HOW DO I GET STARTED IN PAGEANTS?
Have you been thinking about starting in pageants or do you want to know which pageant will give you the BEST chances of winning?  Check out our free "How to Start: Picking the Perfect Pageant" video. 

First, start your search for pageants in your age group and in your area  through a regular online search, through social media and/or websites such as a Pageant Planet which contain a pageant directory. Pageants that are considered "at-large" typically means that there is either no local or state preliminary competition to qualify for the next stage in the competition.  Preliminary titles are awarded to those who wish to compete at the state or national level. 

After you have narrowed them down by age group and location, then you should take a look at:
  1. The elements of competition
  2. The grading of those elements (percentage breakdown)
  3. The mission, goals and philosophy of the pageant
  4. The requirements and potential financial/time obligations required

Some factors to consider when making your decision are:
  • Talent or No Talent. Do you have a performance talent that you'd like to showcase for the competition?  If so, choose a pageant that has a talent component such as Miss America or Miss America's Outstanding Teen.  If not, then choose a pageant that does not have a talent component such as Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss United States, Miss for America, Miss Collegiate America, Miss High School America, etc. 
 
  • Mission of the pageant.  Then take a look at the mission of the pageant - do you prefer a pageant that has a specific mission (community service, raising awareness or funding for a cause)?  That may help you narrow down your choices. 
 
  • Timing.  Next, determine whether the timing of the pageant is good- are you prepared to devote a year of service to fulfill the obligations of that title?  Does the competition date work for you?  Is it too close?  Will your schedule allow for time to prepare and time to make appearances and compete at nationals?
 
  • Budget.  Lastly, determine whether the budget meets your needs at this time - competing in pageants can be really rewarding especially with a great prize package, but can also be expensive to enter, so factor in your entrance fee (if any), the cost of your professional coaching (including fitness and nutrition, interview and onstage presence), the approximate cost of your wardrobe (opening number, swimsuit or fitness outfit, evening gown, interview outfit), and incidentals (spray tan, hair, manicure, makeup, travel costs, etc.).  You might need to defer your pageant plans to ensure that you're in a financial position to effectively compete to win and carry out the responsibilities of your title, so be mindful of any age limitations that you may encounter if you are close to reaching the age limit. 

WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE PAGEANTS?
It's easy to find out more information about becoming a contestant in your local and national pageants.  You can do a online search for pageants in your area, check for upcoming pageants on Pageant Planet, or go to the following websites for more information on these specific pageants:

DO I NEED A PAGEANT COACH?
The way to figure that out is easy!  If you are a returning contestant and are not completely happy with the results you have been getting, then you might want to consider a coach.  A coach can help identify issues that might need correction that you're not able to see, and can offer you expert advice on how to improve your performance.  A coach also can keep you motivated and focused and assist in giving you the mental advantage throughout your competition.

If you are new to the pageant world (or are a returning contestant) preparing with a professional and reputable coach can substantially increase your chances of winning and provide you with valuable, professional guidance during the process.

WHAT DOES A PAGEANT COACH DO?
A reputable coach draws on his/her education, experience and knowledge base to objectively assess your qualities, assist you in identifying and maximizing your strengths, help you establish a plan for reaching your objectives, and refine and perfect your pageant performance.  

Your coach should serve as a well-educated industry expert, mentor, and well respected confidential advisor, who can provide you with candid guidance, support and encouragement for all aspects of competition and during the entire competition process.  

At PageantPrep, we personalize your experience so that you know exactly what you're going to talk about in your interview and you will be more comfortable and confident with your onstage presentation than ever before. Some coaches have a different style, but at PageantPrep we pride ourselves on providing constructive guidance, useable and effective instruction, and mental and emotional support throughout the entire competition process. 

WHAT DO I GET FROM COACHING?
Not only do you increase your chances of winning dramatically, but clients enjoy the competition process more.  They feel feel more prepared, less stressed, and much more confident with whole new sense of accomplishment after the competition knowing for certain that they did their very best.  Coaching can also help you SAVE money, by using your financial resources wisely, helping you find affordable wardrobe selections, and avoiding the costs of competing over and over with results you're not happy with.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A PAGEANT COACH?
Do some research! Just like other types of teachers and coaches, not all pageant coaches are equally qualified and some have very different backgrounds and approaches. Before you spend your valuable (and limited) time and money on a coach, be sure you know the answers to these questions:

1. Who is the coach and what has s/he done?
A reputable pageant coach will have much information available about their credentials and their experience. You should carefully evaluate their academic and professional experience and background (advanced degree, experience as a pageant judge, director, former competitor, etc.).
It is important to note that just because someone has competed and placed in a system does not necessarily qualify them to coach, and conversely, a good coach does not necessarily need to have competed. Your best bet is to get a coach that has both experience competing and experience coaching.
In addition, the coach should have an strong understanding of the pageant world as well as current events in order to be able to discuss interview questions with you intelligently if they are part of your competition. With limited exceptions, pageant judges are typically experienced professionals who are older than the competitors, and may have different expectations of the contestants than someone closer to your age. Keep this in mind when deciding between a coach who is your peer and one who is an older established professional.

2. How successful is the coach?
Find out how long the coach has been in business, how many clients they have had, and importantly, what pageant systems they have worked with. Not all pageants are alike; many have different areas of competition, varied weighted percentages, and some have strict guidelines and a particular 'look' for competition. Even in the same system, some states run their franchises differently. Your coach should know the differences among the systems and be able to advise you on your particular upcoming pageant competition. If they have no experience with your pageant, in your state, or at the national or international level, you might want to find one who does.

3. Is the coach well respected and reputable in the industry?
Check out their website and see if they list testimonials and former clients. If a current or former client is willing to publicly comment on or recommend a coach on their website or through other social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs), that's a good sign. Conversely, if a coach is not willing to list or share the names of former clients, doesn't have very many, or has no reviews (or negative ones), you may want to go elsewhere. You should be able to contact some former clients from a variety of pageant systems in order to ask about their firsthand experience with the coach. In addition, if a coach is well respected in the industry, he/she should have served as a pageant judge, published articles or journals, or received awards or other recognition.

4. How professional is the coaching experience?
Is the coach easy to contact and return your calls or emails quickly? Does the coach have a dedicated office or space where s/he can work with you privately (and in your competition clothes) to practice walking, turning, posing and speaking with a microphone to simulate the on-stage experience? Be wary former contestants who in their spare time will "coach" you at a coffee shop to give you a few tips, but don't have the time, commitment, credibility or success to establish a professional business and dedicated practice space.

You usually get what you pay for, so the price of coaching should be commensurate with the qualifications of the coach, the experience and reputation, and the facilities provided. Can the coach utilize contacts in the pageant industry, including directors, judges, and a large roster of former clients in order to provide you with the most service for your money? A good coach should debrief their clients after the pageant experience is over in order to learn about the process from the contestant's perspective and to obtain valuable information for future clients to come.

Lastly, the relationship between the client and the coach is an important one. Does your coach have the discretion and professionalism to keep your training experience, wardrobe selections, and content of your sessions private? Do you feel comfortable with the coach and supported and encouraged? Is the coach clear and easy to understand when giving direction or recommendations? A good coach has much valuable information to share, but how s/he conveys that is an important part of the process. If the coach is so unclear or critical that you leave your consultation nervous, confused, or less than excited, you may want to continue your search.

IS COACHING THE SAME FOR ALL PAGEANTS?
No, in fact most pageant systems are very different from each other.  Some contain a talent component and others do not.  Each pageant has a specific percentage or point breakdown for the various elements of competition (e.g., 25% interview, 25% swimsuit, 25% evening gown and 25% talent).  Many pageants have a particular social cause that they promote and sometimes have a typical "look" that a contestant should be aiming for.  Ideally, your coach should have experience coaching clients in your pageant system so that your coach can help you focus and prepare in the best possible way.

