What
is a Pageant and What are the different types of Pageants? C d S h
What is a Pageant?
The dictionary states that a pageant is:-
Noun: pageant
noun: beauty pageant
1. a public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in elaborate, colourful costumes, or an outdoor performance of a historical scene.
Competing in a beauty pageant, a swimsuit pageant or even a fitness competition can be a life-changing experience for those that take part.
Previously pageants were very different to how they are today, previously you could enter a pageant grab your heels and a stunning gown have an interview and rock that stage but now they have developed into what I think is more focused on women’s empowerment, charity and community work and building lifelong skills. Don't me wrong some women can just turn up on the day and win without doing anything in the run up to the final but judges like to see contestants being proactive during there regional reign as that can give them an indication of what type of queen they will be if they win.
What is a Pageant?
So, a pageant ……. A pageant is something that can give you confidence, meet new friends, give you lifelong skills and help you make a long-lasting impact to a cause close to your heart, in some cases you can travel the world and make friends in every country.
To apply for a UK pageant you send in an online application this will either give you a place in a national final or you will be given a place in a regional final or a regional director will contact you to discuss your application and how to move forward.
Once your application has been accepted you to have to pay your entry fee/sponsorship fee this can be paid by yourself, friends, family or sponsors such as local businesses that you already have a relationship with.
What is a Pageant?
Once you have accepted you place and paid the entry fee you will more than likely added to a finalist page on social media and/or a website some systems update there finalists on a regular basis where others update this just before the final. But this is also means that the all important finalist SASH has been sent out to you.
Depending on the system you are competing in your Sash may cover the area that you live and are representing and this will have been discussed during you application process. Where as some systems with give all their finalists the same finalist sash with no area being represented a couple of systems that do this are Ms & Classic Ms Great Britain and Eco Pageants.
Whether your sash has an area or not it is a huge deal in pageant land and you should wear it with pride.
Different pageant systems run differently to others so some may require you to go out and about with your sash this is called an appearance but some systems don’t require this but if you do go to appearances wear it with a smile and with pride.
What is a Pageant?
You may see that some current Queens and /or finalists will have a pageant platform which is something that they have created in the run up to the pageant final and that they want to continue to raise awareness for if they win the crown so get thinking of causes or charities that are close to you to as this can help guide your platform.
I must mention that YOU DO NOT NEED A PLATFORM to win a pageant so don't worry if you don't have one or want to create one.
Now imagine it’s our pageant final coming up the nerves are kicking in and you really have no clue what you are doing or what to expect so lets go over what happens at a live pageant.
Some pageants are ran in one day some over a weekend and each pageant might have slightly different rounds for stage, this information will be given to you in your finalist pack as well as timings for the pageant final and what you need.
What is a Pageant?
·You arrive at the pageant venue either the night before or on the morning of the pageant depending on timings and where you live.
On the day of the pageant you will have registration which is when you hand in your appearance folder (if your system requires one), give charity money amounts in this could be a printed copy of a JustGiving Page for example. You will be given a time slot for your interview or a time slot for your age category so keep your eye on the time as you don't want to miss the interview.
After registration you will more than likely have rehearsals again the time for this will have been given at registration and or in your finalist pack.
Rehearsals are very important so you know the stage layout, the opening routine if the pageant has one and when it's you'r turn on stage. It's advisable to wear your on stage shoes for rehearsals but then have some comfy shoes to put on afterwards.
What is a Pageant?
You are judged on eye contact with the judges so try and not to look down at the stage, a top tip I was told to help with this was during rehearsals was to to count your steps, so x number of steps to the end of the stage etc etc.
After rehearsals and your interview you may have other activities on the day or over the weekend such as photoshoots, confidence building, team building, fitness bootcamps or even a PJ Party. The directors really do try and make pageants as much fun as possible for the contestants.
It's time to get ready for the stage, some contestants prefer to do there own hair and make up where others prefer to use a professional Hair and Make-up Artist, I know winners who have won either way.
