Don’t judge a dress on the hanger. Try it on! In hunting for my national competition gown, I’m trying on every style of formal to see which one is the most flattering on my petite, middle-aged body.
There are 5 key elements to look for when selecting your competition pageant dress. They are:
- Color
- Neckline
- Proportion
- Fabric
- Price
The neckline should ultimately lead the eye back to your face whereas the color should make your skin look radiant. I’ve reached the point in my life where white doesn’t work for me anymore. I’ve lost too much pigment in my skin and hair to look great in white; but I am more than excited about the bright colors that are available on the market right now. Color rocks!
Proportion is especially important to petite contestants. Ideally, you want most of the gowns stoning and ornate features to be on the top third of your dress and keep the bottom two-thirds more simple to elongate and add height. Or you can flip this where the upper two-thirds is uniformed and the bottom third is fun and ornate. To look your tallest, dress from head to toe in one uniformed color or solid beading. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, but using the rule of thirds will help you know what to look for.
Be mindful of the gown’s fabric, too. Shiny material, such as satin, shows every bump and bulge on your body. It also increases the appearance of your size where a matte fabric will not. Silk and chiffon flutter beautifully on stage if you have a wonderful walk.
It’s very important to set a budget. You will pay anywhere between $200- $10,000+ for your competition gown. Once you settle on a price, select the dress that has the other four fashion elements best for you.
Prom line dresses are going to be more affordable than pageant line dresses. Here’s why.
Typically, pageant dresses are made of higher quality fabrics and have better stones on them. They are longer in length to accommodate the 5” heels we pageant girls wear, and have stronger “inside construction” such as boning, corsets, and pads to hold things up and in place. Prom dresses are usually shorter in length, use more sequins, and the construction isn’t as well-built. That doesn’t mean you should eliminate looking at the prom dresses. I want to you understand why a prom dress will have the price tag of $500 and the pageant gown will cost $2500.
Bottom line is you have to love the way your pageant gown makes you feel when you wear it. When you walk out on that stage, if your gown helps your personality shine to its fullest, then that is your gown, regardless of what you paid for it.
Have fun shopping! I know I am.
Special for the Pageant Princess or Queen in your life for $59 (+$12 S&H). An $89 value when purchased separately.
Only 26 left!
Receive my 60 minute training DVD Take The Stage, the Pageant Planner and a set of 12 interview cards for $59 (+$12 S&H). Individually, these items cost $89.
This is an affordable training kit for the pageant princess or queen in your life.
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:
- 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.
The WTP Pageant Planner
The Winning Through Pageantry Pageant Planner from Holdon contains organizational pages for logging and tracking 100 pageant related events. Each form records Event Details, Contact Info, Event Expenses, and Post-Event Info. There is also an Income Management Section to record payment details.
Now logging & tracking your pageant-related event details is easy!
- High-quality product
- 8.5" x 11"
- Finished coil-bound spine
- Vinyl front and back covers for durability
What's Inside...
Contact Page
- Your contact information
- Important pageant contacts (i.e. - coach, director, salon, etc.)
- Other contact information
Live Performance Forms
- Logging & tracking forms to track up to 100 pageant-related events (i.e. - consultations, media events, autograph signings, etc.)
- Log event requirements (i.e. - crown & banner, opening number wardrobe, script, etc.)
- Record all of your event expenses and mileage for tax purposes
- Post Event area (i.e. - what you wore, who you met, guests, etc.)
Income & Reimbursement Management
Record income & reimbursement details (Pageant/Event Name, Event Date, Payment, etc.)
Pageant Target List
Target Pageants, know special requirements, competition, categories, entry fees, etc.
Pageant Contacts
A section dedicated to Pageant Industry professionals you wish to keep in contact with
Notes Section
- Keep your notes handy and accessible
- Add any thoughts, suggestions or ideas
Calendar Section
- 12-month, day-by-day, fill-in calendar section (non-time sensitive, fill-in as you go)
- 24-month quick-view calendar section
Storage Pockets
- Promo Material Pocket to hold self-promotional material that you can pass around (i.e. - promo postcards, headshots, flyers, etc.)
- Notes Pocket to store any speeches, top-5 question notes, etc.
The WTP Interview Card Set
What kind of questions will the judges ask me in interview?
What if I don't have an answer?
The ability to answer questions about you, your family, platform, goals, community and pop culture in a clear way is an important life skill. The more practice you have in conversing with people, the better your speaking skills will become.
Over 1000 contestants from ages 7 to 80 around the world have used these cards and reported back to me that they were confident and prepared for their pageant interview. Many of my clients receive the highest interview scores.
As a contestant and judge, these are real questions that I have asked, been asked, or heard other judges ask in the interview room. I know they are effective and relevant because my clients and pageant family on Facebook have told me several times that they have experienced other pageant coaches and judges using my cards. By the way, I take this as a compliment, not a threat :).
Outstanding features of this 12 card set includes:</ p>
- Over 200 questions covering 12 diverse subjects. Each card has questions dedicated to one topic. For example, there are 56 questions on the "favorites" card.
- The back side is blank so you can jot down your ideas for answers.
- Being the size of a recipe card, they are easy to carry and you can practice anywhere.
The DVD will arrive separately from the planner and the interview cards. With the holiday mail delivery, please allow up to 14 days for delivery.
$89 $59 (+$12 S&H)
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Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Life 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 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, Miss Elegance Ohio 2012, 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 23 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on two governing boards of non-profit organizations. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com.
