Win A Pageant

108: Pageant Interview Prep – AMAZING 10-Step Strategy from a Miss USA

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Before we dive into today’s episode, I want to share some love from my pageant sister on Amazon, she writes: “Alycia breaks down every aspect of pageant competition. This book walks you through not only the what to do’ but the why you need to do it.’ It’s excellent advice not only for pageant contestants but for life as well. Buy this book. You will not regret it.”

108_Amazon Review by Real Deal

Thank you so much for your kind words. If you haven’t left a review, I’d love to hear from you. Go to WinAPageant.com/Book – scroll down to Leave a Customer Review.

When you write a book, usually you do some research to see what else is out there. As I was researching for Beauty, Truth and Grace I came upon only a few pageant books. Most of them were insanely outdated or simply not up to snuff for what you and my audience really needs. However, there were a few little gems. One such book is called Catching the Crown – it’s written by a former Miss USA 1994, Lu Parker.

Now, Donald Trump didn’t buy the Miss Universe Pageant Organization until a few years later. A lot has changed in our world over these last few decades, but some things will always remain.

In today’s episode, I want to share with you some advice from Ms Parker about preparing for your pageant interview that I love.

In my pageant preparation, one of my goals was to constantly put myself in new situations where I could meet and interact with new people. The idea of this is to get more and more comfortable talking with ease to strangers in attempt to remove the pressure during pageant interview. As I prepared, I realized the more I had unique experiences, the more fun the interview process became.

Ms. Parker takes this to a whole new level! While she was preparing for Miss South Carolina USA and Miss USA, she actually scheduled interviews with local professionals – political reps, doctors, lawyers, professors – ya know, the people that typically intimidate us the most.

Lots of pageant women end up interacting with these people during their year at charity events and appearances, but Lu suggestions schedule actual interviews.

I’m going to use her idea to create a strategy you can implement to help you prepare for your pageant interview. When you implement this 10-step strategy, you’ll gain skills in leadership, flipping the power dynamic, and discover a flow for interview timing.

Step 1: Create a list of 10 people you want to interview.

Choose the most intimidating people in your local or national area. Think of doctors, politicians, lawyers, professors, and entertainment professionals.

Step 2: Contact their representatives (or them directly) at least 2 weeks in advance of when you’d like to schedule the interview.

Explain who you are and that you are interested in interviewing them to learn more about them as an exercise to prepare for your pageant interview.

Step 3: Prepare at least 10 specific questions to learn more about their life.

The final 2 questions should be If you judged a pageant, what would you ask the candidates? and What would you look for in a titleholder?

Step 4: Bring a notebook and pen to write notes.

Step 5: Get a small gift for your interviewee as a gesture of gratitude.

Step 6: Confirm your meeting 24 hours in advance or longer depending on travel time.

Step 7: Make your interview only last 10-15 minutes from when you ask the first question.

Maybe you’ll spend 30 minutes with the person all together.

Step 8: Take a picture with the interviewee that you can send to them later.

Step 9: Reflect for at least 15 minutes with journal immediately afterward.

Step 10: Send a thank you note afterward mentioning specific lessons you’ve learned.

As Lu says, Judges are just people.

For whatever reason, when we’re unprepared, the interview setting makes us nervous. These 10-steps will help you not only make wonderful connections in your community, but also prepare you to ace your pageant interview.

And, that, my dear, is how you win a pageant.

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