We are coming to the end of the summer pageant season, and one of the most frequently asked questions I am receiving in my email is should I compete again?
The answer will depend on the quality of the pageant experience you had, if you won the title you were seeking, your goals, and how much time laps between pageants. Here are some questions I ask to help decide whether or not to compete again.
- Are you physically, financially and emotionally ready to compete? Pageants are expensive and high maintenance. There is nothing wrong with choosing to do only one or two pageants a year. I actually advocate this for a number of reasons, which I will cover later.
- What are the benefits of competing? What are you hoping to gain from the experience? List what you want from the pageant experience or from “the big win.”
- Do you have the available time to make appearances and to compete at the next level should you win the title? Directors expect titleholders to promote their pageant system by making numerous appearances and representing their state at the next level of competition. If you can’t do this, this can create a problem. In my opinion, a good titleholder makes about one appearance a month. Great titleholders do more, average do less. Be very realistic and honest about your time. If you already hold a title, do you have enough time and resources in your schedule to properly promote each system? Can you make separate appearances at completely different events for each title? For example if you hold two titles, can you make two quality appearances a month? If not, don’t compete. Let another contestant have the honor and experience of being a titleholder. If you can manage the obligations of the different systems, go ahead because many opportunities present themselves to active titleholders.
- Is this the right time and the right system for you? Time between pageants can be your best friend. It gives you time to develop other areas of your life and to become a well-round, balanced person. Life is very cyclical. Certain times are better than others to compete and hold a title. Plus, it may take you a while to find a system that is the right fit for you. But with as many choices available, there is a pageant for you!
If you enjoy competing in pageants, then continue to compete. When they stop being enjoyable, take a break. Then when you get bitten by the bug again, and you will, you’ll be refreshed and have a new found energy.
WTP Take The Stage Training DVD
The Winning Through Pageantry Take The Stage™ training DVD is a must have training tool for natural beauty pageants. The depth of information shared in this video will further polish your on stage presence.
Remember, the judges cast their final vote when you are on stage in your evening gown. Your overall stage presence and appearance will determine your final placement.
In this 60-minute DVD, you will learn:
• proper posture and alignment,
• foot positioning,
• timing of your turns,
• multiple walking patterns,
• stage presence,
• microphone etiquette,
• Numerous tips as Rhonda demonstrates all of these techniques.
The modeling style taught in this video will work for those contestants competing in the following natural pageant systems:
• Pure American Girl (PAG),
• Miss American Coed (MAC),
• National American Miss (NaMiss),
• Miss America,
• America’s Outstanding Teen,
• Miss Teen USA,
• Miss USA,
• Mrs. America,
• Mrs. United States,
• Teen, Miss and Mrs. International,
• America’s National Teenager (Antso),
• American Royal Beauties,
• Any of the numerous systems that follow the standards of a natural pageant.
Contestants who are brand new to pageantry or have done a couple pageants in the past; and those who do not have pageant preparation resources close to them will benefit most from this DVD. Even if you feel confident in your modeling skills, the numerous tips shared in this DVD will take your onstage presence to the next level.
Please allow up to 14 days to receive your DVD. This is being shipped from a separate vendor. The DVD is readable in all countries around the world but should you receive a defective DVD, a replacement one will be sent.
Rhonda Shappert, is both an iPEC and ICF certified expert pageant coach. In addition to holding multiple titles herself, her clients have won titles at local, state, national and internationals pageants. Her award winning newsletter is received weekly by thousands internationally.
With over 30 years experience in the pageant industry as a contestant, titleholder, judge, emcee, staff member, coach and mother of daughters who compete, there isn’t an area of pageantry she doesn’t fully understand.
$27 (+$7 S&H)
Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF).
She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete positive 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 is the reigning 2012 National Ms. Elegance Pure American Girl queen.
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 daughters educates their children within the home and has been married 23 years to her husband Stephen. They are part of the music ministry at their church and have produced an original contemporary Christian music CD. She is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for two nonprofit organizations. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .
