Pageant weekend is a fun, stylish and glamorous time. You are in the public eye and everything you wear, say and do is a reflection upon the pageant system you are competing in. In a nutshell, you want to look well groomed and put together from the time you step out of your car until you leave to go home.

The definition of “casual dress” in the pageant world is totally different than the casual clothing you see people wearing in everyday life. Even when the staff says “dress comfortably for rehearsals” the expectation is that you will still look your best.

Blue jeans are not the norm but instead the exception at the pageant. The exception would be if the jeans were dark in color, coupled with a high fashion top, accessorized and finished with an adorable pair of shoes. The sweatshirt, tennis shoes and denim jeans look should be reserved for your hotel room only. If you leave the room, change. You never know who you might meet in the hotel, hallway or elevator.

You are surrounded the entire time by pageant staff, judges, members of the media and the family members of the other contestants, who in some cases are watching you closer than the judges.

Your image and how you present yourself speaks louder than the words you speak. A sloppy public appearance is not the image businesses are looking for when it comes to selecting their representatives. Make no mistake, pageantry is big business and the judges are looking for the next “face” of the pageant.

It isn’t necessary to buy expensive designer labels. Your wardrobe must fit your body perfectly and be appropriate for the system you are competing in. Baggy sweat pants or clothes that are too tight or revealing need to stay at home.
Here are a couple suggestions for the various events.

Arrival/orientation- A nice dress, suit or pant suit. This is when you make your first impression at the pageant. Look FABULOUS when you check into the hotel and go to the contestant orientation.

Rehearsal- A comfortable dress, dress pants or leggings with a fashion top. Be sure to pack all your competition shoes in a cute bag and go to rehearsal. You want to walk and practice in the shoes you will be wearing for that part of the competition.

Parties- Sparkly party dresses, cocktail dresses or homecoming /proms dresses.
The clothing you wear is a reflection of your sense of style and self image. You want to look tasteful, fashionable and current with your style choices.

Connect with your inner fashion diva and have fun at the pageant events.

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. The more you practice, the better you will get. This handy interview card is a great way to practice with a partner or to use by yourself.

The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview. Now preparing for your interview is easy and for a limited time FREE.

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

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 22 years to her husband Stephen, a 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. For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

Don’t misunderstand me. I love pageantry. But with all of the logistics that go into running a pageant, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong. Being self reliant will eliminate certain stressors and you’ll have a more positive pageant experience. Less stress means you will feel more relaxed and confident in your abilities. The more relaxed and confident you are, the greater your chances are of sharing who you are and winning the hearts of the judges.

At first glance what I am about to say may seem negative, but it’s not. This thought process has saved my sanity and skin countless times. Here it is: Look at the pageant schedule, and think of every possible thing that could go wrong and create a plan for what you would do if that were to happen. Get detailed. Let your imagination run wild. Think of the worst things that could happen to you and plan out what you would do in that situation. By doing this, not only will you be more prepared; but you will eliminate the fear factor because you’ve worked it out ahead of time.

It would look something like this. What if I get there, and rehearsal runs late and there isn’t enough time for my makeup person to do my makeup? Or, what if the pageant provided stylist does my hair and makeup and I hate it? Solution: Learn how to do your own makeup. This might mean taking private classes and practicing weeks before the pageant so you can master putting on your own makeup.

What if I get there and they have lost my paperwork? Solution: You always bring copies of everything with you to the pageant. Mark my words, the one time you think it is not necessary is going to be THE time you wish you would have brought it.

• Hair and Makeup- Stylists are wonderful; but you need to learn how to do your own hair and makeup. Sometimes the schedule does not allow enough time for you to get your hair and makeup professional done before the show. Plus, some stylists over book themselves, get sick, or no show you. Even if the pageant says they will provide people to do this, never totally depend on them. Taking classes from a professional makeup and hair artist to show you how to do your own hair and makeup will be one of the best investments you can make.

• Wardrobe- In half of the pageants systems parents, coaches and stylists are not allowed into the dressing rooms. You need to practice getting into your clothes by yourself. Keep this in mind when shopping for gowns. There is never enough hanging space for your clothing so bring your own hanging rack. I ordered the Dritz Ironing and Drying Rack (# 10688323) from Joann.com for $30 (but I used a 40% coupon) and LOVE it! It’s lightweight, folds into two pieces and fits in the bottom of my big suitcase. It extends up to 64 ½ “and says holds up to 33 garments. But 9 adult sized pageant garments is all I put on it. Bling is heavy.
  

