Welcome to Pageant To PhD’s “Pageant Interview Queen” blog!
This blog was started years ago under a different domain name and we’ve re-launched it here on a combined and renewed website—thanks for joining us!
We’ll be releasing some posts from before even as we also write some new ones as we get back into the habit of writing and posting. Here we will explore various aspects of what a pageant contestant should think about to get the most out of the experience, whether or not you “place” or take home the title and crown. I personally will typically write about the psychology and communication skills that help us succeed in pageants and life, with an emphasis on interviewing. Why? While all the components of pageantry can help you be a more confident and successful person, it is the interview that has the most potential.
Still, having a successful pageant experience—and life!—is multi-dimensional. Many of my assistants have had a special interest in either health and wellness, or skincare and cosmetics, or on fashion, etc., so they’ve helped out by writing some blog posts for you too. If you are looking for some pageant-related writing from me sooner rather than later, you can find a little in the “Articles” link in the header above, and a great deal of useful information and exercises in the Kindle books or collected series in paperback on the home page. :-)
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Beauty
Our skin and hair each are a canvas for self-expression! Building awareness and skill at self-care and adornment are helpful for health and beauty.
The nail art craze! Within the last few years nail art—from fancy to crazy—has become a huge part of the beauty and fashion scene
Nail polish, especially when worn on your hands, seems to chip within days. Not so good, so we end up shelling out more than we like for high end nail polish that last. What if I told you that you could find budget nail polishes that do the same?
Summer is the time of year to get that beautiful golden glow for your pageant. However, baking under the sun for hours is not ideal. Luckily, we have bronzer to give us that natural sun-kissed look.
Wondering what budget product we are covering this month? Hint: It’s an important base to every pageant girl’s makeup routine–Foundation!
When it comes to beauty and makeup, one of the first things we like to focus on are the eyes. A dynamic, well-done eye look will instantly make you look glamorous, regardless of whether or not you decide to go through with the rest of your makeup routine.
Beauty on a Budget is back with the Mascara Edition! Budget mascaras have flourished and there are some long-standing favorites that every girl should know.
Oh, beauty products…how quickly $100 has slipped through our fingers at Sephora, MAC, or any number of cosmetic counters. So how does a pageant girl on a budget find products that provide quality for the right price?
Craving new budget-friendly beauty products? Well, Beauty on a Budget is back, and this time we’re focusing on blush!
At home face masks are a great way to rejuvenate the skin or simply relax after a long day. There are many different types of masks for each skin type and desired outcome.
Proper skincare is an absolute must for any girl, but especially for pageant girls whose faces are in the spotlight. And establishing a daily routine helps achieve and maintain beautiful, healthy skin. Without further ado, let's get started!
Whether you want to enhance the natural look of your eyelashes or create a dramatic look similar to strip lashes, extensions make your beauty routine effortless.
Celebrities and makeup artists have been raving over the new product on the market, the liquid lipstick. It is the convenience of a lip gloss with the formula of a lipstick; how could you resist?
Whether on stage at the Miss USA pageant or sun bathing on the beach, a golden glow makes you feel and look your best.
Another way to avoid being washed out amidst all the lights is with a golden glow. It is important that pageant contestants appear their best on stage and feel confident in their own skin.
Choosing the right foundation for your skin can be challenging. Skin types vary, so determining the right formula for your skin is not an easy task.
Achieving long and healthy hair is often times a challenging task. Many women desire long hair, yet they can’t seem to grow it out long enough.
I cannot believe March is already coming to an end! Time sure does fly, but the end of the month means another favorite products of the month blog!
February is coming to an end, and I thought it would only be appropriate to list my favorite products of February! Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to discover new, great products to try
Whether you are a makeup guru, a pageant queen, or woman that loves makeup, contouring can enhance any makeup look. Well, what is contouring?
When putting your makeup on in the morning, you want it to last the entire day. It is inconvenient when you have to touch up in the middle of the day or run to the bathroom and quickly fix a streak of mascara.
Who doesn't want radiant skin and healthy hair? These are musts for any pageant girl, whether you're on stage being interviewed by a panel or out in your daily life.
Whether you are new to pageants or a seasoned veteran, most anyone could enjoy a refresher course on beauty techniques. You want to look your best while handling those pageant interview questions!
It's that time of year once again, ladies. Cozy sweaters, knit scarves, and patterned leggings abound. And as the weather becomes cool and the leaves begin to change their colors, there's something else due for a change as well.
Whether you are a makeup guru or a woman that enjoys putting a touch of makeup on for the day, eyebrows are essential to any makeup look.
Our skin needs and deserves the best kind of nourishment, and sometimes natural and organic is the best way to go. With these brands, you’ll know exactly what goes into the products you use on your face and body.
Today, I have a few fall favorites to share with you lovely pageant ladies! Lately I've been obsessed with anything to get me in the mood for fall, so I've got some Fall goodies as well as beauty products to share with you today.
