Charmaine Landry

• Miss Cajun Riviera
• Miss Cajun Music
• National Miss Le Cajun
• Rayne Frog Festival Queen
• Miss Louisiana Oil Centennial
• Ms. Marshland Festival Queen
• Top 12 in LAFF Queen of Queens Pageant
• Top 5 in LAFF Queen of Queens Pageant
• Pageant coach
• Hair and Makeup artist

I want to compete in pageants, now what?

You need to decide what pageant system you will enjoy the most. There are several systems from fairs and festivals to the Miss USA system. How you prepare for the pageant will depend on the system you choose. I have found that a good way to choose your system is to talk to someone who has completed in that particular system. You can obtain lots of insight and tips.

Once you have decided on the system, you begin to prepare. Preparing includes buying your dress, interview suit, proper wardrobe, and of coarse mentally preparing. By mentally preparing yourself you are getting ready for interview. Some great ways to prepare yourself are by reading both your local newspaper and a national newspaper. This will prepare you if in the event a judge asks you about world or local issues. You should also know about the political scene. You never know when a judge will ask about politics. Yes, I have always been told that there should be no religion or politics in interviews but that does not always apply.

If you have decided on the fair and festival system, you should prepare by studying about the festival. Judges tend to ask festival history questions. Most festivals are centered around a commodity. In this case, you should know about the industry. For instance, if you would be competing for the title of the Louisiana Cattle Festival, I would know everything about the Louisiana Cattle industry. This includes everything from the market price to breeds. Know not every judge will ask these questions. However, if you have studied this will keep you from being put in an awkward position if the judges do ask a question regarding the festival or the industry.
Next, obtain a pageant coach. They can give you a heads up on the pageant world. They know tips that a new comer would not. A coach can help you in everything from interview to modeling. Modeling is perhaps the most important part. You should be graceful and poised. Practice makes perfect.

Above all, you should remember that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You are in front different opinions. The judge's judge on what they feel is beauty. With different judges, you have a different outcome. Also, remember pageants are fun. When they become work, it is time to find another hobby.

I have enjoyed every moment of my pageant competition. Because of the public speaking and interview skills I have learned from competition, I have never fumbled a job interview. I am the adolescent counselor fro the Lake Charles Addictive Disorders Clinic and my p9osition requires me to speak to large crowds, because of my pageant competition I am able to do this with ease. I am Charmaine Landry and have been involved in pageants for 11 years judging and competing on the local and state levels. I mentor girls and young ladies for pageants as well as am a hair and makeup artist.

I hope you enjoy your experience and Good Luck!!!!