unclear about what is expected of you as the queen (i.e.: rules, appearances, time commitment, further competitions and financial commitments) ask before you agree to compete in the pageant.

A pageant director is no different than the owner of a traditional business.They’re responsible for all the logistics of finding a facility for the pageant; securing judges for the event; putting together sponsors and prizes for the contestants and queens; advertising; creating all rules, paperwork, and judging criteria; hiring a staff to help run the event; arranging for entertainment and an emcee; and marketing the pageant to find contestants. WOW! That’s a lot.

The more you understand and appreciate all that directors do to create this opportunity for you, the more tolerant and patient you’ll be when things don’t logistically flow as smoothly as they could. Directors put out thousands of dollars in advance and countless hours into the pageant they’re producing. They need a certain number of contestants to financial break even, and to make a profit. Yes, making a profit is important for the pageant’s continuation.

The director is your primary source of information regarding their pageant system. It’s appropriate to ask general questions about the style of clothing worn for this pageant, the schedule, financial obligations and qualities that the pageant seeks in their titleholders. Specific questions like: is this the most flattering dress on me, what should I do with my hair, and is this a good answer if the judges ask me this question are all questions that a pageant coach, or similar professional can help you with. Not the director. I would enjoy working with you if you feel you’re ready to take your pageant preparation to the next level.

What directors are expecting and wanting are ladies that are professional, respectable, accountable and responsible to represent not only themselves with pride, but also the pageant system in which they are a titleholder.

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Being professional, respectable, accountable and responsible are qualities that carry over into all areas of your life. I’m a firm believer that how we handle the small things in our lives is how we handle all things. Be a person of your word and always remember, your actions speak so loud people can’t hear what you’re saying.

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, 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 .

As a pageant coach, I’m frequently asked these questions:

• How many contestants are you coaching in this pageant?
• How many of your clients have won?
• Are your daughters competing in this pageant?
• Isn’t that a conflict of interest?

I love it when people ask about my coaching style because I am different from most of the people who call themselves pageant coaches.

What the person really wants to know is how I am going to give them my very best and help them to become a winner. Everyone wants to feel special and have complete attention given to their needs. I know I felt that way when I was competing and looking for a pageant coach.

What makes me different and sets me apart from the other pageant coaches is that my focus is totally on YOU.

Y -Your Why.

When we work together, my whole focus is to help you define your meaning of winning, identify your needs, set and reach your goals, and clarify your purpose for doing the pageant so you get the most from your experience.

This is your growth process and journey, not mine. You’re responsible for the action you take and the results you receive. It’s true, I do get very excited and happy when I see contestants grow, accomplish their dreams and finish what they start; but a contestant doesn’t win solely because they work with me or any other coach. Winning happenings when the sum of all the parts come together at the right time. It takes many people and ,sometimes a lot of time, for the formula to finally complete itself. But you don’t need to walk away with the crown at the end of the night to be a winner.

Because I’m a professional certified life coach through iPEC and member of the International Coaching Federation, I follow the ICF Standards of Ethical Conduct. The ICF Code of Ethics is very specific about privacy, confidentiality and conflicts of interest. None of my clients ever have to worry about me sharing their information with anyone from our coaching sessions.

O - Outcome.

I don’t play favorites, have a hidden agenda, or have a vested interest in the outcome of any pageant. In an honest pageant, no one person has the control of the outcome of the pageant. There are no guarantees.

Because my sole focus is on providing professional coaching that meets the needs of each individual client and is tailor made for their personal development, I can remain objective throughout the coaching process. Coaching is my full-time career. It isn’t a hobby or something I do on the side. It is what I am and I continue to grow and strengthen my skills every day.

My clients share with me what they want, we create a plan, and my objective is to partner with them to keep them on track. That is the only outcome I’m focused on. If in the process, they win the title too, woo hoo! But that’s the frosting, not the cake.

U - Unique.

After working together, you’ll realize what makes you unique and special. You’ll no longer feel compelled to compare yourself to others because you’ll be confident, appreciate and know who you are.

I don’t create cookie cutter queens or have a “one mold that fits all” mentality. It doesn’t matter to me if all my clients are in the same age division in the same pageant, or spread out. When I’m working with someone, I meet them where they are and all my energy is focused on the unique individual that is before me.

So here are the answers to the questions I posed at the beginning.

