Confidence is Key

Self-confidence comes with understanding yourself and obtaining the knowledge of your competition requirements

 

After being involved in pageantry for many years, from contestant to judge to director, I can honestly say the judges want the total package. When entering a pageant, it is important for contestants to learn the system and get prepared. There are numerous systems within the industry and all incorporate different requirements and expectations, and as a contestant you want to be prepared for any and every system. Here are some of the most helpful questions for a contestant.

What are Judges Looking for in the Talent Competition?

Many systems within the Glamour Lifestyle Industry either require a talent presentation for the overall title or offer it as an optional competition that are recognized through additional awards. For those systems requiring talent to achieve the overall title, they should and will have judges who are well versed in a variety of the arts.

When performing for a talent competition, the contestant needs to have the routine well-rehearsed. It is important to remember it is a talent presentation and not a specific competition like a dance competition, twirling competition, or vocal competition. An exciting talent routine needs to be entertaining for both the audience as well as the judges. It is always a good idea to make sure your talent is well executed while entertaining the crowd. Additionally, contestants need to make sure their costume matches and is appropriate to their talent. You definitely do not want to wear something sexy while singing Amazing Grace.

Another golden rule within a talent presentation that requires movement or skills such as dance or gymnastics is if the move is too difficult, do not attempt to execute it. It is better to keep it simple, entertaining and clean. Your on-stage presentation is not the place to practice singing in a new key nor attempt a move that is unfamiliar.

Finally, you want to also make sure your talent matches you. Always remember, just because someone else may have captured a title or audition performing a specific talent, it may not be right for you. Simply put, if you cannot sing, do not sing. If you are not physically adept or have not obtained training in dance, do not attempt a dance performance. You want to be comfortable and to just be you.

What are Judges Looking for in the Interview Competition?

Interview is always the great unknown when entering into any event. And as everyone knows, it is the one competition usually not seen by the audience, and it is the one phase of competition that can deliver or deny the title. The most important thing for interview is to be yourself and know yourself. You always want to know the facts and have your experiences prepared. You want to be able to tell your stories and make it personable since the judges truly want to know about you. If it is a state or national pageant, judges will want to know why you want to win, how will you incorporate your platform or community service into the system and how you will promote the title. If it is a larger title, it is very important to know how you will use the title. Contestants need to be able to successfully articulate their goals and how they will work within the parameters of the organization and benefit the organization as a titleholder.

Contestants must show their personality and intelligence in Interview also. You need to know what is on your application or bio sheet and be able to speak about it. For example, if you say you are going to be a nurse, then become knowledgeable about nursing and the health care industry, especially if you have a particular field of interest. You do not want to sound too staged or too rehearsed. You want to be natural and show who you are, not what someone told you to say. Oftentimes, to the detriment of a contestant and the Interview experience, a judge’s question is truly never answered during the discourse. An overly trained or nervous contestant may touch upon the question, then veere into a subject matter that has no bearing on the original question. Do not try to defer an answer or attempt to change the subject. A qualified judge will immediately understand that you have not addressed nor answered the actual question. If you are unfamiliar with a subject, it’s fine to state so and offer to give your honest, but uninformed opinion.

 

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