Normally the stage rounds start with an opening round which is when the contestants where the same colour outfit, take part in a dance routine and introduce themselves on stage (Name and Title).
What is a Pageant?
After opening round it will be a quick change into the next outfit which is normally, fun fashion, fitness or swimwear.
After this or these rounds it's then onto formal wear or evening wear which is the elegant round so don't walk to fast as you can lose points.
Once each contestant has completed each round there is normally a break so that the scores can be added up. When the scores are all added up and double and triple checked the contestants will be invited back up on stage most pageants will invite all contestants and then call out the names of the Top 15, 10, 5 or 3 depending on the number of contestants. Then the Top 2 will be called to the front of the stage and the winner or 1st Runner up will be announced.
If the pageant you are competing in does have side awards then don't run off as these are usually given after crowning.
Different Types of Pageants
There are a number of different types of pageants that you can compete in.
Charity/Glitz Pageants
These are normally small non-contracted pageants and the organisers like to try and make sure that everyone gets a crown and sash. Quite often they are ran in aid of charity hence the name charity pageant and you can enter as many as you want, they are great for practice. Glitz Pageants are again normally noncontracted and are very exaggerated outfits which normally have a theme to theme and have full routines on stage.
Regional Pageants
There aren’t that many regional pageants around anymore, they used to be the only way to get on a national pageant stage but this has changed a lot over the last 10 years but some systems such as Miss Great Britain and Miss England still do have them in some areas. You can enter a regional pageant directly or if you apply for a national pageant, you may get redirected to a regional pageant.
Different Types of Pageants
Please don’t get disheartened if you apply for a national pageant and then find out you have to compete in a regional pageant these are the RULES and pageants have a lot of rules so always make sure that you can compete in that system before applying . Remember if you win a regional heat, you will then be able to compete in the national pageant.
National Pageants (That don’t lead to an International Pageant)
There are a number of national pageants which are contracted which means when you win the national pageant you can’t compete in another system until your reign is over which is normally 12 months. You will be given a UK, England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland title. A national pageant are great for people that either don’t want to compete in an international, don’t have the time to go away for a week or more to compete in an international pageant or are new to the pageant scene and want to find out more before trying to compete for an International pageant.
Different Types of Pageants
National Pageants (That lead to an International Pageant)
These are the same as the other national pageant you compete for a national title so UK, England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland but the pageant journey doesn’t stop there it continues as you will then go to an international pageant which is normally in a different host country. This gives you the opportunity to not only represent your country on an international pageant stage but also reach a wider audience with your platform, meet new friends and gain new experiences.
International Pageant
As mentioned above if the national pageant leads to an international pageant, you will continue your pageant journey on an international pageant stage. Each international pageant is different with different onstage rounds and events and in-some cases you may even go as a team, this normally happens when the National Pageant crowns an England Queen, Scotland Queen, Wales Queen and Ireland Queen.
Different Types of Pageants
Some pageants do have different age groups so you may go as a team but not compete against in the same age group as each other so for example there may be a Teen Winner, Miss Winner, Ms Winner, Mrs Winner and Classic Winner.
Grand Slam Pageants
If you have googled pageants or done some research into them, then you might have heard of something called “grand slam pageants” and these are the four most popular/big league international pageants throughout the world these include Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth. These get a huge following on social media and in pageantry magazines, many of these winners go onto have incredible careers both on and off stage. Now these Grand Slam pageants may change in the future with Miss Grand and Miss Supranational coming close to the top 4.
Different Types of Pageants
Longest Standing Pageant in the UK
Even though the Grand Slam Pageants are the often known as the best and biggest pageants to compete in they might not actually be the biggest or most well known in the UK.
The Miss Great Britain pageant is one of the oldest pageants in the UK and is held in Leicester. It has been running for over 75 years. There have been a number of familiar faces that have won the Miss Great Britain crown who you may have seen on reality TV since such as Danielle Lloyd, Shelby Tribble and Zara Holland.
By Charlotte Lister