WHEN SHOULD I START PREPARING?
Depending on what elements of competition are in your pageant, we recommend the following schedule to allow for scheduling of your private sessions, accommodation of our other clients as well as practice time in between your sessions:

6 months prior:  Fitness/swimsuit preparation
5 months prior:  Talent selection and preparation
4 months prior:  Wardrobe selection/Platform development
3 months prior:  Interview preparation/Walking and onstage presence 

If you are less than 3 months away from your pageant, we also offer workshops and speed sessions that will give you a huge boost in your preparation!  Also check out our free Top 5 Pageant Tips video for a free prep schedule and more expert tips!

DO YOU OFFER ONLINE/ VIDEO COACHING?
Request a private sessionWe do offer interview coaching services via FaceTime and Skype, as well as wardrobe consultation, and introduction and onstage question practice. Interview training is highly dependent on the interpersonal process, so ideally we prefer to coach our clients in person, but if you can’t get to our studios, we are happy to coach you online.  If you'd like to learn more about online coaching, click here. 

DO YOU OFFER TRAVEL PACKAGES?
PageantPrep coaches clients from all over the United States! In addition to online coaching, we offer 1 or 2 day packages (1.5 to 3 hour sessions per day) for in person coaching where we cover all the information you need in a concentrated format. We conduct a personal assessment followed by intensive coaching for interview, onstage presence, pageant paperwork review and editing, wardrobe consultation, mic work, and hair and makeup instruction. Our studio is located very close to the Providence airport with a number of very reasonable lodging choices nearby. 

IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR COACHING?
Yes, the minimum age that we require for a PageantPrep client is 13 years old for private sessions.  Because our classes are fast-paced, interactive and intensive, we recommend a minimum age of 15 for workshops and group seminars. 

SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT WHO ELSE IS IN MY PAGEANT? 
While this sounds cliche, the answer is NO, you should not worry about who else is competing in your pageant.  Your performance on pageant weekend and your preparation before the pageant should be the same outstanding level whether there are 2 other contestants or 200.  At PageantPrep, we not only prepare you practically, but also mentally and emotionally so you can successfully compete with confidence throughout your pageant experience, including the skills you need to focus, and the mental messages you should be telling yourself throughout the competition.  If you want to learn more about how to focus, check out our Mental Mastery: Pre-Pageant Pep Talk video.

IS MY CONTESTANT BIO IMPORTANT? 
  Yes, your paperwork is a reflection of you and is very important.  It is also a great communication tool; you should use the space on the page efficiently, it should contain no spelling or grammatical errors, and should provide the judges with valuable information about you.  At PageantPrep we help you in crafting, editing, reviewing and perfecting all your contestant paperwork so you not only win on stage, but also on paper.  If you're interested in learning more about what makes a winning contestant bio, watch our Perfect Pageant Paperwork: Boost your Contestant Bio video.

WHAT WILL I BE ASKED IN THE INTERVIEW AND HOW DO I ANSWER? 
At PageantPrep we have compiled over 900 practice questions that cover personal questions, platform questions, current event and political questions and local questions so you will have an opportunity to answer just about every question that could be asked in a pageant interview.  We have also established time-tested and proven techniques for successfully answering those challenging questions during your interview, but that also make you shine and stand out.  You can access our free practice question packet in our Answering Questions video, and free current event and political questions in our Current Events with Confidence video.

IS THERE A SPECIAL WAY TO WALK AND STAND ONSTAGE? 
Yes, your onstage presentation at a pageant is very different than normal every day walking, and it's even different than a runway or modeling walk.  Some pageant systems have a particular look, or type of walk that is preferred.  At PageantPrep we break down the walking, posing, turning and eye contact elements into the basics that are easy to understand and help you to perfect your own confident, crown-winning walk that showcases your body and your wardrobe at its best.  If you are interested in setting up a walking/posing session with a member of our team, click here.

WHAT IF I CAN'T MAKE MY SESSION OR WORKSHOP? 
If you are unable to make your session, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can make arrangements for another client on our waiting list to book your slot.  Sessions cancelled or rescheduled without the benefit of 24 hour notice will incur a 50% charge for the session cancelled.  Payments for workshops are nonrefundable but transferable with advance notice. No shows will be charged 100% of the cost of session or workshop booked.