• Food- Pack your own supply of water and food. Pageant supplied food is not healthy or satisfying. You need to be able to eat on the run because rehearsals run late, restaurants get crowded, and you need to invest more time in getting your outer appearance ready for competition than hunting for food in an unfamiliar environment.
  

• Accommodations – Even if the pageant is local, I stay in the event hotel. You need a safe place to rest, recompose and get ready for events in private. People, it is not professional to change your clothes and do your hair and makeup in the public restrooms of the hotel. The extra $100 for a room is worth its weight in gold so build it into your budget. I’m speaking from three decades of experience as a contestant, pageant mom, and judge. Get a room.

• Paperwork, CDs, DVD, Photos, etc.- Bring extra hard copies of everything. That includes your music CD if you’re doing talent (I always have three separate discs), all paperwork you mailed in ahead of time, headshots, judges bio, and copies of your cancelled checks, credit card statements or receipts from the pageant showing what you have paid for.
  

Arrive early, observe everything that is being said and happening around you, and have your backup plans in place. Follow the Girl Scout Motto “Be Prepared” and the Swedish Proverb “The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.”

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

Now's The Time to Brush Up On Your Interview Skills

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. The more you practice, the better you will get. This handy interview card is a great way to practice with a partner or to use by yourself.
The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview. Now preparing for your interview is easy and for a limited time FREE.

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 22 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.  For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

How much jewelry a contestant should wear to accessorize their competition wardrobe can be answered simply but watching a few of the major pageants. Just remember to keep it simple for competition in a natural beauty pageant.

You don’t want anything to distract the judges from paying attention to you. When you’re making an appearance or doing a fashion shoot, that’s another story. For fun fashion or runway, accessorize to the max.

Last night’s Miss Universe pageant was a wonderful example of how to look drop dead stunning without over doing the bling. With all the stoning and beading on today’s evening gowns, all a contestant really needs for the final touch is a single pair of earrings. Even if you have multiple holes in your ear lobes, wear only one pair of earrings.

For bathing suit competition, nude strappy high heels and a pair of earrings are all you want wear with your swimsuit. No pantyhose ladies and yes I mean Mrs. contestants, too. You will still see some pageant contestants ( and all fitness competitors) wearing the clear shoes with bathing suits. But the new trend in pageantry is taupe or nude strappy heels. You want to make sure they are at least 4" tall. The nude color elongates the leg. Always check with the director of the pageant system you are competing in. Some will want you to wear silver or gold instead of nude or clear.

Every bracelet, rhinestone hair accessory, and ring you put on yourself draws attention away from you and to that object. The only ring I like to see on a contestant is their wedding ring if it is a Mrs. pageant. These items are fine for fashion shows, costumes, or for special events; but they do not work in your favor when you are competing for the overall title.

Resisting the urge to over accessorize your outfit is especially important during your interview. You want the judges to focus on your face and to listen to what you’re communicating to them. If you’re a “hand talker” and you’re wearing a gorgeous bracelet, the judges are going to be watching that bracelet instead of listening to you. Or if your necklace is an intricate piece of art, that’s what they are going to be admiring during your interview time. Wear a stud or button style earring during interview. Hoops and dangling earrings move when your talk and can be distracting. There are a few pageant systems, like the Perfect system, that have the interview on-stage and it’s press style. For the Perfect system, a dangle earring would work because you are onstage and the judges aren’t close to you.

Anything you put on your body should ultimately draw the judges’ attention back to your face, especially your eyes. Pageants are glamorous. Jewelry can help us feel beautiful and radiant.

Just remember to Keep It Simple Sweetheart (K.I.S.S.)

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here or at the top of this page to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

The Stunning Leila Lopes is first Angolan to win the Miss Universe title.
Photo: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

The 5’10 ½” beauty is 25 years old.
Photo: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Photo: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Now's The Time to Brush Up On Your Interview Skills

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. The more you practice, the better you will get. This handy interview card is a great way to practice with a partner or to use by yourself.
The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview. Now preparing for your interview is easy and for a limited time FREE.

