Pageant Questions: Winning Strategies

HOW TO WIN PAGEANT INTERVIEWS

By Ann-Marie Bivans

How do you win pageant interviews?

In fact, if one watches tapes of earlier pageants or spokesmodel competitions, its obvious that the same qualities that convinced judges that Nicole had the right stuff to serve as Miss America were present in noteworthy winners of the past. Marilyn Van Derbur (Miss America 1957), Mary Ann Mobley (Miss America 1959), Barbara Peterson (Miss USA 1976), Shawn Weatherly (Miss Universe 1980), Gina Tolleson (Miss World) all dazzled the judges with their interview technique, both in the private judges interviews and on-stage conversations.

So, just what makes a woman stand out in this crucial competition and how can a young woman develop those qualities? As I discussed in more detail in 101 Secrets to Winning Beauty Pageants (Citadel Press, 1995), pageant interviewing is a skill that can be mastered by any young woman willing to work to improve her performance. Given the importance of managing nervousness and the handling the unexpected with grace, I am sharing the following interview strategies, from 101 Secrets:

Learn to Manage Nervousness

Like competing in the Olympics, facing a panel of celebrity pageant judges whose scores on your "performance" could change the course of your life is an understandably nerve-wracking experience. It's a one-shot deal and you've got minutes to win the panel over. Indeed, NOT being nervous would be the real surprise.

The pressures of upper-level competition can be especially tough on contestants' confidence. "It can be very intense," says Debbie Bryant Berge, a former Miss America and past telecast commentator. "A lot of people go into pageants and they are so intense because they want to do well, but they're so nervous that it affects their performance."

The most effective way to conquer such point-losing jitters is to prepare beforehand. "In the interview, when you see five or ten judges lined up against the other side of the table and you're sitting there by yourself--the situation IS intimidating," says Christi Taunton, a former Miss Arkansas. "But, if you are PREPARED when you get there, you really shouldn't have much of a problem with nervousness. I think preparedness is the greatest thing you can do to block the nerves."

Keep in mind that judges are real people. Like anybody else, they work long hours, get the flu, and have car trouble. "The girls need to realize that the judges are people who put their shoes on every morning and brush their teeth just like they do, explained the late Jeff Bell, a longtime pageant director. "I think that helps the girls be more relaxed." And if all the above doesn't help, he suggests this unique strategy: "Picture them in their underwear!"

So when you're hit with the shakes, sweaty palms, and rapid breathing, remember to relax and treat the judges as regular folks. "We have as much stress as we put on ourselves," asserts Lee Beaman, Miss North Carolina 1988. "It's a matter of keeping the interview in perspective. It's just a conversation with people. They mess up and make mistakes, they're not perfect, and they know that we're not. This will be your one moment in the spotlight. Why be nervous? Let it be fun! If you have your mental attitude right, it's usually not too stressful."

Keep Your Composure

In any competitive situation the unexpected can occur: a contestant trips walking into the room, knocks over the stand microphone as she sits down, or calls a judge by the wrong name. Because mishaps do happen on any level of competition, remember that no disaster is so calamitous that you can't handle it with poise. Always keep your composure. When the unexpected occurs, turn it to your advantage with honesty, humor, or wit.

Kenn Berry, a Miss New York regional director and state and national judge, cites the case of a state contestant whose ring snagged and tore her hosiery during her interview. Since the judges had observed the mishap, the young lady slapped her hand over the run in mock horror and quipped, "Darn it, there goes my interview!" Says Berry, "I appreciated that because she was being totally honest. She reacted to it the right way and when she walked out of that interview, I gave her the highest score I gave any girl in that pageant because she was honest under fire. Those things impress me as a judge."

Should the unexpected occur, turn the incident to your advantage by keeping your composure and handling it in a relaxed, down-to-earth manner.

Indeed, while the prospect of being grilled by a panel of celebrity judges can be unnerving, the actual experience of meeting with the judges should be an enjoyable opportunity to let the panel to see your finest qualities. Take it from a judge: We want to see contestants present themselves at their best. We root for you! As a national judge, my observations have been that the most relaxed contestants-- those who succeeded in allowing us to see them at their finest-- were very well-prepared. It was evident that they had taken the time to educate themselves about current events, practiced articulating their opinions in mock interviews, and exposed themselves to as many interviewing and speaking opportunities as possible. They had applied and benefited from the "PPP" formula:

Preparation and Practice = strong Performance

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