When it comes to natural pageants for girls and teens, National American Miss (NAM), American Coed (Coed), and International Junior Miss (IJM) are the popular choices for many families. Because these three pageant systems have similar categories of competition when you prepare for one, the transition is easy to compete in the other two.

The 3 main areas of competition for state pageants are formal wear, personal introduction, and interview. Fun fashion/Modeling is added as a fourth category of competition at the national IJM pageant.

Special Tips for Formal Wear:

• Gowns must be full length and touch the floor for all three pageants. Better a little too long than too short; but the contestant must be able to walk in the gown without stepping on it. The shoes should not be visible when they are standing still.

• Make sure there are straps on gowns for the girls ages 4-12. The 13-15 age groups are a bit tricky. You will see both strapped and strapless gowns on girls in these age groups. Here is a question to ask yourself when looking for a Jr. Teen gown. When she is wearing the dress, does she look older than 15? It's better to be conservative. If she could pass for 18 in the dress, it's too mature. Add straps. In the teen divisions, strapless gowns are perfectly acceptable.

• Make sure the skirt isn't too full or puffy. The judges want to see your daughter. If the dress is too wide or too ruffley-puffley, it will shorten the appearance of the contestant's height on stage and take attention away from the girl. There is a fine line between making a statement with your gown and it being too much. You will start seeing the straighter gown skirts and mermaid styles on the Teens in COED; and on Jr. Teens and Teens in NAM and IJM. Slit skirts are not common on Teens in these three pageant systems; however, occasionally you will see one. It all depends on the how tasteful the dress style is. Again, I feel it is better to be conservative and opt for no slit. A high slit is never appropriate in these three pageants.

• Single colored gowns with tasteful embellishments tend to score best in these systems. If you think the colors of sherbet ice cream, you'll get a pretty good idea of the color palette you'll see on stage. And of course, you will always see white.

Special Tips for Personal Introduction and Interview:

• Coed introductions must not be longer than 20 seconds. You will have points deducted if you go over the time limit. In NAM and IJM, 30 seconds is a guideline and you can push it to 40 seconds. The focus here is not on how long it is but in the delivery. The introduction must capture the judge's attention within the first 7 seconds. If you think about how TV commercials are crafted, that will help you write your introduction. The line is fine between showing your personality and being over the top. You want people to be drawn to you, not running for the door.

• For interview, all contestants need to wear pantyhose and closed toed nude shoes. Children need to buy dance character shoes like the ones pictured here. Your best bet is to order them online because you won't find them in department shoes. Discountdance.com is one place you can find the Capezio character shoes.

• A solid colored interview suit is your best choice with the hemline being slightly above the knee. Mid thigh is too short. It should fit your contour perfectly without being too tight especially across your bottom. If your bottom looks like the capital letter D in your skirt, it's too tight. Most suits for children are custom made because you can't easily find them in the stores.

Special General Tips:

• There is no makeup on girls 12 years old and under. Don't even put shiny clear gloss on their lips. Makeup for the older age categories must be age appropriate.

• No tight ringlets or prom hair styles. Hair down with lift at the roots and soft body at the ends is the style to shoot for. Hair must be out of the contestant's face.

• The style of clothing for the fun fashion and casual wear modeling competitions is real clothes NOT costumes or glitz wear. You'll see high low dresses, jeggings with cute tops, and a wide variety of clothing expressing the contestants' personalities. NO denim. Display your fashion sense by accessorizing and customizing your outfit but don't cross the line of tacky.

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. or on her website. For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.

Speaking from personal experience, the amount of time and level of preparation it took for me to get ready to compete in a Mrs. pageant was at least double the amount of pageant preparation time it took when I competed as a Teen or Miss contestant. As married women, we are juggling more than just preparing for a pageant. Married women have husbands, jobs, children, managing a household and service work all competing for our time. Because of this, Mrs. contestants need to start preparing long before our single competitors.

The first year I entered the Mrs. Ohio America pageant, I started my pageant preparation 6 months before the pageant. Looking back, all I really focused on was losing the baby weight I had gained with my third child. I did look great in my bathing suit that year; however I didn't even make the top 10. Within 3 days after that state pageant, I started my preparation for next year's pageant and the results were dramatically different.

Right now, all of the state pageants are being held for the Mrs. America, Mrs.United States and Mrs. International pageants. I want to share with you 3 key pageant preparation tips I've learned over the past decade with these big 3 pageant systems for married women.

Tip 1: Start your pageant preparation 1 year before your first competition date.

From the audience, watch the pageant you plan on competing in the year prior to entering. You will see the style of gowns, hair and makeup worn by the top 3 contestants. This will save you money and time as you will see which styles do and don't work for that system. If this isn't possible, purchase the DVD from the previous year and watch it.

