What I look for as a judge.
Let's break the pageant up into different categories: photograph, appearance,
interview/resume, swim suit, evening gown, and on stage question. Let's
also break it up into age groups: Miss Teen, Miss, and Mrs. Also keep
in mind that every judge is not the same and will look for different qualities
for each category.
PHOTOGRAPH
For the photogenic competition the photographer who took the photograph
is just as important if not more so than the contestant. I would recommend
you use a black and white 8 x 10 matt photo. Glossy photographs are sometimes
hard to see with the glare. Color photographs are fine if you have a perfect
complexion or plan to touch up the photographs. Try to chose a photo with
a mute background so it does not distract from your face. Be careful when
using modeling type photographs. They tend to have a "serious"
look to them and may make you look older than you really are.
Miss Teen I want to see a photograph of someone smiling and loving life.
A teenager should not look serious. Also, she should not look like she
is twenty five. She needs to be attractive, but not in a sexual way.
Miss I want to see someone that knocks my socks off. She can have a serious
or fun look. If you do not like your smile, keep your lips together or
just smile slightly.
Mrs. The picture should not have any sexual overtones to it. You are representing
the "mom" category. You should be smiling and loving life.
APPEARANCE
Miss Teen She should look like the all American teenager. A cheerleader
look is a good example. I do not want her to look like she is in her late
twenties all made up as though she is trying to find a date for the weekend.
I am not saying to go to the other extreme and make yourself look like
you are ten years old. Just look your age.
Miss She should look like a young professional. She should carry herself
with confidence without seeming arrogant or selfish. She should be the
girl in the room everyone wants to talk to.
Mrs. When I look at her I want to see pure class and sophistication.
She should be someone that I would like to spend time with at a ball game
or the best restaurant in town. She needs to look like Cindy Crawford,
not Pamela Anderson.
INTERVIEW
All age groups are the same for me in this category. I run a very successful
dental practice. While we do play the music very loud and everyone is
having a good, it is still a professional business. I look at each candidate
as though they were applying for a job to work in my practice. If I would
hire you, then you will get very high scores from me. Keep in mind that
when you win you will be an ambassador for your state, region, or your
festival industry. You will be representing your title and yourself to
thousands of people. When you are on television or at a banquet, when
you start to speak, everyone should want to stop and listen.
Resume'
This is where I will get my questions from. Here are a few things to
remember. Above all else, be honest with what you put down on it. If
you put down that your favorite book is some obscure literary novel
that only an English professor would have read, I probably wont believe
you have read it and I can assure you I have not read it. So I will
skip over it and ask you about something else. Type you answers and
use double space. Make it EASY for me to read. Only put things that
you WANT me to ask you about and leave off those things that you don't.
The amount of things on your listed on your resume is not nearly as
important as how you answer your questions. I am looking for someone
that is easy to talk to and wants to have a conversation. If I am selecting
you to represent Louisiana or a Louisiana industry, then I want you
to be able to take over every interview you have after you win your
title.
Attire
To me, the color is not that important. Not all judges will agree with
me on this. Now when you are on television after you win, the color
is a big deal. But for right now, pick a color that you like. I want
you to feel very comfortable and relaxed during the interview. If you
are wearing something that you hate, ypu will not be relaxed. Also,
wear something that I would feel comfortable having you wear in my office.
I do not want you working in my office with puffy sleeves are very low
cut. If the outfit would look good at a cocktail party, it may be too
revealing for the interview.
Answers
I do care what you answer as much as how you answer. I want you to
basically take over the interview. If you are sure what to say, just
start talking about another subject. Avoid saying Um, Uh, etc. This
will make you look as though you are not that intelligent.
Posture
Listen to your mom when she tells you to sit up straight. She has the
right idea.
Appearance
Make sure your hair does not fall into your face while you are talking.
This is very distracting. I want to see you as much as hear you.
SWIMSUIT
I am looking at both how the swimsuit fits you as well as how you look
in it. For the suit, the color does not make much difference to me. If
however, you have a fair complexion, pick a light colored suit. A dark
colored one will make you look even whiter. The suit should not bunch
up and should fit without being to tight. No one wants to see things bunching
out. You should have an even tan and overall muscle tone. You do not need
to be a body builder or look anorexic. You just need to have a very healthy
look. Remember that even if you are sixteen you will not look this way
if you think MacDonald's is a healthy meal.
EVENINGGOWN
It should look like the gown was made just for you. It needs to be tailored
to your body. You should feel like you own the world in this dress. The
cost of the dress and where you got it is not nearly as important as how
it fits you and how you feel in it. I have a patient that has won numerous
top pageants in a twenty dollars dress. It is nothing fancy, but she loves
it. When she walks into a room, she knows all eyes are on her and it shows,
big time. Don't look for a revealing dress. You may come off looking like
someone you don't want to be. When I see you in this dress, I should feel
that if I am not sitting next to you, I should be. When you win and you
are at a ball wearing this dress, everyone should want to be near you
listening to whatever you have to say.
ON STAGE QUESTION
The best advice I can give you is to relax. Everyone else is scarred
to death also. After you hear the question, take a moment to compose your
answer. Don't take too long, but think about it for a second. I realize
you were just put on the spot in front of a bunch of people. I want to
see how you handle yourself more than I care about what you answered.
Good luck and I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please feel
free to contact me.
|
