My pageant journey started only with receiving a letter in the mail when I was 12 years old. Both my mom and I were very curious, and decided to give it a try. Never would I have thought that seven years later, I would be a "pageant girl." Deciding to compete in pageants has honestly been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The confidence I've gained and the skills I've learned, have made a huge impact on my life, and I would like to thank pageants for doing that. Competing in pageants in more than just a "hobby", it's a sport. There is much preparation and hard work that goes into trying to win that crown. From countless hours of practicing walking in heels, to getting drilled with interview question after interview question, I have learned determination. I have learned that if you have your mind set to something, you can do it. You have to have the right mindset and be determined to do well at the pageant, you can't just wing it.
I learned what it is to be confident. Pageants help you feel comfortable in your own skin and help you overcome common little fears such as public speaking and performing on a stage in front of a room full of people. Before I started pageants, I couldn't hold a proper conversation with an adult, and would croak whenever I had to get up in front of a ton of people. Now, this all just comes naturally to me and will benefit me in the long run.
I now have plenty of practice with interviews and resume writing. The interview portion of pageants has always been my least favorite. But without the interview portion, I would have not learned how to properly interview with future employers and learned how to write and format a great resume for when I apply to jobs. Pageants have helped me earn many jobs and even an internship because of the great interviewing and public speaking skills I've learned from the interview portions.
Most importantly, pageants have taught me to never give up. For the most part, every pageant you enter, you do not win. Yes, it is very hard to see yourself fail after you prepared for months and gave it your all. But remember, "there is no such thing as failure, only delayed success." Every pageant you compete in, you learn something new. Whether it be about how to walk or it be about you as a person, pageants are to make you feel confident, not like a failure. Trust me, I have a lot of experience with not winning every pageant I compete in. I always find myself as a runner up, always looking at the crown instead of wearing it. Not winning every pageant has made me a stronger person, it has made me grow a tougher skin. It made me realize that if really you love something, you will continue to do it no matter what the previous outcome was.
Pageants aren’t just about the shiny crown and silky banners. They are about the great skills learned and friends to last a lifetime. I was always very shy most of my life, but after six years of competing in pageants, they have shaped me into the confident, social young woman I am today. The memories and skills I have learned from pageants are ones that will last a lifetime, and I would like to thank pageants for that. I encourage every girl to compete in a pageant at least once in their life. It is truly a life changing experience that you would not regret!