The skin we dream of is right around the corner (or in this case in your kitchen cabinet). So open up your pantries and pay not a cent more!
Because the lotion’s ingredients will be absorbed into your skin, you want to make sure that you’re not piling on the chemicals. This is why I prefer to buy organic body lotion when possible.
What is the most important part of every pageant girl’s beauty routine? Showering of course! Our body is a temple, as they say, so why not make sure to take good care of it?
This is part two of our introduction to all-natural, organic skin care. Thus, here are three more top organic skincare brands loved and revered for their list of healthy, wholesome organic ingredients and other green beauty benefits.
Fashion
While fashions can change, there are also “classics” that never really go out of style—find what reflects you, even as you have some fun trying what’s new.
To write this article I conferred with some knowledgeable ladies in my life, and came up with this list of 10 staple pieces every woman should own.
Hello my beautiful pageant starlets! To get back into the swing of things here are 5 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts that any girl, pageant or otherwise should abide by.
It is spring time and that calls for new fashion trends. From each season, trends come and go. This season, there are several fashion must haves that every woman has to try. In pageants, it is important to be aware of the differing trends when choosing dresses and interview outfits.
School is back in session! Not feeling prepared? No worries, PageantToPhD is here with Your Complete Back To School Guide to get you prepped and confident for the school year ahead. Read on and enjoy! :)
Summer is fast approaching, and our wardrobes are in desperate need of bright colors and lighter materials. Luckily, PageantToPhD is here to help you lovely pageant ladies transition into the summer season flawlessly.
Health
Health and wellness are foundational to both inner and outer beauty. Without good health, little else matters, so take good care of yourself…and, when you can, take care of others too!
Trying to lose those stubborn pounds before a pageant can be very stressful. Remember, you are beautiful already so do not over-worry this!
After a long week, or even a particularly tough day, you can always use a little quality ‘me’ time. Well, a laid-back pamper night may be just the thing for you.
The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and Turkey Day is fast approaching. Thanksgiving is full of yummy, fattening food and it is often hard to resist.
Prepping for a pageant is fun, but it can also add more demands on your time in an already busy life. This can make finding time to get in a full work out in difficult.
Coconut oil may be in your kitchen cabinet, but did you know that it offers many beauty benefits? There are endless ways to utilize coconut oil in your daily beauty routine.
Part of what pageants girls are being judged on is their physical appearance so it is important that you eat healthy and exercise to stay fit. During the holiday season, however, this is easier said than done.
Drinking plenty of is important, but did you know that there are both health and beauty benefits to drinking water? At least eight glasses of water per day will keep both your body and your skin healthy.
Skin care is a great way to make your skin glow, but there is another trick that will make your skin flawless. By simply eating the right foods, you can enhance the tone, texture, and color of your skin.
Inner Beauty
Outer beauty is lovely, but inner beauty is essential. Animate your outer “layer” with your kindness, grace, wisdom, and a healthy sense of humor. Keep things in perspective and focus on what matters and your outer beauty will shine even more.
There’s always some sort of political happening in the news or some sort of “hot-button” issue being debated in the media. Are you ready to respond if a judge asks a beauty pageant interview question that includes such things?
When it comes to skin care, there are so many options on the market to choose from. However, there are natural products that you can find almost anywhere that work just as well as expensive skin care.
Drinking plenty of is important, but did you know that there are both health and beauty benefits to drinking water? At least eight glasses of water per day will keep both your body and your skin healthy.
Skin care is a great way to make your skin glow, but there is another trick that will make your skin flawless. By simply eating the right foods, you can enhance the tone, texture, and color of your skin.
Pageant
Pageants are opportunities for self-growth at the same time they are, essentially, elaborate job interviews. Thinking of them as more than glamour will change the value you gain from participating and enhance your likelihood of success.
Some pageants require a platform. For those who do not know, a platform is a topic or organization that a contestant chooses to support and advocate for.
Not sure what to wear for the evening wear portion of the pageant? Turn that frown into your dream gown by following these simple tips.
If you are like me, your life may seem like it is just getting busier. As you are preparing for you pageant it can feel even more that way!
I’m back in the saddle again. Or should I say I’m back in my crown and my high heels? :-)
The 2012 Miss USA pageant was televised earlier this week. The lovely Miss Rhode Island, Olivia Culpo, won the crown. She was thoughtful in her on-stage answer, she was beautiful, and she had a spontaneous, sparkly quality way about her.
It’s amazing how much we assume we know or take for granted. We might think it is “obvious” what a certain holiday is for, but not appreciate subtle differences or history. Take a minute to be well-prepared.
You’ve done the hard part and prepped for your pageant interview, now its time to focus on the important details that can move you from runner-up to title holder. Being on stage makes your body look entirely different.