• How many contestants are you coaching in this pageant? Several.

• How many of your clients have won? All of them win. If you’re asking about titleholders, I have helped many, many girls and ladies reach this goal in all major pageant systems. Some are featured on my website. Again, I don’t keep track of this number, because it’s not about me, it’s about them.

• Are your daughters competing in this pageant? The odds are, no. My girls don’t compete that often and they’re treated no differently than any of my other clients. But if they were in the same pageant, I would let my clients know.

• Isn’t that a conflict of interest? No. The only time I feel I would have a conflict of interest is if I were judging a pageant, and I found out one of my clients was competing. At that point, I would let the director know and either withdraw from the panel, or have my scores dropped for that contestant.

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Clients that work with me will learn about interview, hair, makeup, clothing selection, and modeling. But most importantly, the personal development and life coaching they’ll receive will benefit them in all areas of life. Their relationships will be stronger, their communication skills articulate, and their life purpose clearer. And that’s what I mean by “Beyond The Pageant”. Visit my website to see how you can partner with me to win in life through pageantry.

www.WinningThroughPageantry.com

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC certified 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 has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world, 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.

One of the wisest thoughts my pageant coach shared with me when I was competing was this: in order to improve in pageantry, you need to advance to the next level of competition.

There was no way I was going to become an elite pageant titleholder if I continued to compete in small pageants where the numbers were small and there was limited competition. Please don't miss understand what I'm saying. All you really need are two strong contestants and you have competition.

However, your skills are really tested and brought to a new level when you compete with 50 or more polished contestants from across the country. I've seen it time and time again where contestants will stay at the festival or small pageant level because they feel comfortable there and generally do well. Small pageants are at the entry level position, and the numbers tend to be smaller with most of the contestants having little to no knowledge of what is expected of them. It's easier to gain confidence and win a title at this level with little to no help. It's a great place to start. That's where most people, including myself, started.

But the growth at this level is very horizontal not vertical. A contestant usually stays the same with few challenges that stimulate growth. Again, I'm not knocking small pageants. They provide a very important and needed opportunity for the mass number of contestants who want to try pageantry with minimal expense. But if you want to capture a more prestigious crown, you need to step up your game and enter the big leagues.

 
True personal growth takes place when you constantly raise the bar and keep putting yourself out of your comfort zone. Contestants need to attend and ultimately compete in a national pageant so they can see the caliber of contestants outside of their local and state pageants. There are many advantages to attending a national pageant, but I have chosen three to highlight in this article.

• Overcoming your fears. Most of the fear we experience is fear of the unknown. We think of every possible thing that could go wrong at a pageant and at some level feel we're not worthy of being there. By immersing yourself in the top levels of pageantry, you begin to picture yourself in that environment and suddenly the reality becomes a possibility in your mind instead of the impossible dream. You start to realize, if she can do, so can I.
• The standards are much higher. Everything at a national pageant is bigger including your nerves. The wardrobe, hair, makeup, communication skills, stage, lights, production and caliber of the contestants are unlike what you experience at preliminary state competitions. If a contestant isn't expecting this, it could really throw them off, and they will quickly spiral downward into the land of "I'm not good enough. Why did I ever come here?" We want to stay far, far away from this land.

• A better understanding of what is expected of the titleholder, their responsibilities, and broader opportunity for appearances and service.Riding in parades and helping with grand openings for businesses are only two opportunities for titleholders to make appearances. Some people think these are the only types of events that they can participate in. But, let's be honest, riding in parades are more of a fun PR opportunity than they are for personal growth. Your speaking and mental toughness skills are not developed sitting in a gorgeous convertible.

National titleholders are well spoken, well rounded and professional put together young women or ladies. The only way you'll improve and grow is to move up to the next level of competition, associate with people of higher standards, get out of your comfort zone, and work with a skilled pageant coach. Yes, titleholders have pageant coaches. I'm going to cover the topic of pageant coaching next week, however, please don't be deceived by anyone who tells you that they have made it to the top all on their own. It simply isn't the truth.

The cream of the crop is supported by a foundation of family, friends, hairstylists, makeup artists, wardrobe consultants, speaking coaches, directors, photographers, fitness trainers, and multiple pageant coaches. Some people use a few or all of the above professionals; but everyone has help. The label you put on the help doesn't matter. Help is help. Paid for or free. The end result is the same.