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 22 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. For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

If you have decided to enter a pageant where swimsuit is a scored area of competition for the overall title, there are important tips you need to know. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can run out to the mall and successfully buy a swimsuit off the rack the week before the pageant. You will be very disappointed when you arrive  and see what the experienced contestants are wearing.

Everyone has an opinion about the purpose of the swimwear competition in a beauty pageant. For me, it was the perfect motivation I needed to get the baby fat I had accumulated off my petite 5’ 3” frame. I had my three daughters within four years and my last girl weighed 9lbs. 5oz. I was depressed and felt like I had completely lost touch with “Rhonda”. I was adjusting to my role as “mommy” but I didn’t like the way I looked or felt.

The second I paid my entrance fee for the Mrs. Ohio America pageant, the countdown clock had begun. There was no more “well, when the kids are older, I’ll get back into shape” or “when I’m not so tired, I’ll have more energy to work out.” I made the decision to invest the money to do the pageant; and the date was set in stone as to when I would have to stand on stage in a bathing suit. I was not about to waste my money nor be publicly humiliated. So the workouts began as did my hunt for the perfect bathing suit.

The cut and style of your bathing suit will either hurt or enhance your physical fitness appearance. You should go to the store and try on every cut of top and bottom you can find to see which one is most flattering on you. Take photos of everything. You can instantly look 10lbs. heavier or thinner by the cut of your bathing suit. So let’s talk swimsuits.

• For pageant competition, you will want to choose a bright, solid colored suit. Stay away from pastels as they get washed out under the lights.

• You are looking for a matte lycra material that has a heavy lining.

This is a great photo from the Jayme Shaw website. It’s a perfect example of the rich colors you want your suit to be. I would stay away from a white suit unless you are very dark and your suit is double lined. Please note how the fabric is smooth across their bottoms without being pulled either too tight or sagging. There is enough coverage but not so much fabric that it makes their butts look bigger than what they are. The top of the trunks slightly scoop down giving a slimming visual shape where the French cut leg elongates the leg from both the front and back views.

Here is a Jamye Shaw suit from the front. Notice, the top has an underwire and soft natural padding to lift the breasts up and in. There is enough coverage to keep things from “jiggling” when she is modeling but enough exposure to show her figure. The trunks scoop at the top, which help elongate her torso and create more of an hour glass shape. The leg cut lengthens her legs.

Here is another Jayme Shaw suit straight on so you can see the lines better. You don’t want metallic or shiny fabrics. Shiny fabrics increase your size and will show any slight bump or bulge that you have. Prints draw the attention to the swimsuit and also make you look bigger than life. You want the attention to be on you- not the suit. Keep it simple with a cut that helps bring your body into proportion. It’s the hourglass shape that you are shooting for.

Here is a Jayme Shaw one piece swimsuit. In my opinion, this color is too pale for the stage but it has a nice leg cut and flattering top.

Here are examples of Lady M swimwear. With the Starlight II style, I would go with a higher leg cut in the front. With it being this straight across on the bottom, it will widen your hips, unless that is what you’re trying to do. This scoop back view is very flattering for a one piece. The cinching on the top helps to add fullness to a small bust.

Here is a popular Winnwear Swimsuit style 600T and 600B. I would remove the tie on the side as it is a distraction. Be careful when considering contrasting fabrics or embellishments. You don’t want to draw attention away from your face or your figure. That’s also why you want to wear only earrings and simple strappy shoes with your swimsuit.

As always, check with your director for the swimwear rules. Some pageants may specify a particular color of suit and shoes, but “fit” principles are always the same.

The advantage of ordering your swim suit from a vendor who specializes in pageant swimwear is that the quality of the outer fabric and the lining is a heavier grade material. Thicker material will hold you in and stay in place better than any suit you can buy off the rack. The colors are brighter too.
You can, also, buy your tops and bottoms separately (very few people wear the same top and bottom size).

If you’re having your suit custom made, allow 6-8 weeks for it to come in. Once you receive it, there may be more alterations needed to make sure it fits perfectly. Again, check with the director of your pageant. Some fashion forward pageants allow accessories and more bling to their suits. As a general rule, the suit needs to bring attention to you. The attention of the audience and the judges should not be on the suit, your shoes or the accessories you are wearing.