You will need the year to develop excellent interview and communication skills. It takes time to break speech habits and to develop the necessary confidence to speak with ease in front of a crowd. This is especially important if married women have been home raising young children for several years. Mothers may be out of practice from speaking with adults and communicating on a deeper level. No judgment here. I'm speaking from my own personal experience of having had 3 children in 4 years. It takes a little bit to jump from Sesame Street to the real world.

Married women need to set aside time to work out, and refine their personal image. It takes time to find the right hairstyle and makeup that is most flattering for your facial beauty.

Tip 2: Create your pageant budget.

Financial issues will quickly create stress and conflict in a marriage. I'm about to share the following numbers not to scare anyone but to offer guidance so you know upfront what is expected financial from pageant contestants.

To enter one of the big 3 state pageants for married women, a contestant can plan on spending between $2000-$5000. For a national pageant, plan on having at least $5000 for starters. Armed with these numbers and enough preparation time, women can use their creativity and resourcefulness to produce the money they need to compete.

There are four main areas that you will want to budget for:

• Coaching services
• Photos, headshots and advertising pages
• Wardrobe
• Travel, hotel, food and tickets for your family to attend the pageant.

Don't make the mistake of spending your entire budget on your clothing. I did that my first year. Your wardrobe is important but not as important as the coaching services you need to polish your image.

Tip 3: Put together you pageant preparation team.

When I heavily invested in my team, that's when I started winning the titles.With Mrs. pageants, the look is very classy and elegant with a hint of fashion flair. Interview, walking, hair, makeup and fitness are some of the areas you will want to find experienced pageant coaches to help you prepare. Just because someone says they are a pageant coach or a makeup artist doesn't necessarily mean they are the right fit for you. Research your people and trust your gut feeling before you hire them.

Your interview makeup needs to be flawless. No heavy false eyelashes or brightly colored cosmetics. Your skin should appear smooth and radiant. Choosing the right foundation is critical. This takes the skilled hand of a makeup artist experienced in the pageant world to bring out your natural beauty and make it look like you aren't wearing any makeup. If you look heavily made up during your interview, it will cost you points. Stage makeup is different but the concept still applies. Your facial features should stand out without screaming bright colors.

Your hair needs to look healthy and shiny. Hair worn down is the best look for most women. When it comes to color, one solid color with subtle highlights scores better than the dramatic streaked look. The soft highlights help to give depth and texture to hair under the lights but you don't want them to be overly dramatic. In Mrs. pageants, they are looking for the natural beauty of a classy woman to shine.
Regardless of where you are in your pageant preparation, I am here to help you. If you're ready to create your custom preparation plan, contact me today.

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 have written and produced an original contemporary Christian CD entitled Cana. For more information on Rhonda, visit  www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .

It use to be once a woman got married or aged out of the Miss America or Miss USA systems, the pageant door closed in her life. For women who enjoy using pageants as a tool for personal growth and a way to experience the different opportunities they provide, this is a bittersweet moment.

Then the pageant door reopened for married women with the creation of the big three married women’s pageants - Mrs. America, Mrs. United States and Mrs. International. Over the years, more and more pageant systems have been created to accommodate the dynamic changes in the demographics of the contestants in the pageantry world.

Just because we get older and get married, that doesn’t decrease our love of competing in beauty pageants. So I am always excited when I see different pageant systems created because it provides continual opportunities for women to keep growing as individuals.

This week I interviewed the national director of the American Dream Pageant, Stephanie McClain, and the reigning Miss American Dream queen, Kristin Adams, to tell me about the American Dream Pageant http://www.americandreampageants.com/.

Stephanie has a long pageant history and has served as a pageant director for many years. Some women only dream of participating in a pageant. Stephanie wanted to provide an opportunity to help fulfill that dream; and, support an opportunity for the titleholders to use their platforms to make a difference in the world.

There are 7 different age divisions in the American Dream Pageant:

• Teenager (13-16) - 5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.americandreamteenager.com/information/
• Teen (16-19)-5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.teenamericandream.com/information/
• Miss (19-29)-5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. Never been married, pregnant, or had children. http://www.miss-americandream.com/information/
• Mrs. (21-no maximum age) 5 minute panel interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question. http://www.mrsamericandream.com/information/page3.htm
• Ms. (21- no maximum age)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.msamericandream.com/information/
• Lady (40-59)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.americandreamlady.com/information/
• Ms. Senior (60- no maximum age)-5 minute panel interview, fitness wear, evening gown, on-stage question. Can be single, married or divorced.http://www.mssenioramericandream.com/information/

  

When I asked Stephanie what she was looking for in her titleholders, she told me the system is looking for real women in today’s society. All of the American Dream queens must have strong speaking skills and a platform they want to do something with. Stephanie highly recommended joining a group like Toastmasters and working with an interview pageant coach to hone these skills. It’s also, very important to complete and submit your paperwork on time.

