Why Competing in Beauty Pageants is Good for You

Pageants are a great way for young women to develop themselves for the future. Many people look down on pageants, citing their belief that they are degrading to women, and objectify women. But, that notion is far from the truth. Many young women who compete in pageants do so to win scholarship money or to be a role model for other young ladies. Many pageant winners do a lot of community work and conduct numerous speaking engagements throughout their reign.

I, like many other young ladies, had the desire to compete in a pageant after watching them on television. I loved watching the Miss America and Miss USA pageants on television each year. I was really inspired by Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, and Miss USA 2004, Shandi Finnessey. These two accomplished young women really inspired me to compete in a pageant.

If you happen to have your sights set on competing in a pageant, what can you expect to gain, and will it be worth your while? I'll share a few things that I walked away with from the experience, and things that I wish that I had done when I participated in the Miss GA USA competition a few years ago.

Focus

Begin with the end in mind. I wanted to win the crown, so I studied those who had previously won the title. I determined that I needed to focus on two main things: communication skills and physical fitness. I enlisted the help of a pageant coach, and she helped me to focus on how to achieve each of these goals step by step.

Communication Skills

To be a standout contestant in a pageant, you must cultivate your communication skills. It's imperative. Everything about you must communicate that you are a winner, through your verbal and nonverbal communication. The outfits that I chose, my fashion choices, communicated to the judges and audience something about me, therefore I had to be careful to select something that spoke of confidence and class. I had to practice answering difficult questions from my pageant coach, so that I could learn to speak with ease at the drop of a hat, no matter how nervous I was.

Physical Fitness

I had to develop discipline and work out every day and also eat nutritiously, something that I had never made a point of doing. I met with a trainer and he listed the exercises that I needed to focus on doing each day, and the type of foods that I needed to eat, and what I needed to stay away from. It was very hard to stop eating pasta, cake, French fries, and other junk foods, but I focused on eating healthy, and I felt so good about myself. My mind and body felt great because I was treating it great. Eating right and exercise go a long way in boosting confidence and increasing your sense of well being.

If I could go back and compete again, I would concentrate more on building my communication skills, through speaking with various businesses and securing sponsorships, talking with teens about a platform that I'm passionate about, practicing more on answering questions in front of complete strangers, and simply practicing conveying confidence in nerve-wracking situations.

Pageants are a great way to cultivate a young woman's talents, confidence, and communication skills. I would encourage any young lady to try competing at least once, and see if she does not walk away from the experience a more well rounded and disciplined young woman.