Miss Philadelphia's Outstanding Teen Blog

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Pageant Entry Fees can sometimes be a struggle, especially at Holiday time when we have numerous other commitments.  Just like you don't have to spend a lot of money on your pageant wardrobe (see my previous post for ideas!), you don't necessarily have to empty your piggy bank to pay your entry fees.  I started competing in pageants when I was a teenager and my family wasn’t able to help me financially.  I remember doing a lot of baby sitting, snow shoveling, leaf raking, lawn mowing, and house cleaning for neighbors.  It was hard work, but for me, all of the fun of pageantry was worth it.  We are working hard to make this pageant experience worthy of all of your efforts!

Maybe you need a little bit of help or maybe you just enjoy a challenge.  Whatever the case may be, here are a few suggestions for those of you who want to raise the funds for your pageant expenses:

• Ask local businesses to sponsor you—we will print the names of your sponsors in the program book and we can thank them on our facebook page as well, so they get some advertising for their donation.
• You could decorate empty jars and give them to your family and friends to collect spare change.  Take the full jars to the Coinstar machine at your local supermarket.
• Have a bake sale or a soft pretzel sale at your church or school
• Provide a valuable service: babysit, do outdoor/lawn care work, or clean for your neighbors or family
  

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What will it be like?

The interview competition consists of six minutes of questions and answers with the panel of judges.  The interview takes place on pageant day before the onstage portion of the competition.  When you walk in the room, there will be a table of five to seven friendly judges facing you.  Don’t shake hands when you come in because that will take up too much of your time.  You will stand for the duration of the interview.  At the end of the six minutes, the judges will thank you and tell you that the time is up.  

What kind of questions will the judges ask?

The judges can ask whatever questions they like.  Questions usually fall into one of three categories: general questions, questions from your resume or your platform, or questions regarding current events and world issues. 

Some judges will ask the same general questions of each contestant.  General questions would be something like, “Why did you enter this pageant?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” 

The judges receive your resume and platform essay at least one week in advance.  Most judges will do their homework and prepare questions for each contestant based on her resume.  One of the ways you can prepare ahead of time is by looking at your resume and essay as if you were a judge.  What would you ask?  You might want to have a friend or relative read your written submissions and see what questions they would ask. 

Questions about current events and world issues are among the most difficult.  Whether you read the newspaper online, watch the news on television, listen to the radio or read a magazine, you need to pay attention to what is going on in the world around you a little bit every day.  Watch/Read/Listen to one story every day and form an opinion.  Think about what you have to say and how you feel about the issue and why.  Maybe even start a notebook to keep track of what you learn and what you think.  Judges want to know your opinions and how you support them.  If you get a sense that a judge doesn’t share your opinion, do not fret and do not waver.  Judges are strictly instructed to allot points based on how clearly you articulate your views and how well you support them.  Judges don’t have to agree with you in order to appreciate your perspective.  Be true to yourself and share your honest thoughts and feelings and the logic behind them.

What do I need to know?

First and foremost you are already an expert on the one subject that is sure to come up in your interview—you!  You should be able to discuss any item you’ve included on your resume.  Also, be able to discuss your platform issue, including some facts or statistics as well as personal accounts of your volunteer efforts, if you have any so far.  You should know what is going on in local, state, national and international news.  Know who your local representatives are, know who our national leaders are.  Know some facts about Philadelphia, too!

What if I don't know?

If a judge asks you a question and you don’t have an answer, it is perfectly alright to say “I don't know”.  Will not knowing the answer to a couple of questions cause you to lose the pageant?  Almost certainly not.  This isn’t a quiz; it’s a conversation.  Judges want you to do well and they want to hear about what you think and how you feel. 

Our pageant judges will be a generous, creative, and kind group of people who want to hear what you have to say about your world, see you do well in the interview room and onstage and perform to the best of your ability!

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Here are the outfits that you need for the pageant:

• Interview: Dress, skirt/top, pants/top, NOT a business suit
  
• Fitness: Capri-length black yoga or workout pants, shirt of your favorite Philly sports team, sneakers and socks
• Talent: anything goes!
• Opening Number: Jeans, shoes of your choice, sparkly top
• Evening Gown: Formal dress

Idea #1: Figure out what you have already that you can use

The good news is that you probably have some of these elements in your closet already.  Jeans.  Sneakers.  Yoga pants.  The dress you wore to the Homecoming dance.  The outfit you wore to church.  Your bat mitzvah dress.   Your Flyers jersey.   You have it; you love it; wear it onstage!

Idea #2: Borrow from friends and family

If you ask nicely, your sister might let you use her earrings and your best friend might have a costume she wore in her dance recital you can use.  Think about who you know that might be willing to loan you a dress or a top.  Make sure you have their items cleaned and returned in good condition after the pageant and don’t forget a thank you note!

Idea #3: Secondhand Deals

Visit www.pageantresale.com.  We’d be lost without it! 

Also, try ebay and local consignment shops.  You can find some great deals on everything from gowns to jewelry.  

Idea #4: Shop the Post-Holiday Season Sales

All of the sparkle goes on sale January 1.  Ring in the New Year at the clearance racks and you might find just what you are looking for at a great discount.  I won Talent a dozen times during my competition days in a gown I found for $20 on the clearance rack.  I wish you the same luck!

Idea #5: Get Creative

Do you love design?  Why not make your own top/earrings/bracelet/gown?  If you have great vision and sewing skills, you could make something unique and fantastic.  Miss Philadelphia 2009 made her own gown and it was amazing!  

You could also take something basic and add rhinestones or beading, change the sleeves, and re-create something.  

Idea #6: Ask for a Donation

Your favorite boutique or dress shop would be willing to give you a dress or an outfit for the pageant.  We can acknowledge sponsors in the Program Book and on Facebook, so if anyone offers you sponsorship, let us know so we can thank them as well!

Idea#7: Have it made for you

When I needed a talent costume, I found the perfect fabric in a discount fabric store, the pattern for the costume at my local sewing and craft shop, and I took it to the lady who made all of the costumes for our high school musicals.  Not only did she create a gorgeous costume, but she was also very supportive and encouraging!  Maybe there’s a “costume lady” in your town.  How to find one?  They can usually be found lurking backstage at your local high school or community theater, safety pins in hand.  Just be sure to check out his/her previous work and agree on all terms (payment, deadlines, etc.) before you begin.  Also, don’t forget a thank you note!

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