How to Prepare for a Pageant Interview

Winning a Junior Miss Medallion

The ten minutes you spend in your pageant interview will be the most important time of your pageant experience. Often the interview will be at the beginning of the pageant. Now is your chance to impress and get up close and personal with the judges. Take advantage of the time and leave the interview with a positive impression and they will have their eye on you for the rest of the pageant. Winning the judges over takes a lot of advance preparation. Preparing and refining your interview skills should be your first priority.

Instructions

1. Study, study, study!
   Knowledge is the key to answering questions with ease. Most pageants require a contestant to be knowledgeable about current events, community and world issues. Know what is happening in the world, national, and local news. Become familiar with names and issues in the news and government.

2. Know yourself!
   What have you accomplished, where are going and what do you want out of life? Set goals and define what you want to accomplish. Know everything you have written on your bio or application and be prepared to answer questions from it. Have an honest opinion and don't be afraid to express it (without offending the judges).

3. Practice, practice, practice!
   Encourage your family and friends to ask you questions whenever possible. Set up mock interviews with business leaders and teachers. Tape yourself answering questions and critique yourself honestly. Practice good grammar and learn new vocabulary words. Learn to enunciate and finish all words. Practice answering all questions in complete sentences.

4. Have confidence!
   Why are you competing for this title? Will you be the best representative they can chose? If you know you are the best to represent the title then show it! But, there is a fine line between having confidence and being cocky. Be confident by choosing the right outfit, being prepared, and knowing you will represent the title to the best of your ability.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch the news for at least 10 minutes each day.

• Hold a toothpick between your teeth while you speak to learn to enunciate well.

• Never leave the "g" off of a word ie. goin'

• Never use slang words such as dude.

Resources

• America's Junior Miss
• Miss America