 
The wardrobe for each age group must be age appropriate, classy and in good taste. If you’re 13, don’t dress like you’re 18; and if you’re 60, don’t dress like you’re 25.
The focus is to have fun, and make your dreams come true. Winning the crown should be the beginning of journey, not the end.

Kristin Adams is a graduate of North Central State College in Mansfield Ohio with a

degree in Radiological Sciences. She is employed by a local health system as a

Registered Radiologic Technologist. In her spare time she enjoys nature photography, lifting weights, running, and spending time with her bulldog and retired greyhound.

Her platforms are the Soldiers' Angels organization where she has sent over 100 letters and care packages to American troops serving overseas; and the Central Ohio Greyhound Rescue where she rescued her greyhound, Ray.

Kristin’s pageant background includes the Bellville Fair Queen, Sunburst and Miss Ohio USA pageants. In recent years, she missed competing and started looked for a pageant that she could enter. The fitness wear competition was the motivation she needed to get back into shape.

I asked Kristin for her list of helpful hints for winning the national title of Miss American Dream. Here is her winning list:

• Don’t go into debt to do a pageant. Invest in coaching and a well-tailored interview suit.
• Write out your packing list and start packing 10 days before you leave.
• Arrive a day before the national pageant begins so you have time to unpack, steam your clothes, and relax.
• If flying, take an empty suitcase or one that is almost empty, so you have room to bring back your contestant gifts, souvenirs, and new trophies and crown.
• Pack some protein powder, protein bars, almonds, raisins, and other healthy snack foods.
• An empty water bottle that you can refill and have with you all the time.
• Hire a coach to work on your interview skills.
• Thoroughly prepare, stay positive, have fun and be yourself.

The American Dream pageants will take place this summer in Las Vegas. Visit http://www.americandreampageants.com/ for more information.

What dreams have you pushed aside for one reason or another? Is there a thought or an idea that keeps coming up year after year, even when you try to ignore it? What reasons do you keep saying to yourself to justify not taking action?
You always get what you focus on. If you focus on the dream, opportunities will present themselves to make it happen. If you only see obstacles standing in your way, then more obstacles will come to you. What do you see in your life right now? Obstacles or opportunities? If you want to make a change, contact me today and let’s talk about how we can get you on your way to winning in life. What’s your dream?

A blast from the past-1986. Inspired by Sunday night’s Super Bowl game and the Glee episode that followed, I pulled out the scrapbook and took a walk down memory lane. Here’s a photo of me (in the yellow) and my friend Kelly 25 years ago after our casts of Up With People performed the half time show of Super Bowl XX. If you’re interested in trying to find me, here’s the YouTube link to the show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQI7CGfJyM&feature=related.

The 2 years I spent traveling the world with Up With People were the most life altering years of my life. My dream of traveling with this organization began at age 14 when I saw them perform the half time show of Super Bowl XVI. You had to be 18 years old to interview and, if accepted, travel with them. That gave me 4 years to figure out how I was going to come up with the tuition of $8000. FYI, that’s around $20,000 in today’s economy.

It wasn’t easy being a farmer’s daughter in South Dakota to raise that kind of money in the 80’s; but I never gave up on my dream. Four years later, it became a reality. I was traveling the world, performing at the half time show of Super Bowl XX, and I met my husband (who also traveled in Up With People).

Another dream I had was to become Mrs. Ohio America. After 5 years, that too became a reality and opened another chapter in my book of life. Never under estimate the power of a thought or a dream.

After thoughts:

In my weekly e newsletter, I always have a personal note from myself at the beginning before I dive into my main article. I usually don't publish it to the public because it's intended for only those in my inner circle. However, after getting an email today in response to my above note, I had to share this.

In my life, there have been many activities that I have chosen to pursue that people make fun of for one reason or another. Because they don't understand it, or have a preconceived notion of what it is about, it's just easier for them to make fun of it or put down the people who participate in it down. There are two specific activities I'm referring to here. First was my involvement with Up With People and the second is being involved in beauty pageants.

