Spray tan? Check! Interview binder? Check! Butt glue? Check!
While many of those words may be foreign to most people for women who compete in pageants they are all too familiar. Before I began competing in pageants my perception of pageantry was probably similar to yours. We have all seen the videos and read the articles about the how pageant girls are nothing more than a pretty face. I had an image of what a “pageant girl” was supposed to look and act like and I did not fit that criteria. Plus, walking in heels was definitely not my area of expertise but I was always up for a challenge. To my dismay (and everyone else's) I received a title at the first local pageant I competed in and would go on to compete in the Miss Texas Pageant. I had formed this image in my head of how this new experience was going to be. However, I soon learned that what you perceive on the outside is not always true.
Many people believe that is the sole reason pageants exist: to judge women based on their exterior. I realized this was not the case. As I reflect back on my experience during the Miss Texas Pageant I realize that what people perceive pageants to be on the outside will not always be there. One day I will definitely have wrinkles, grow grey hair and I will not always have that perfect swimsuit body everyone works so hard to achieve. No one can define what beauty is except for you. The skills and experiences I have gained are something that no one will ever be able to take away from me.
Interview is one of the most dreaded portions of a pageant. Judges fire questions at you left and right to see how you can handle pressure. This experience forces you to take risks and step out of your comfort zone. Watching the morning news and reading the newspaper becomes a habit and it makes you realize that you will never be perfect but that is okay. It takes a lot of guts to stand in front of a panel of judges and answer questions about topics that half of Americans probably did not even realize existed.
Pageants taught me that a crown will never define who you are as a person. I mean duh, they are pretty cool, but your confidence does not come from the crown on your head or the sash around that breathtaking dress you have been dying to wear. The crown does, however, give women a platform and a voice to promote a cause they are passionate about. From domestic violence awareness to empowering women in the workplace, pageantry is not just about having a pretty face. These women represent educated, talented and driven individuals who can and will accomplish anything they set their mind to. Pageantry helped me find my passion to make a difference.
At the end of the day, there will only be one winner and only one person will walk away with that crown. Pageants taught me to see beyond that. I learned that when you see beyond the crown and realize that the women surrounding you are strong, successful and inspirational individuals, not your competitors, your experience will be even more fulfilling. Not a day goes by that I ever regret competing in pageants and I will always be grateful for the new friends, skills and experiences I gained through the Miss America Organziation.
