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By Janet Piraro, Executive Director
JP Productions of Louisiana, Inc.
Producer of:
- Mrs. Louisiana America
- Miss Lake Charles USA
- Miss Lake Charles Teen USA
- Miss Southwest Louisiana USA
- Miss Southwest Louisiana Teen USA
- Cajun Cuties
- Christmas Cajun Cuties
- Cupid Cajun Cuties
- Petite Louisiana USA
- Petite Lake Charles USA
- Petite Southwest Louisiana USA
And volunteer director for:
- Miss Cajun Music Queen’s Pageant for the Cajun French Music Festival
- Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen of Queens Pageant
- Pageant Judge for pageants throughout Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas
Introduction
I have been involved in pageants for over
20 years, first as a pageant mom and later as a pageant judge, director,
and pageant consultant. I never charge a fee for consultation work and
offer any advice to anyone who asks because I truly love pageants. I
know from experience what pageants can do for everyone even though only
one will go home with the crown. It is about winning, but
not about winning the crown. It is about becoming the best
person YOU can be. As a pageant contestant you will learn
how to carry yourself, have confidence, and speak. You will succeed in
school and business just from being in pageants. You will be able to
get in front of your class and give a project; you will be able to go
on a job interview possessing the self-confidence you gained from pageants.
It is all about YOU.
WHICH PAGEANT WILL YOU DO?
The first thing you must decide is which pageant to compete in. There
are over 200 fairs and festivals that sponsor pageants, too many to count
what we call “Saturday Specials”, then the really big ones like
Miss USA and Miss America. Only you and your family must decide which
system you would like to get involved in. Can you do more than one system?
Certainly, but when you win a fair or festival title, you must sign a
contract to represent that association for the one year and you must compete
in Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen of Queens Pageant.
This is for most fair and festival pageants held in Southern Louisiana.
The fairs and festivals in North Louisiana are more prelims for the Miss
Louisiana America system.
The “Saturday Specials” are a great
place to begin your pageant involvement as well as with fairs and festivals,
but be very careful. You can spend a great deal of money for one of these
systems and really get nothing in return. Check out any pageant
system very carefully. Ask the director questions and get things
in writing. Always save the entry form to make certain the pageant is
everything the entry form said it would be. There have been far too many
pageants where monies were to be awarded and then, due to lack of contestants,
or whatever, the money was not given. Make certain the director is reliable.
Being involved with the Miss Louisiana USA
and Miss Louisiana Teen USA as a director for official prelims, I know
from experience there is lots of rules and regulations that we must adhere
too. We have signed contracts. Paula Miles, the state director, is a
wonderful lady from South Carolina and Paula puts on a fabulous production
every fall for our state. It is held in Lafayette. This year it will
be the second Friday and Saturday in October. You do not have to win
a prelim to enter. Competition consists of interview, swimsuit and evening
gown. There is no talent. The entry fee into Miss Louisiana
USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA for 2002 is $945.00 and any resident of
Louisiana may enter.
The Miss Louisiana America system is also
wonderful. Our state pageant is produced by the Monroe Jaycees and is
held usually around June. For more information, you may call the Monroe
Jaycees. This competition consists of interview; swimsuit; talent
and evening gown. Miss America is a scholarship pageant. There is no
entry fee but you must be a prelim winner.
Fair and festival pageants offer lots of traveling
as spokesperson for that particular association, competition in Louisiana
Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen of Queens Pageant held every
February, and the opportunity to really get to see Louisiana. Many of
the older festivals such as Cattle Festival – Abbeville; Cotton Festival
– Ville Platte; Fur & Wildlife Festival – Cameron; Strawberry
Festival – Ponchatoula; attend the Louisiana Mardi Gras Ball in Washington,
D.C. Competition consists of interview and evening gown for most fair
and festival pageants. Entry fees are as low as $50 and go up to $150.