                                                                         Winnwear style 300T and 300B.

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here or at the top of this page to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

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. The more you practice, the better you will get. This handy interview card is a great way to practice with a partner or to use by yourself.
The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview. Now preparing for your interview is easy and for a limited time FREE.

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 22 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.  For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

I lived out of two suitcases for two years when I traveled with the international, nonprofit organization Up With People. I learned very quickly from my European friends the joys of traveling light, how to pack a suitcase so your clothes don’t get wrinkled, and how to keep everything organized with zero to minimal damage to the contents.

Let’s face it. Pageants are high maintenance. There is a lot of stuff we need to take with us when we compete. Your packing strategy will vary depending on how long the pageant is, the type of pageant you’re competing in, and whether you are driving or flying to your location.

Now that airlines are charging for each checked bag, and there are weight limits placed on each bag, you may want to consider shipping certain things ahead of time via Fed Ex or UPS to the hotel. Whether you ship, or bring it with you, certain packing principles can be applied.

Today, I’m going to share tips on packing everything BUT your formal gowns and dressy clothing.

Here are the key secrets:

• Roll your clothes. This will take some practice but it’s not hard. If you don’t truly roll them (so they look like a roll of toilet paper) you will be folding in wrinkles. By rolling your clothes, you’ll be able to fit more clothes into your suitcase, they won’t be wrinkled and you can see what you’re looking for at a glance without disturbing everything else in your suitcase.

• Have a large variety of different bags in many colors and sizes. I love the Eagle Creek Pack-it bags because I can color code my things and everything is organized. You can use zipper lock bags just as well. When our girls were very young and we traveled out of state, I would put each day’s clothes in a separate zipper lock bag and label them. All they would have to do was grab a bag that had their name on it. It contained their underwear, socks and clothes for the day without disturbing the contents of the entire suitcase. You can either group like items together, or pack complete outfits per bag. It’s your choice.

• Pack items to create layers, or shelves, within your suitcase.

• Pack like items together. I group all my hair care things in one bag, my makeup in another, and toiletries in a third. I put all liquid toiletries first into a zip lock bag before I place it in my luggage. This will eliminate any unpleasant surprises caused by a leaking shampoo bottle.

• Fill ALL the spaces within your bags and suitcases. Holes allow things to move around and get broken. Put smaller bags inside bigger bags if you need to. The goal is to secure things so they can’t freely move around in your luggage. If you’re packing up boxes to ship, use bubble wrap to fill the air pockets so there isn’t any movement inside the box.

The suitcase I’m using in the photos below is a smaller roller suitcase that you could carry on the plane with you or check it plane side.

Bottom Layer: I line the bottom of my suitcase with an empty backpack (great for packing snacks, rehearsal clothes and carrying things around during the day) , a suit-sized garment bag (to carry a quick change of clothes between events if necessary), a rolled up full length dry cleaner bag and an empty sack to hold dirty clothes. This will provide a soft cushion to put your layer of shoes on.

Layer #2: Next, put your shoes together with toe to heel and line them around the edges of the suitcase. Sometimes I put the shoes in tube socks to prevent them from getting scratched. You can make this whole layer just shoes or put in your hot rollers. In the holes around your shoes, fill in with your clips and Velcro rollers, which are in zipper lock bags to prevent the rollers and clips from getting lost and snagging your clothes. The key is to fill in the holes with little items (which I put in smaller bags) so your shoes can’t move.

Layer #3: Next, put your clothing bags on top of the shoe layer. This layer will cushion your shoes. Socks and pantyhose are in the green rectangle bag, underwear and bras in blue. T-shirts, pants and shorts are rolled to fit in larger bags like the green and red ones. All of the chargers for my cell phone, cameras and batteries are in the teal bag along with any other small miscellaneous items that I don’t want to have lost in the shuffle

Layer #4: On top of your clothes shelf, put your rolled up jewelry bag and another sack. In my picture, it is my hair care bag.

