What first began as a curiosity soon turned into an interest. What appeared to be an interest morphed into a hobby. What disguised itself as a hobby was in fact an obsession. Being a thin, blonde, twelve year old, when a family friend suggested a pageant, I wasn’t too aghast. “They’re gonna give me money to walk around and smile?” I questioned. With some persuasion (and a lofty bribe from my mother) I entered my first pageant, Junior Miss Manatee County. The money drew me in, while the fierce competition and thrill of winning kept me there. Along with my age grew prize money, higher expectations, and most importantly, more challenging contestants. After my fifth win at regional levels I decided to raise the bar. At 14 years old m

A typical regional or state scholarship pageant requires a minimum of two months preparation. Rarely does a “pageant virgin” walk away with the title. Although a high score in all three categories – interview, swimsuit, and evening gown – is crucial, the interview undoubtedly makes the more powerful impression to the judge. The interview is where all the elements of the pageant converge. Poise, spontaneity, beauty, intelligence, physique, charisma, presentation, and voice are all under strict scrutiny during these 5-10 minutes. A stammer of words, a flip of the hair, a crack in the voice, a visible facial blemish, too harsh of colors, mismatched shoes; the myriad of possible mistakes made during an interview could, and already has, take up the space of a small novel.

The most important and the most problematic law to follow: “Don’t say the wrong thing! Don’t say what you want to say if it is the wrong thing to say!!” My coach’s warning still rings harshly in my ears. “Blips” or short biographies of the judges are published 3-4 weeks before the main event. These will become the determined contestants’ bibles for the next month. The bios will be cut open, dissected, and examined from every possible angle. Affiliations and titles are useful in hinting towards a judge’s political party, and perhaps religion. If one is praised for their dedication and achievement in the American Civil Liberties Union, it is safe to classify this judge as a liberal, and a likely non-believer. If asked about her stance on abortion, now would not be the best time for a contestant to proclaim her belief in pro-life. On the other hand, if one judge is acclaimed for their involvement with Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army, a contestant (if she may be a follower) is urged to express her faith in God. The tricky part is to develop answers and form a platform in which a mixed batch of judges won’t be offend

Some topics in this essay:
Salvation Army, Erasing History, Seasoned Veteran, Barbie-like Walk, , Humble Beginnings, Manatee County, Liberties Union, Miss Indiana, Teen Florida, scholarship pageant, female reformists, fake eyelashes, age 35,