If you are going to compete in a fair or festival pageant, you should
do your homework. By that I mean learn everything you can about that
particular event. For instance, if you are going to be in Delcambre Shrimp
Festival Queen’s Pageant, learn about shrimp. Know the dates for
the shrimping season, etc. Gumbo Festival Pageant – know how to
make a gumbo. Know how the monies derived from the event will be used.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
There are numerous pageants now for married
women. I am the director for the Mrs. Louisiana America Pageant, which
is the oldest system for married women and the only one that is nationally
televised. Mrs. America will be celebrating its’ 26th
year in September in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. Some fair and festival
pageants are now offering a Mrs. or Ms. division in competition as well.
For Mrs. Louisiana America, competition consists of interview, swimsuit
and evening gown. Each category is one third of competition. For fair
and festival pageants, competition is interview and evening gown. You
do not have to hold a title to compete in Mrs. Louisiana America. You
must be at least 18 years of age, married and living with your husband.
The pageant for next year will be June 7th here in Lake Charles.
For more information, visit our website: www.mrs-louisiana-america.com
ENTRY FORM
Okay, now that you have decided which pageant you are entering, it is
time to fill out the Entry Form. BE HONEST. Don’t spend countless
hours trying to do this. Just fill it out, being open and honest about
everything. Make certain it is neat and error free. This is the first
thing the judges will see about you in most cases and first impressions
count. Okay you don’t have a typewriter anymore, not many people
do. Just retype the entire thing in your computer, or scan it into your
computer and then fill it out. All reputable directors will know this
is necessary and won’t mind a bit. Lots of girls are now scanning
their pictures on top of the entry form as well and that is perfectly
okay. Just make sure you submit five copies (or more) to the director
because if she is going to just copy your entry form, your picture will
be awful.
Don’t drag out your information. Put
key elements that you want the judges to talk with you about. An example
would be: Hobbies: Reading mystery novels, clothes shopping, back yard
bar-b-que with my family, etc.
Make certain there are no spelling errors
and no mistakes of any kind. Have someone else read your entry form.
Get your entry form in on time. Getting off on a bad foot by being late
is not good. Directors have quite a bit of paperwork to do in order to
produce a successful pageant and late people cause a lot of unnecessary
stress. You may wind up being the first contestant because some do it
by last one in is the first one out.
INTERVIEW
Interview is merely a conversation with a
purpose. Fill out your own entry form, don’t let Mom do it
for you. It is the judges’ time to get to know all they
can about YOU. Most questions in interview will come from your entry
form or bio sheet. I tell everyone to know what is on your entry form,
know what is going on in your area, your community, your state, our nation
and the world. Watch the news and read newspapers. Whatever you do,
DO NOT MEMORIZE anything. There is no right or wrong answer
in interview in most cases. Good judges will want to know your opinion
and yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Say what is yours
and don’t try to answer what you think the judges want to hear.
BE HONEST. Speak clearly. Don’t use slang or “YOU KNOW”.
Make certain you pronounce the ending of words such as fishing, shopping,
etc. Don’t say fishin, shoppin. Practice speaking every chance
you can. Join the Speech Club, Debate Team, etc. at school. Emcee pageants;
speak at church, volunteer for speaking activities. Record yourself whenever
possible. Watch and listen to what you do.
Don Baker, the best interview coach there
is in my opinion, stresses to “Be Open and Outward”. “If
you think in an interview, you die.” You must be spontaneous and
go with your opinions and talk. Don’t try to use big words that
you are uncomfortable with. Let your personality come out. BE
YOU!
Your interview outfit should be a suit or
very nice dress, but I strongly recommend the two-piece suit. You don’t
need to spend a month’s salary on one either. Just make certain
the color is good for you and that it fits. Fit is the most important
thing of all. For fairs and festivals, judges prefer a longer skirt that
won’t be so short when you sit, but for USA you may choose something
shorter and flashier, more of what we call “Hi-fashion”. Most
wear taupe heels but there again, in Miss USA system, you may wear heels
that match your suit or outfit. Pantsuits are still very risky and why
take a chance. It is hard enough to win a pageant when you do everything
right, why try something risky? Keep the suit in season, in other words,
don’t wear a wool suit with fur trim for a summer pageant.
