What Do Judges Look for in a Winner?

What Do Judges Look for? The Total Winning Package

Unlike a winning attitude, which involves inner qualities, a winning image involves external qualities-a contestant’s image and appearance.

Because a titleholder is a spokesperson for the pageant and a role model for girls, how she presents herself is important. Therefore, from the moment judges meet an entrant they carefully scrutinize her appearance from head to toe to determine if she possesses a winning image to compliment the crown.

What do judges look for in a winner? Naturally, the exact qualities judges seek will differ from judge to judge, pageant to pageant, and year to year, but there is one overall quality every judge seeks: a “winning package.” Brian Boitano, an Olympic gold medalist and national judge, expressed it this way, “You have to go for a package, someone who is going to be strong and will be able to take the heat.”

Ultimately, a winner stands out from the crowd of competitors because she exemplifies success in every area of her life. It’s not enough to demonstrate expertise in interview, evening gown, swimsuit, and talent. A serious candidate for the crown must also possess two important, but less tangible, qualities: a winning attitude and a winning image.

Attitude is everything in competition. A positive attitude can help a girl surmount disadvantages and personal obstacles to take that glorious victory walk down the runway. It will enable her to believe in herself when others can’t see her potential, to choose behavior that will further her goals, and to turn discouraging “failures” into eventual victory. A winning attitude is the quality that transforms a competitor into a champion.
Having a winning attitude means never underestimating your potential.

Your Past Does Not Limit Your Potential in Pageants

A girl’s disadvantaged upbringing, poverty, serious illness, physical “handicaps,” or past tragedies are no indication of her potential for the future. Dozens of young women have overcome enormous personal obstacles to achieve great success in pageants.

  • After surviving a near-fatal car accident, mangled leg, and over one hundred stitches in her face, Cheryl Prewitt won the 1980 Miss America title.
  • Miss Universe 1970, Marisol Malaret, was orphaned at age ten and raised by an impoverished, elderly aunt.
  • After undergoing a double mastectomy, Joan Sewall won the 1981 Mrs. Minnesota title and made the top ten at Mrs. America.
  • Mary Gainey overcame multiple birth defects and five operations to become Miss South Carolina and first runner-up to Miss America 1991.
  • Carol Gist, who was born out of wedlock and raised by her mother in Detroit’s inner-city, became Miss USA 1990 and 1st runner-up to Miss Universe.
  • Michelle Kline made the top ten at Miss America a year after undergoing a kidney transplant.
  • Jennifer Wall mastered classical piano and made the top ten at Miss America-despite being hearing-impaired.
  • Miss Teen USA 1993, Charlotte Lopez, was a foster child who had lived with six families over thirteen years.
  • After surviving cancer, Terri Sue Liford became Miss Michigan and competed at Miss America with a wig to conceal her hair loss from chemotherapy.
  • Kimberly Aiken survived a life-threatening aneuryism and brain surgery at age eleven to become Miss America 1994.
  • Miss 1992 World-America, Sharon Beldon, was an orphan.

As these winners prove, even the most devastating circumstances needn’t limit a girl’s ability to be a champion. The inspirational proof is Heather Whitestone, who won the 1995 Miss America title despite being deaf since infancy. The remarkable young woman read the judges’ lips during her personal interview and performed a classical ballet to music she couldn’t hear by memorizing the beats. Heather attributes her winning attitude to her mother’s advice: “Remember, the last four letters in American are ‘I CAN’!” Only hard work and perseverance can determine how much she can ultimately accomplish. Whatever personal obstacles you face as you pursue the crown, never underestimate your potential.

You’re judging the total girl. Does she have the total package?
RICHARD GUY, GUYREX ASSOCIATES

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