As a pageant contestant, your success with pageant interview questions will be enhanced if you operate from a position of gratitude and awareness.
Yes, it’s fun to see the dresses and root for the beauty from your state, but if you are a pageant contestant keep your eyes open and your thinking cap on as you watch pageants.
It’s easy to look at a stage full of tall, slender beauty pageant contestants and wonder how you’d measure up. Or you might think that the fun of pageant experience isn’t available to you because you don’t look like them.
Celebrities and makeup artists have been raving over the new product on the market, the liquid lipstick. It is the convenience of a lip gloss with the formula of a lipstick; how could you resist?
On a daily basis, it is vital to wear sunscreen or sun protection on your skin in order to avoid permanent damage. Protecting your skin is far more important than having a bronze look.
Whether on stage at the Miss USA pageant or sun bathing on the beach, a golden glow makes you feel and look your best.
Choosing the right foundation for your skin can be challenging. Skin types vary, so determining the right formula for your skin is not an easy task.
Achieving long and healthy hair is often times a challenging task. Many women desire long hair, yet they can’t seem to grow it out long enough.
When I competed, it was the interview component that excited and worried me the most! I knew it would be the toughest part and yet the best part because that’s where they could get to know me a bit better.
I just ran across an article by Cheyenne Haslett that is titled the same as I titled this post, above. We need more articles like this to help folks appreciate that beauty pageants and scholarship competitions are about more than glamour and beauty.
We have all been there; you have just found the perfect pair of shoes, the ones that make your outfit, but are unbearably uncomfortable! Fear not, for I have the solution to your shoe problems.
Trying to lose those stubborn pounds before a pageant can be very stressful. Remember, you are beautiful already so do not over-worry this!
Whether you are a makeup guru, a pageant queen, or woman that loves makeup, contouring can enhance any makeup look. Well, what is contouring?
When putting your makeup on in the morning, you want it to last the entire day. It is inconvenient when you have to touch up in the middle of the day or run to the bathroom and quickly fix a streak of mascara.
What you choose to wear in pageant interview can either help or hurt your score so it is important to choose your outfit wisely.
In recent years, The Miss America Organization has received some heat for crowning girls “less talented” than some of the other competitors. I don’t think anyone will be saying that this year.
If you are just joining us, we are considering what might be “right” and “wrong” about how this mom (or at least how this journalist depicts this mom) handles her daughters in the pageant world.
If you care about pageants, then you probably care about the well-being and reputation of pageants, pageant directors, pageant judges, and pageant contestants up and down the age scale.
I posted this link on “Pageant mum enters rival daughters into 70 pageants to toughen them up” to FaceBook recently and asked “What do you think this mom is doing right (or wrong) with her daughters’ pageant experiences?” Let’s look at it a bit more closely.
Thank you Marissa Powell for the courage and accomplishments that brought you to wearing the crown for Miss Utah USA. Thank you, too, for the opportunity that rough patch gives the rest of us to self-assess and grow.
I saw it suggested on Twitter last night after the Miss USA pageant that on-stage pageant interview questions should be more “direct” because the girls are under pressure and can’t “absorb anything” when faced with the big crowds, the excitement, and the lights in their eyes. I couldn’t disagree more.
When it comes to hair, women sometimes desire to change their look. Whether it may be making it smoother or adding more volume, there are solutions to these problems.
Okay, it’s pageant day! Maybe you have been hitting the gym and watching your diet for the past 6 months and maybe you decided to compete only a few weeks ago. Regardless, picking the right pageant swimsuit can make the difference!
Special Occasion
Certain events and times of year give us a moment to pause and reflect, as well as celebrate. Take a moment to appreciate something about everything that comes into your life, whatever the reason or season!
When one thinks of St. Patty’s day we picture Leprechauns, gold, and McDonald’s tasty shamrock shakes. So how do we incorporate these awesome things appropriately into our wardrobe, makeup, and hair?
The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and Turkey Day is fast approaching. Thanksgiving is full of yummy, fattening food and it is often hard to resist.
The fourth of July is such a great time of the year. From barbecue to fireworks, it’s a time to celebrate with friends and family. To help you lovely pageant ladies get into the Independence Day mood, I have scoured the Internet to find great makeup, nail, hair, outfit, and sweet treat ideas to make this July 4th awesome!
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and one fun way to embrace St. Patty’s Day green is through nail art!
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite times of the year because it’s a day to celebrate love. Even if you don’t have a special someone that is no excuse NOT to celebrate!
Part of what pageants girls are being judged on is their physical appearance so it is important that you eat healthy and exercise to stay fit. During the holiday season, however, this is easier said than done.
Favorite Products Of March
I cannot believe March is already coming to an end! Time sure does fly, but the end of the month means another favorite products of the month blog!
Blog Archive
The carousel for each blog category, above, has a limit to how many items it will show. In time, those will be maxed out, so you can also click here to see the archive of the blog posts.