EVENING GOWN
Don’t break the bank here either. Fit
is the most important thing, not how much you paid for the gown. You
must feel GREAT in the dress and YOU must wear the dress. Don’t
have a dress that will make the judges look more at the gown rather than
at YOU. Again, know the system you are competing in and know what is
expected. Fairs and festivals are more conservative than the USA system.
Keep the gown age appropriate also. Ask people’s opinions, not just
those working in the store either. Put the gown on and look at it from
all sides: front, back and both sides. Hemlines must be even, and no
puckers at the waist or hips whatsoever. The back must be smooth and
straight. Zippers should be invisible, slits not too revealing. If
the gown has a train, work with it and practice turning. Too many girls
get tangled up in them on stage. Ask the director if you are going to
have to go up or down any steps in the gown. Make certain you can handle
the stage in your gown.
HAIR AND MAKE-UP
Here is strictly up to you. There are many
people who travel to pageants to do hair and make-up. Again, know the
system you are going to be in. For Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana
Teen USA, contestants are not allowed to have anyone with them. Contestants
must do their own hair and make-up. There are people backstage to assist
you if necessary but you may not bring your own hairdresser. For most
fairs and festivals, most allow one person to help you but check before
you sign to enter to make certain of their rules and regulations and space
restrictions.
Hair up or down? That is for you to decide.
Most wear their hair down for interview and up for evening gown. YOU
HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT YOU FEEL THE BEST WITH. No reliable, qualified judge
will ever give you more points because you showed two different looks.
In some cases, judges fall in love with a girl in interview, but can’t
find her when she comes back in evening gown because she looks so different.
Think about it and do what is right for you.
SWIMSUIT
Only state pageants require swimsuit competition such as Miss USA, Miss
America, and Mrs. America. For the USA system, contestants may wear either
a one-piece or a two-piece, providing the two-piece bottom sides are a
minimum of 1˝ inches. For Mrs. Louisiana America, contestants may wear
either a one or two piece, but at Mrs. America, all contestants are given
a one-piece suit for competition. Again, it is all about the fit and
what you feel great in. Physical fitness is a must. You must have a
“six pack” mid section to pull off a two-piece; legs should
be firm and muscles defined. Judges don’t expect to see body builders
but definition is important. Heels with swimsuit – the higher the
better. Clear, taupe, or high-heeled sandals are all acceptable for Miss
USA prelims. It is a much faster walk and presentation is everything.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
STAGE PRESENTATION
When you walk out on stage, no matter which
part of competition, you must feel like a WINNER! Stage projection is
everything. Walk smoothly, confidently. Smile and show the judges you
OWN THE STAGE and you are there because YOU WANT TO BE. CONFIDENT is
the key word. Don’t be intimidated by anyone else. The only person
you are competing against is yourself.
IN CONCLUSION
Set your goal. Decide which system you will
do. Do your homework. Prepare early and stay focused. Write down opinions
in a notebook. Listen to the news, read. Get your shoes and practice,
practice, practice. Don’t wait until the pageant to “break
in your shoes” because they will kill your feet and the pain will
show in your face. Don’t ever sell yourself short and don’t
let any director or judge keep you from your goal. If you don’t
win one pageant, try another. Ask judges’ opinions but remember,
it is strictly that person’s opinion and you must do what you know
if best for you. There is a crown out there for everyone. GO FOR IT!
If you have any questions or comments, please
contact me. I will offer you my opinions but I don’t know it all
either. What I can offer you is what I have learned from my experience
and my opinion, plus all the confidence and best wishes there is.
For the Love of Pageants and Sincerely,
Janet Piraro
JP Productions of Louisiana, Inc.
337-478-2355 or email: robpiraro@aol.com
Website: www.mrs-louisiana-america.com
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