Layer #5: To pad my jewelry sack, I put a jacket on top of it (because I am always freezing in those ballrooms) and one more empty bag that I can use to collect and organize the pageant materials I’ll receive at check in time. Zip the bag shut and move on to the next suitcase.
Organizing Your Beauty Items

I bought this makeup bag at Walgreens and love it. It has a number of sturdy clear zippered bags that can quickly and easily be removed providing flexibility for different situations. I have a separate bag for each of the following to save time, keep everything organized, and to keep things from “walking away” in the dressing room:

• Face- foundation, cover up, bronzer, powder and blush.
• Eyes- shadows, liners, mascara, eyelashes and glue
• Lips- liners, lipstick, sealer, gloss
• Sharp stuff- tweezers, small pair of scissors, small sewing kit, safety pins, nail file
• Applicators- sponges, brushes, Q-tips

Final tips:

• Write out your list so nothing falls through the cracks
• Take only what you need.
• Start packing a week before you leave.

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive  my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here or at the top of this page to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

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, 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 22 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. For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

Seconds after the announcement of the top 10, and again at the naming of the court, one question runs through the minds of every contestant BUT the queen, “What could I have done to get better results at this pageant?”

This is a perfectly normal response for a goal oriented person who wants to excel. A self critique can certainly be useful for future events if used in a constructive fashion.

There is one principle that participants of all pageants must accept: Judging is subjective. It is not based on fact but rather on the opinion of the person judging. People have different values, likes, dislikes, biases, and the list goes on. So, you could do everything perfect and it still may not be enough to win the crown because the queen is selected subjectively.

Let’s say you have a panel of five judges. Four of them love you and give you high scores. But for some reason, one judge doesn’t connect with you and scores you very low; it may cost you the crown when the scores are averaged out. This is a reality you need to mentally prepare for.

One person’s opinion DOES NOT determine your value as a person. It’s only their opinion. Because it’s impossible to get into the mind of another person, it’s a waste of your energy to try to figure out why they didn’t like you. Accept the fact that you have no control over another person’s thoughts or actions and move on.

I’ve seen a contestant receive the comment “too polished and rehearsed” from one judge; from another judge on the same panel “needs more work- not professional enough”; and from a third judge “don’t change a thing. Perfect.” I mean, really. Are they listening to and looking at the same person?

That’s opinions for you . Everyone has one and it’s subjective.
Now, let’s talk about some of the possible objective reasons that may have influenced your final placement.

• Interview - You need to continually work on your speaking and communications skills. Every day events happen to you that cause changes in your lives. From year to year, you’re a different person and this should be reflected in your interview skills. What worked for you last year may not work this year. Here are some possible areas of change that you’ll want to be aware of so you can adapt your interview skills.
  • Aging Up a Division - If your age division last year was 7-9 and you were 9, you were one of the most mature girls in your group. This worked in your favor. However, this year you’re 10 and the span is ages 10-12, now you’re at the bottom of your group. The maturity level between a 10 year old and 12 year old can be huge in today’s world. The expectations are higher. With each age bracket change, the substance and quality of the communication skills needs to increase.
  • Changing pageant systems - Each system has a slightly different focus and purpose of the interview. For example, if you’re used to a 40 second interview with each judge, it’s a whole different world interviewing for 5 minutes with a judge, or switching to a panel format.
  • Different type of interview - Panel, one-on-one, on-stage and press style are all different types of interview styles you’ll encounter at a pageant. It’s important to know what type of interview it is and how long it will last. Many contestants have made the mistake of thinking they could just walk into a pageant interview, be themselves and talk normal. After all, how hard can talking be, right? Wrong.

• Walk - There are different walking styles for glitz, natural, and runway style pageants. If a contestant has done nothing but glitz pageants from ages 0-12, that bouncy, side-to-side glitz walk is not going to cut it if she decides to do a natural pageant. Or if you’re used to a natural walking style and enter a pageant where the walk is more fashion forward (more like runway) you’re not going to score as high.

• Personal Styling - Your hair, makeup and clothing all need to be appropriate for your age and the pageant system you’re participating in. I agree, it would be wonderful if we could use the same gown, swimsuit, interview outfit and casual wear outfit for every type of pageant we entered. However, that’s not always the case.

The bottom line is this, judging is totally subjective and outside of your control. One, and only one, contestant will have the title for the year. That means everyone else in the pageant will have to deal with their feelings after the pageant.

