So this past summer I entered a beauty pageant. This was something I always wanted to do so I decided its either now or never. I was scared that I wouldn’t be accepted as contestant but two days later I received a congratulations email.  Victory! After that my mind started scrambling about all the things I needed to do: get a coach, get my body together and get my outfits. After working with my coach for about two months, on my walk, my Q&A and my fashion, I was still a little anxious about competing and meeting the other girls. I only knew of what my coach told me and what I have seen on TV. Once the big day came, I was feeling confident and comfortable on stage. Needless to say, I did not win yet this experience was truly life changing. Below are some lessons learned and advice:

Lessons Learned:

1. Have the courage to push past fear: I was so afraid of not being accepted I almost did not try. I would have never had this time grow and learn things about myself. The moments we push past fear make us stronger and more willing to get back out there.
2. If you set a goal and stick to  a plan, you can achieve it: I have tried many times in the past to lose weight. However, I never stuck to what I said I would do, such working out at least  4x a week, eating clean, and drinking more water, until this pageant. I knew I was going up against some pretty lean girls and I didn’t want to be the whale on stage. During these 8 weeks of preparing I lost approximately 25 pounds. I cried at the gym the day before the pageant because I was so proud of myself and I could believe I had done it. This was the first time I had seen a whole plan through on something personal I wanted and I was grateful and full of pure joy.
3. The objective is YOU: When you are interviewing you have to answer the question based on what you believe not what you have scripted. If you are genuine it comes to you  and you won’t be standing there stumbling over your words like I did. Yikes! Be yourself as you are your only competition. As Dr. Seuss puts it “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”
4. Preparation is key: When you prepare nervousness and anxiety decrease, while confidence increases. You could not tell me I did not have the best walk on that stage.
5. I learned how to do my own makeup!

Advice:

• If you want to enter a pageant, please get sponsors. I spent a lot of money out of my own pocket, savings and credit to compete.
• A coach was very beneficial to me as this was my first time competing and I had no idea what to expect. My second time around I would probably not get a coach as I can use what was taught and develop upon that, as well as use  YouTube and other pageant resources on the web, and family and friends for interviewing skills.  Recording yourself as you walk also helps you see areas of improvement. If you do decide to get a coach, get one at a reasonable price, because it can be expensive.
• It’s perfectly ok not to win. Only one person can. I did this pageant personally for me to accomplish a goal and on the way I gained more. I did something I thought I never would have done and I am proud. Don’t get me wrong I cried…just not in front of people. I had tears of fulfillment, and if you have never had those type of tears…keep living. You have to go into this working to be a better person on the other side not a pageant queen. Developing the best you is the real win and everyone will see that. That is what makes a true queen.

“When you’re alone all by yourself
And you’re lying in your bed
Reflection stares right into you
Are you happy with yourself”

~Beyonce, Pretty Hurts

Comment below if you have any questions or responses to this post. Thank you!