I would love to help you go to the next level in pageantry and in your life. If you're ready to take it to the next level, visit my website at www.WinningThroughPageantry.com to see how we can work together.

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My girls learned so much this past week by going to the Ohio State Fair for judging of their 4H projects. Multiple times, I heard them say, "Wow, that was a lot better than what I saw at the county level" or "Look at all the detail and depth that person put into their project. No wonder they placed so well. I'll do that next year."

You see, we need to expose ourselves to new people and opportunities for us to continue to grow and learn how we can improve. Keeping things the same is fear based, not building of one's confidence. What area of your life have you kept the same from "fear of the unknown?" What one thing could you do this week to step out of your comfort zone and open the door to possibility?

Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach and an iPEC certified 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 has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world, 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.

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.

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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.

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I’m frequently asked the questions what is a good age to start children in pageantry and what are the benefits to kids so young.

When kept in perspective, pageantry can benefit children of any age by developing confidence in speaking and getting up in front of an audience. It’s been cited time and time again that the number one fear of people is public speaking. Having been on the stage since the age five, I can personally say getting up in front of people isn’t one of my fears because my mother encouraged me to do so at an early age. The ability to be very comfortable in front of large crowds has served me well .

Pageantry can be a fun extracurricular activity and potentially a great bonding opportunity for parents and their children. In many pageants there are cash prizes for the titleholders and the winners in the optional categories.

When to start is really up to you and your child. Some babies and toddlers’ personalities are very tolerant to wearing the dress clothes, the schedule, and being in front of a crowd. Some are not. Test the waters by entering a no fee local pageant or one with a low entry fee to see how your child will behave. If your child has a meltdown or it’s just too overwhelming for them, you may want to wait awhile before trying another pageant.

There is a time for everything. Some contestants are adorable babies. Others may bloom as a toddler, pee wee or princess. Or some women experience their first pageant as a Mrs. contestant. You’re never too young, or too old, to enter a pageant. There is something for everyone if you truly want to experience this hobby sport.

TIPS FOR BABIES

Typically, children under the age of three are escorted on stage by a parent. The appearance and presentation of the parent is just as important as the appearance of you baby. I’ve chosen photos that demonstrate the importance of focus, wardrobe and presentation for parents of babies.

• FOCUS – Look at your baby the entire time you are on stage. You want the judges’ attention to be on your baby, not you.

• WARDROBE-Whoever carries the baby on stage needs to be well groomed and dressed in colors that blend with the colors your child is wearing. Parents, you are a backdrop for your baby. You are part of creating the total picture. Flashy clothes or dressing in blue jeans and a graphic t-shirt, will draw attention to you thus robbing the focus from your child.  Mothers, make sure your tops completely cover you, and if you are wearing a dress or skirt, make sure the length is to your knees. Be certain your contestant number is placed in an easy to read location.

• PRESENTATION – The parent carrying the baby needs to hold the baby facing out towards the audience and walk in a side stepping fashion so your baby is facing the audience at all times. Don’t carry your baby on your hip. Notice in the pictures how the mothers are holding their children. You need to practice this at home so both you and your baby feel secure walking in this fashion. If your baby girl’s skirt is very full and frilly, you can prop it up behind her, like a peacock, for added flair.

Important general notes:

• If your toddler can’t easily and quickly walk by themselves, carry them. The child doesn’t receive extra points for whether they can walk or not. I’ve seen it all too many times when a parent starts at one side of the stage holding the finger of their little princess only to have her fall, get distracted, or sit down after a couple steps. The child gets frustrated and has a full blown tantrum right there on the stage. Just carry them.

• Excessive baby talk, kiss blowing, squeezing, tossing, having people in the audience calling out their name loudly, and tickling the baby brings attention to you and away from your child. A beautiful baby doesn’t need a gimmick to make them stand out. Put your child in her dress clothes and practice carrying her around for a while in your home. See how she tolerates that. If it goes well, try a pageant. If she keeps tugging at her hair bow or fussing when you’re carrying her facing out, you may want to wait and save yourself the aggravation.

• Give the judges their space. Know where the judges are sitting and respect their space. Don’t stand or walk in front of them to take pictures; or stand behind them calling out your baby’s name or making goofy noises in an attempt to make your baby look their way.

TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUNG CHILDREN

Following are some tips for helping your toddlers and young children develop the skills needed in the older age groups should you choose to pursue that path.

• Read to them. This will increase their vocabulary and knowledge base.

• Speak to them using proper grammar.
  

• Encourage them to talk with other people and express their opinions.

• Practice walking and speaking into a microphone every chance you get.

• Try different activities to see what your child is good at and enjoys doing.

As a parent, learn all you can about what is required of the next age group so you can start preparing. I highly recommend downloading my FREE special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning. Numerous people have thanked me for this valuable tool. I share important information that everyone needs to know about the pageant industry, and it will save you precious time and money. 

Keep pageantry fun, light, and in its proper perspective at this age.

I’m too old. I’m too young. The timing isn’t right. These are frequent excuses used from time to time to justify the fear of trying something new, or making a change. Where a certain degree of caution is helpful, being paralyzed by fear can keep us from experiencing opportunities that may lead to a wonderful place. Go ahead. Try something new today and see what happens.

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant expert, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning Through Pageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps 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 has been married 21 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, home educates their children, 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.

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What are three things that make you special? Last week I spoke about the importance of recognizing your gifts and choosing how to use them. When you have a clear picture of your talents and discover which activities make you feel completely alive, you can easily figure out where to spend your time.

As a titleholder, you will have less than 365 days to make the most of your experience. Having a plan ahead of time will greatly increase the FUN FACTOR of your year, and potentially open the door to future opportunities. The strength of your “why”, “purpose” or “platform” is the key to unlocking the door.

There are 3 keys to forming a solid platform in pageantry.

Key 1: BELIEVE: It must be something that you emotionally believe in.

No matter how impressive a platform may sound, if a contestant’s heart is not there, it will come across flat to the judges. This is one time when I say take it personally and make it personal. Find something that has emotionally moved you to take action in some way. A platform doesn’t need to come from some devastating event that happened to you. It’s about making connections. First it must connect with you, then with the judges.

Key 2: INVOLVEMENT: You need to be actively involved in your service.

A strong platform is one where a contestant can demonstrate to the judges a history of devoting time to her cause prior to the pageant. For example, a girl who has had an eating disorder as a middle school student overcomes her challenges as a teenager. As a result, in the past 3 years she has spoken to over 50 girls’ organizations about the importance of self-respect, health, and wellness. She volunteers one day a week at the local teenage health clinic and plans to become a nutritionist after high school. This platform clearly demonstrates active involvement and gives great insight to the judges about the character and goals of this young lady. The judges also get an idea of what she would do as a titleholder.

Compare this to the contestant who says her platform is for cancer awareness. On her bio she states that her cheerleading squad put together a Relay For Life team last month and raised $500. This was her first activity with this organization and was so inspired by the people, she says, she decided to become more involved with cancer awareness.

OK, I’m putting on my judge’s hat for a moment. First, I would acknowledge the second contestant’s efforts in raising money with her team. However, I would view this as a one-shot event and wonder how long her interest would last for this cause. The first contestant would get my vote in the interview round because of the depth of her experience, knowledge and personal conviction for her platform.

Key 3: INTEREST: Your topic needs to have a narrow focus but be broad enough for public appeal.

At first glance this statement may seem to contradict itself so let me go into some detail. Let’s start with the “narrow focus” part of the sentence. Would you agree that it is hard to hit a target when you don’t know where to aim? If the pageant’s focus is on a strong platform, a contestant needs to aim for the bull’s-eye and not let her attention get pulled by multiple distractions.

There is more strength in choosing one topic and totally exploring all facets of it than bouncing from one activity to another. Organizations, businesses, and people are more willing to support a cause when the message is clear and the benefits are obvious. It is your job to make your message as clear as possible, which means focus. The message will be diluted and vague if a contestant is all over the map with her activities.

However, your platform needs to have broad enough appeal so that many people are interested in having you make an appearance or speaking to their organization. Pageant systems want their titleholders out there making appearances and being in the public eye. Not only does this increase the awareness of your cause; but also it helps the pageant system continue to thrive from a business standpoint. So the judges are looking for the platform that will serve both purposes, advance the message of the titleholder and promote the pageant.