The only thing you have control of is your thoughts, feelings and actions. If you can walk away from the pageant knowing you’d presented your very best to the judges, and learned something new about yourself that will better your life, then you’ve won something more important than a crown from the pageant.

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive  my free award winning newsletter weekly. Just click here or at the top of this page to GET YOUR FREE REPORT.Then fill out your name and email address in the boxes.

On a personal note, my grandpa’s funeral is today. He was 100 years old. Incredible to think of everything he experienced in the past 100 years- cars, TVs and computers. Give those close to you an extra squeeze and tell them you love them. 

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 educate s 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 .

Think back to the last pageant you watched and tell me the color of the winner’s gown. Most of you will answer white, or some shade of it.

Neutral colors of white, beige, gold, champaign, and black dominate the crowning moment followed by shades of blue and red.

There are exceptions to this “white wins” paradigm but for the most part, when you look at the stage of contestants, it’s a sea of white.What do you think? Here are photos from 2010’s Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Universe, Mrs. United States, Mrs. America and Mrs. International pageants. For even more, click on this link to see the top five in 48 states in the 2010 Miss USA pageants, and you’ll see neutrals, red and blue (with a couple other sprinkles thrown in). http://www.pageantupdate.info/missusa2010/topfivegroups.htm

Most people see this pattern but never take the time to understand why. I receive greater insight into this phenomenon each time I judge. Simply put, whites and neutrals are safe and draw the focus to the woman in the dress.

I use the word “safe” because the colors don’t elicit strong emotional reactions from the judges. Think about your own feelings when you see certain colors. Some colors make you go “ugh” while others make you scream “I like it”. Even in the most beautiful green gown, if two of your judges love your choice and the third doesn’t, you won’t score as high. Remember, one point could be the difference between the Queen and the 1st runner up.

Every human being has emotional reactions to colors. All you have to do is sit out in the audience and listen to the comments made when the crowd sees certain gowns. Or, just pay attention to your own thoughts and feelings when you’re looking at color.

Judges try to be as objective as possible; but when it comes right down to it, they trust their gut feeling about a contestant, and the color of a gown will affect how some people feel.Because the crown goes to the contestant with the highest composite score from all of the judges, a contestant needs to connect with every judge in each area of competition. So you don’t want to be wearing something that will potentially turn judges off. That’s why I say neutrals are safe. I’m not saying everyone should wear white or a neutral color. There are some skin tones that need brighter colors to make the contestant radiant.

Whites and neutrals draw the focus to the woman in the dress. The style and color of your gown should work together to highlight your physical beauty. More importantly though, the gown should bring attention back to your face, where your inner beauty shines through your eyes and smile. That’s where you want the judges to be focusing anyway. If they’re admiring (or distracted by) the color and detail of your gown, they’re going to miss YOU. That’s where you get comments like “the dress wore her”. The contestant must wear the dress if the crown is to come to her.

When you’re at a Red Carpet event or making an appearance, you can make a bolder statement. But when the opportunity of being a titleholder is being decided by a panel of judges, you need to find the middle ground. When competing in a pageant, this is the one time when I will say, it’s safer to drive down the middle of the road than to veer too far to the left or to the right. Your judging panel will be a mix of people. That’s why it’s safer to choose a timeless classic gown. It appeals to the masses.

You must be true to who you are. Never be someone or something that you’re not. Choose a gown that has a color and fit that highlights who you are without being overbearing. Remember, it isn’t the color alone that wins.  It’s what the color brings attention to and that should be the real you. 

Request my free special report, 10 Insider Secrets to Winning, and receive  for my free award winning newsletter weekly. 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, 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 .

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.

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.

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.

March Makeover: Your Pageant Wardrobe

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

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

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

http://www.heatherfrenchhenry.info

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

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

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

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

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

• 

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

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

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

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

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

Size doesn’t matter, shape does.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Shoulders and hips in line

• A defined bust

• A waist (even with a softly curved tummy)

• A curved bottom

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

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

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

Have every 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 a pageant coach and a professionally trained personal development life coach through iPEC.  She created Winning Through Pageantry™, to help her clients achieve winning results in pageants, and help them Succeed From The Inside Out™ in their lives. In the pageant world she has held multiple local, state and national titles. Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three who home educates her three children has been married 20 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. Their music CD entitled Cana is available through www.cdbaby.com/cd/shappert or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.