You Can't Win A Pageant Without IT

By Kristina Rowe, Ms. United America Ambassador

An expensive pageant wardrobe? A perfect figure? Lots of social connections? No, no, and no. What you need much more than those things is the ability to be resourceful.  If you can evaluate your strengths and put them to work against your “weaknesses”, you can be as successful as someone who started out with all the right stuff.

Being resourceful can help you with the things you don’t have. To get that perfect swimsuit body, you may need a fitness coach and you certainly need dedication to your fitness routine. If your teeth are less than perfect, cosmetic dentistry can give you that beautiful smile you want. You might even find a sponsor to provide it for you. Sponsors can help with that expensive evening gown, or you may use your creativity to make an affordable gown into a stunner. Poor posture or a less than stellar modeling style can be improved over time.  Does the thought of an onstage question make your heart stop? With commitment and practice, you can overcome this. 

Miss America 2014
Nina Davuluri

You may have a mental list of many other things you need in order to win your pageant.  Having connections in the pageant world is desirable, but you don’t need them to win. You want connections because the best advice for improvement comes from insiders.  Just about everything mentioned so far is something you can improve with preparation and or assistance from coaches and professionals.  And if you don’t have the resources to commit to the improvement process, you can still win a pageant.  You may need to look for a pageant system with competition areas where your strengths shine. There are so many pageants now that it’s easy to find one that’s right for you.  Again, resourcefulness is the key.

National Pageant Coach
Kyle Haggerty

Pageant Coach
Chris Franz

Resourcefulness will get you very far, but even that is not the one thing you need to win a pageant.  So what is this one thing that every pageant queen must have?  I’m convinced that there is not a single titleholder anywhere who does not have a genuine, engaging smile.  

Rolene Strauss
Miss World 2014

Regardless of how perfect your teeth are or aren’t or how full your lips are, your smile has to be dazzling in a way that connects you with people. It has to be genuine, and it has to light up your face.  A genuine smile comes from being a genuinely happy person.  It comes from a person who knows how to enjoy the pageant experience and whatever it brings. The ability to connect to people with a smile reflects your appreciation for other people and your graciousness.  If you truly like people and look for the best in them, you will smile more often and in a more real way. If smiling is a habit for you, you won’t’ have to turn it on when you go onstage. Your delight will show.  If you do not instinctively smile at people or beam with happiness, this is the one thing you must learn to do.  Pretend every person you come into eye contact with is a judge, and flash them a grin. Imagine how you will beam when you finally win that crown, and then share that smile often. It makes you more beautiful.  And it’s the one thing you can’t win a pageant without!

Moments with Miss America

~Moments with Miss America~

By Natalie McGovern

Meeting Miss America for the first time was a treat, and not just because I was one of the lucky titleholders to grace the stage she walked on at the Natalie M. Fashion Show, the largest charity fashion show in the nation.  As a representative of the Miss United States Organization I had the unique pleasure of being able to take a professional photo with the famous beauty queen of all, alongside the prominent designer Tony Bowls.

Meeting Kira was surreal, she was so amicable and beamed with delight when she met me and my sister queens, shaking our hands warmly.  Okay, excuse me while I relive my fangirl moment. In short it could only be described as incredible.

Miss America in the Flesh

Wearing a blush pink Tony Bowls gown Kira was the epitome of poise and elegance.  Having the opportunity afterward to hear her story of making it in New York as a first generation American was inspiring.  I had read her blog prior to our meeting and before she won the Miss America crown she had the opportunity to travel to Russia and connect to her roots.  The impact that this title has had upon her life is astounding as she is the third consecutive Miss New York to be Miss America and learned how to make it when she barely had the support of her state directors to help her gain sponsors.

For those naysayers who judged her looks the night she was crowned, I have to say she is as lovely and photogenic in person as she is charismatic in personality. Her hair and makeup perfection, the confidence she displays for the world to see makes you want to be her.  Kira’s personality is infectious, she gets on your level and is so relatable. It is easy to see why she was chosen by the judges to represent the American ideal. She is truly leading a legacy.

POST CROWN

I admire Kira for wanting to pursue her law degree after her reign.  She has the grit and determination to make it and turn her dreams into reality. Her current plan after Miss America is to go to law school. She was accepted at Notre Dame and had to postpone when she won so she has plans to continue that direction.

TONY BOWLS

I also had an impromptu interview opportunity to catch a glimpse into Tony Bowl’s esteemed life. He started in retail and was one day offered $100,000 by the Miss America Organization to expand his business, and from that day forth he has never looked back.  Now the official sponsor of Miss America, Tony Bowls has created custom gowns for many famous Miss Americas such as Miss America 2008 Katie Stam, celebrities such as Carrie Underwood, Miss USA titleholders and has dressed many pageant winners. One thing is for certain, he has a heart for giving back and wants to make a difference in the lives of others. There is an aura about Tony Bowls that eminates such kindness and goodwill.