Anyone who has hosted a student, traveled as a participant or watched a show from beginning to end knows the lasting impact this wonderful organization has in the world. Case in point. This Tuesday, I shared a picture and a brief commentary on one of my experiences from 25 years ago and I get an email from a daughter saying this:

"Wow!  Mom loved "Up With People".  She said them as a child  in Atlanta, GA.  She said it was the 1st concert she went to.  She is cracking me up right now and singing and dancing.  She said to tell you she remembers the lyrics:"Up, Up with People, you meet them wherever you go.  Up, Up with People, they’re the best kind of folks you know.  If more people were for people, all people everywhere.  There’d be a lot less people to worry about and a lot more people who care." And to make it better she said being a native Atlantan from the ghetto. It was the first time she seen so many different races and saw that they got along. She grew up thinking people who were not like her were mean and hated blacks. That show showed her everyone could get along in this world. Thought you may like the memory of my mom!"

When they make fun of you or what you're doing, do it anyway. If you feel down to your core that you  should be doing something, do it. You have no idea of who you will touch or what the lasting effects will  be.

So today, as I always have, I will stand extra tall and proud of my involvement in Up With People and beauty pageants because I know and experience on a daily basis the lasting impact I am having in the world. Stand tall for your cause. Hugs.

Rhonda

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. 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 .

• What is a pageant platform?

• How do I choose a good pageant platform?

• Can you give me some pageant platform ideas, examples or topics?

A pageant platform is a cause that a contestant chooses to volunteer her time to either bring awareness to, raise money, or implement a program she has created that will help address the problem. There are so many needs in the world today that finding a cause you feel passionate about in your community is just a matter of looking around or talking with a few business leaders. In our society, the media and public are drawn to people who hold titles or have celebrity status. As a titleholder, you can use this to your advantage to get your message out in a bigger way if you're prepared.

"Don't ever question the value of volunteers. Noah's Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals"-Unknown. Occasionally I'll encounter a person who has the attitude of 'I'm only one person. I can't make a difference. Besides, I don't have the time, money or education to make things happen'. Okay, you might not; however, you know people who do. And those people know different people who know other people. They're just waiting for you to ask them for their help. You don't need to micro manage or run the entire project by yourself. Just make the mission and needs known to people.

There is strength in numbers and the more people you can include in your plans, the better. Think of a candle light service you've been to. It starts with one candle in a dark space. Then, one by one, the flame is passed along until the entire area is a blazing light. Most of the time people aren't even aware of a particular need in their community. All it takes is one person speaking at a function, or a single newspaper article, to spark the fire needed to begin the change.

In choosing a good pageant platform, follow Stephen Covey's advice "Begin with the end in mind." What is the specific result you want to achieve? Is it to raise $50,000 for a new piece of safety equipment for your local fire station? Or is it to start your own foundation? The key to choosing a platform that will inspire you is the depth of personal experience you have with it. There must be a deep seeded reason why you want to spend countless hours serving a particular project. Maybe you've lost a loved one, or a family pet. That event moved you to want to reach others who are experiencing the same pain. Maybe you want to prevent a problem from happening. Maybe you've experienced something so wonderful, or painful, that you want others to know about it so they can either join you in your joy, or avoid the pain.

Either way, it starts with looking inside and listening to your heart- not your head. We take action when we are emotionally charged, not because something is logical and makes sense.

 
Here is just a beginning list of ideas, examples and topics from the last two years of Miss America contestants that might spark your interest in looking for your pageant platform.

• March of Dimes
• International Travel to Become Global Citizens
• Drowning Prevention/Water Safety
• Boys and Girls Club of America
• Girl Scouts of America
• 4-H
• Helping Hand for America's Seniors (visiting nursing home residents)
• Eating Disorder Education and Awareness
• Global Awareness
• National Alopecia Areata Foundation
• Preventive Medical Care
• Bullying
• Scoliosis Awareness
• Volunteerism
• Susan G. Komen Foundation
• Preventing Domestic Violence
• Mentoring
• Girls Inc.
• AIDS Awareness
• Homelessness Prevention and Awareness
• Support of the Arts
• Connecting the Generations
• Positive Body Image
• Fighting Childhood Hunger
• Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking
• Acknowledging the good in your neighbors and neighborhood
• Organ Donation
• Asthma Awareness
• Prevention of Underage Drinking
• Cancer Prevention through Overall Wellness
• Literacy/Read Across America
• Equality
• Cancer Research
• Youth Leadership Development
• Character Development
• Child Exploitation
• Consequences of Peer Pressure
• Children's Miracle Network
• Dangers of Distracted Driving/ Texting While Driving
• Dress for Success
• Dropout Prevention
• Autism Speaks
• Citizenship
• Running for Public Office
• Dance: Movement Towards Better Health
• Building Positive Self-Image
• Heart Health & Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Care for animals
• Internet/social media safety
• Recycle/ Environmental Green projects
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Obesity

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 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 .