Why should you enter a pageant? C d S h
Why should you enter a pageant?
There are many different reasons for people entering pageants the most common reasons I have come across while interviewing queens is that they wanted to boost their confidence and meet new friends while others say they want a platform to help make a difference and having a pageant title can help with this.
So why should you enter as they can be very time consuming and exhausting when its pageant weekend. Pageant hangover anyone?
In my opinion they are a great way to boost your confidence as your out of your comfort zone, you can meet new friends, get involved with things that you never thought you could for example being in pageants pushed me to run a half marathon, complete a sky dive for charity, scuba dive and even bungee jump, they can also help with lifelong skills such as interview skills, public speaking skills and social media skills. But most of all they are fun! I mean who doesn’t want to get dressed up and feel amazing every now and again.
Why should you enter a pageant?
Reasons to enter a pageant
1. Sense of self
Knowing who are you and being confident in your own skin isn’t always easy, we have something we don’t like about ourselves but being a pageant allows you to know your strengths, your value and what’s really important to you. Sometimes trying to find a sense of self can take a lifetime but with the help of pageants you can learn this quicker. By knowing your sense of self, your confidence will grow so if any one gives you a nasty comment you can ignore it easier so it doesn’t grow into something that really affects you in future as it helps you build resilience which is a key part of having good mental health.
2. Boosted confidence
Like I said in point 1 pageants really do boost your confidence it might be scary before you go out on stage but knowing you walked in 5-inch heels in an evening dress without falling off stage is truly empowering. Also learning to walk on a stage in heels without looking down and falling off stage is definitely a skill as it isn’t as easy as it looks.
Why should you enter a pageant?
In some pageants you have to give a speech on a topic or answer questions to hundreds of people which again is scary, but we do it and we do it well because pageants give us the confidence to do it! Having confidence can help you succeed in other areas of your life too not just pageants. Within the pageant network we all support each other so if you have a platform or charity you want to speak about the pageant community will give you the support and confidence you need to stand up and make difference.
3. Allows you to speak about your platform to a larger audience
I did slightly cover this in point 2 but being a pageant queen does give you a stage/platform so to speak to discuss you pageant platform on a larger scale. The pageant community will always support you and the press normally are interested in finding out what pageant contestants are up too, which means you are again reaching a larger audience with your message. Seeing y our picture in the paper talking about what you’re doing is incredibly empowering if not somewhat emotional too.
Why should you enter a pageant?
4. Gain skills in public speaking
Again, I have touched on this but in some pageants you do have to give speeches to guests and judges. It can be scary but knowing you have the support of fellow pageant contestants, the director, or directors of a pageant it gives you the confidence to do it and it feels great afterwards. You can use this skill of public speaking in the future too as many job roles require you to give speeches to others.
5. Learn more about charities such as the pageants chosen charity
When you enter a pageant some of them will have a chosen charity or charities that they support and ask you to fundraise for (which is optional so don’t feel pressured) but by them doing this it allows you to learn about different charities, how they work and how they support people.
I did mention that pageant girls support each other with their online campaign, and this is a great opportunity again to learn about different charities, diseases and illnesses.
Why should you enter a pageant?
6. Learn new skills and knowledge
There are a number of Eco pageants which allows you to learn more about how harmful plastic especially single use plastic is to our oceans and our marine life as well ideas on how you can limit your plastic use and what you could do to help. This type of pageant can be a truly eye-opening experience. Some pageants even give you more extreme skills such as scuba diving or flying lessons you can either just do the taster course or you can carry on, it might open some doors for you that you never thought possible. Another thing that you can learn about when travelling to internationals is different cultures and also different language’s which can be a key skill in certain job roles you may desire in the future.
7. Be able to make a difference
Be able to make a difference in your local community and sometimes on a larger scale is so important to al pageant contestants. You get to truly understand the importance of charity work and the difference you can do in your local community.
Why should you enter a pageant?
You can get involved in so many different ways from volunteering your time to taking part in runs, bungee jumps, sky dives and even running marathons the list is endless.
8.
Put a spotlight on a topic that’s close to your heart
By working with the charities, I’ve mentioned it allows me to raise more awareness and funds for them through press in my local papers, magazines, and social media. You never know depending on what topic you are promoting it could help make a difference to someone’s life.
9. Make friends from across the U.K.
and sometimes the world
Competing means that you might have to travel to the final and meet other pageant finalists from across the U.K. and if you lucky to win a place at an international final you then get to meet other contestants from across the world and hopefully call them friends.
Why should you enter a pageant?
10. Gives you focus and determination
Being a pageant contestant gives you focus and determination from the number of appearances you want to achieve to the amount of money you want to raise for you chosen charity. This focus and determination can then be transferred into other areas of your life.
11. Goal setting techniques
Competing in a pageant helps you set short- and longterm goals. Again, the number of appearances you want to do split into time scales the same with how much money you want to raise for charity.
12. Interview skills
This is an amazing skill to know and use and interviews don’t just happen in pageants but also in your working life. Pageants interviews give you the opportunity to sell yourself, your value, discuss your hobbies and much more which can then be transferred into a job interview.
Why should you enter a pageant?
13. Learn your strengths and weaknesses
So, this is a brilliant skill to learn and again can be transferred into your working life. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is very important so you know what to work on in the future, so you are an allrounded person.
14. Good posture
This is something all pageant contestants learn which is brilliant to use every day as it will stop certain aches and pains especially in heels and standing for long periods of time.
All these things really do empower you don’t you agree? Pageants can really change your life for the better.
By Charlotte Lister