How to Win PageantsHow to Win Pageants

Find Pageants
FIND PAGEANTS

Pageant Articles
A Winning Pageant Attitude
Be an Original
Believe in Yourself
Visualize Success
A Winning Pageant Image
Don’t be a Clone
Know the Pageant’s Image
Pageant Makeup
The Winning Pageant Smile
What Do Judges Look for?
Your Pageant Voice
Entry Forms and Bios
Evening Gown Competition
Getting Started in Pageants
Find Pageants
How Do I Begin?
The Right Pageant For You
Handling the Press
Home
On-Stage Interviews
Pageant Costumes
Pageant Hair
Pageant Interviews
Different Interview Types
Improve Speaking Skills
Manage Interview Nerves
Mock Pageant Interviews
Pageant Interview Prep 101
Show Personality
Show You are Smart
Pageant News
Pageant Talent Competition
Pageant Winners
Miss America Pageant
Miss Universe Pageant
Miss USA Pageant
Miss World Pageant
Products to Win Pageants
Swimsuit Competition
Build a Winning Body
Correct Figure Flaws
How to Shape Your Body
The Winning Pageant Diet
Swimsuit Judging Criteria
Which Pageant Swimsuit?
Style/Color to Hide Flaws
What Styles to Wear
Use and Terms
Welcome to Pageant Club



Join Mailing List

Winning Interview

Winning Answers

Judges Questions

Our pageant store maling list for pageants 
Pageant Questions

 WHAT YOU'RE ASKING

"Do you have to be super skinny to win a pageant?" - J.D., Texas

You bring up an important point.  Like many observers, we have been concerned about the trend toward pageant winners being exceptionally thin.  

We oppose pageantry encouraging contestants to conform to unrealistically thin stereotypes.  The physical development that occurs from junior high though college is a crucial stage for building stores of  bone calcium for adulthood. If girls restrict their dietary intake for a prolonged period of time to achieve and maintain a low level of body fat for comeptition, the calcium stores needed for a lifetime of healthy bones may be jeopardized.  Some nutritionists have expressed concern that dieting at this stage could place young women at risk of early onset osteoporosis.

While there are well qualified physical trainers and nutritionists available to contestants who can afford that option, many most teens and college women cannot afford private nutritional coaching.  Therefore, given   potential health complications from adolescent dieting, we encourage pageant organizers to encourage contestants to strive for a healthier standard of physical beauty and instruct judges to reward participants who demonstrate physical fitness and beauty without resorting to excessive thinness. 

To contestants who ask, "Do you have to be super skinny to win?" we reply that, whether or not that is the trend, in our opinion, the risk of potential health problems due to prolonged dieting is simply too high a price to pay.  

We'd also like to point out that many women have won major titles without being exceptionally thin.  Miss Americas: Phyllis George ('71), Shirley Cothran ('75), Tawny Godin ('76), Susan Perkins ('78), Gretchen Carlson ('89), Debbye Turner ('90), Marjorie Vincent ('91), and Carolyn Sapp ('92), were all of normal weight for women their age. Several of these women had larger bone frames and "husky" thighs.  Kenya Moore is a recent Miss USA who thighs some people viewed as surprisingly large for a "beauty queen." So, while it may be common to see very thin women win, many judges support contestants who project physical fitness and health without resorting to excessive thinness.

pageant questionsBack to pageant questions...

©Copyright 1998-2005 Pageant Club™