Even if your pageant system doesn’t require a platform, spending time developing your purpose and focus will benefit you and the pageant system. Because I feel so strongly that a solid purpose is the backbone to a quality pageant experience, I’m introducing my new A.I.M. Session. This session will include an in depth training teleclass, downloadable worksheets, an individual mock interview and a mini-feedback session with me at an awesome price. The session will cover in detail the Application, Interview and Mission parts of your pageant experience. At the end of this session you will have a solid pageant bio and vision for your platform that you can use in multiple pageants. The session is January 20th so don’t delay if you want to get focused and hit your target in 2010.

Click to register

Each week has 168 hours in it, subtract 12 per day for sleep, eating, and misc., you’re left with 84 hours. What will you do with those 84? Most people give very little thought to what they do weekly, daily or even in the moment. How about you? What purpose do you want your “84” to have? Which areas of your life do you wish were different? The A.I.M. Session will benefit not only pageant contestants but anyone who is wanting to gain clarity on their values, gifts and purpose. There’s something about seeing your life on paper that is very revealing. This week, think about your 84.

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant expert, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning Through Pageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps 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 home educates her 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.

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Quick, which theme song from this 80’s movie had the following line:

“If there’s something strange

in your neighborhood…

Who you gonna call? ...Ghostbusters!”

Translation for the world of pageantry, “If there’s something  strange in your preparation…Who you gonna call? ... Your Director!”

Joking set aside, any clarification and questions you have around the rules, schedule, payments, and general details of the pageant need to go to the director first. The following list is to help you understand all the logistics a pageant director needs to handle and this list is not complete.

• Establish the date, location and schedule for the pageant.

• Develop all the paperwork, rules, areas of competition and scoring for the pageant.

• Select the judges.

• Market to find contestants.

• Handle the communication with all the contestants.

• Network to secure gifts and prizes from business sponsors.

• Arrange for entertainment, decorations and tech support for the staging of the pageant.

• Secure staff members to help run the logistics of the event.

Wow! That sounds like a real business. Guess what? It is. Directors are in the business of providing a quality, fair opportunity for ALL the contestants that participate. The director is a business owner and the pageant system is the business. Just like in business, the quality of the owner and their skills will make or break the system. As a contestant, here are two guidelines you can follow to help the directors do their job.

Respect The Deadlines

Remember, pageantry is like every other business. There are expenses that need to be paid upfront and all of the planned events are based upon a set number of participants. That’s why most fees are non-refundable. Likewise, it is very difficult for a director to produce a quality pageant if people do not pay their fees when they’re supposed to. Please notice that “bill collector” doesn’t appear on the above list :).

Respect Their Time

1.  Read through all the paperwork and materials the directors have put together.

2.  Make a list of questions you need clarification on.

3.  Arrange for a phone call so you can have them answered all at the same time.

4.  Don’t expect one-on-one coaching from a director.

Time is valuable. An important thing to remember is that you are not the only contestant in the pageant. If weeks before a pageant, every contestant made a call or sent an email to the director that required a response, it would take hours upon hours away from the director’s core responsibilities.

Also, there is a fine line between asking a general question (what style of gown does the pageant system prefer?) and a coaching question (does this dress look good on me?). Do yourself a favor, and don’t make it awkward by crossing the line. Great directors make it a point to share ALL information with ALL contestants so it is fair. They stay away from giving personal opinions because this action could be interpreted by other contestants and their family members as favoritism, selecting the winning, etc.

Your director is your greatest resource to understanding and fully experiencing the pageant system you have chosen to enter. They are providing the opportunity for you. Do your part and take responsibility for your preparation.

Remember this formula:

Preparation + Opportunity = Success

All parts are needed for the equation to work.

Visit my website and request my FREE STUFF to help with the preparation part of your formula.

When I was mayor, I learned very quickly there were two groups of people when it came to attitudes regarding rules, or law.

The first group equates rules with freedom. By knowing the parameters in which to operate, they turn their energies towards the endless possibilities within the respected area to make things happen effortlessly.

The second group views deadlines and boundaries as slavery. They are so focused on what they can’t do that enormous amounts of energy and time are used to either try to change the rules, figure out how to break the rules without getting caught, or bend the rules to fit their fancy. These choices are very draining and stressful for all involved.

Same set of rules, two different viewpoints. Will you choose freedom or slavery?

Rhonda Shappert is a pageant expert, personal development life coach, and owner of Winning Through Pageantry™, a business she created that not only helps her clients achieve winning results in pageants, but helps 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 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.