The Natalie M. Fashion Show is an annual charity fashion show that showcases the work of pageant and prom designers each year, raising philanthropic funds for education. For more information concerning the fashion show, go to http://www.nataliemfoundation.com

PageantLIVE & Ask The Crown's Most Memorable Moments of 2014

Setting the Trend

This has been amazing year for PageantLIVE and Ask the Crown.  These accomplishments were made possible by the incredible people who support us...YOU.  A heartfelt thank you to the volunteer staff, family and friends... you are all the backbone that brings life into each and every production.   Here are some of our most memorable interviews and moments from 2014.

10)  Miss Teen USA - K. Lee Graham

9) Gretchen Carlson - Miss America 1989 and host of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson

8 ) Designer and star of Project Runway, Johnathan Kayne

7) Miss USA - Nia Sanchez

6) World Famous designer Mac Duggal

5) Stephanie McGrane co-hosting the Miss United States Pageant in Washington, DC where it was officially announced that the new winner would represent the US at the 2014 Miss World Pageant. And, of course meeting Megan Young - Miss World 2013!

4) PageantLIVE traveling to Mexico with titleholders from around the world to film a reality TV show

3) Kyle Haggerty helping Elizabeth Safrit win the Miss World Media Challenge with his Ask The Crown interview

2) Miss Universe - Gabriela Isler

1) Our media invitation to cover the Miss Universe Pageant! We can't wait to arrive in Doral! Watch for exclusive interviews with some of the most gorgeous ladies in the universe!

We hope your 2015 allows you to shine bright like a diamond!

Miss Asia Pacific World USA

There is a new competition in town open to everyone who is interested in advancing their career in modeling, pageantry, or the entertainment industry

MAPW USA

You DO NOT have to be Asian or of Asian Descent to compete. This competition is open to all ethnicities. Two winners will be crowned; MAPW USA and MAPW USA SuperTalent (1st runner-up).

This is not your traditional pageant. It adheres to modeling standards on the catwalk instead of the traditional pageant walk and posing. 

The Areas of Competition: 

Photogenic - Points will be added to overall score. 

Evening Wear - Couture, high-low, or pageant gowns are acceptable. Cocktail attire is not permitted. 

Fashion Swimsuit – High energy catwalk modeling, Victoria's Secret style...you own the runway in boots, heels, feathers or whatever suits your fancy…just own it! 

Top 12 will also compete in Self Expression; a performing arts or a spokesmodel presentation. 

Top 6 will compete in On-Stage question.

Evening Wear

Fashion Swimsuit - Victoria Secret Style

Self Expression 

Commitments, Benefits and Awards:

** Title is non-contractual. You can compete in other top tier pageants, such as USA, MAO, United States, World America, etc. If you win another title, you are only required to come back to crown your successor and compete at the International Pageant in Europe or South Korea.

** If you do want to compete in another pageant, coaching and preparation is provided to you at no cost.

** The USA National winner wins an all expense trip to compete in Paris, Zurich, Milan and Geneva for International finals. Your competition wardrobe is provided to you at no cost.

** The USA National first runner up will receive: an invitation to the Miss Asia Pacific World SuperTalent 2015; and an invitation to participate at the International competition in South Korea (they receive an invite, but will have to pay their own airfare), all other expenses are paid.

** The  International winner will reside in Seoul, Korea in a celebrity status and travel the world.

** USA National winner's prize package is valued at over $8,000.00

** International prize package is valued at over $150,000.00

Requirements:

1.  Must reside in the United States (you do not have to be a US citizen)

2.  Ages: Biological must be under 17. 17 and older: your external casting appearance must be 30 or under

4.  Not married

3.  Able to commit to compete in the two week national competition in Europe or South Korea

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMissAsiaPacificWorldSuperTalent

http://www.supertalentoftheworld.com/

Miss Asia Pacific World Super Talent (1st Runner up)
**Invitation to compete in International Competition in South Korea
**Entrance fee paid
**Wardrobe sponsorship
**Training provided
***The International winner receives exposure with international agencies in Europe and Asia, and a modeling contract for 1 year (approximate value $250K)

***Will have a residence provided to in Seoul, South Korea and will travel the world

https://www.facebook.com/MissAsiaPacificWorldUSA

http://www.missasiapacificworldusa.com/

Pageant Details

**Early Bird registration fee is $395.00 until December 31, 2014.  Effective January 1, 2015 the fee is $495.00 and fee the day of the competition is $595.00

This is a one day national pageant held:

March 14, 2015 in Washington, DC at the Kreeger Theater - Arena Stage

Would you like more information?  Please contact Stephanie McGrane at AsktheCrown@gmail.com or call her at (612) 605-9766.