Hot of the Press: Journalist turned Pageant Queen

What a fun story! As a journalist myself, this is definetly a fairytale come to life. https://t.co/1RVZoSJYNH

— ThePageantDiaries (@Pageant_Diary) April 19, 2017

Top 5 Miss America Talents

State pageant season is coming up and many local titleholders are making their talent selections. Since the talent portion of the competition is worth 35% of your final score, picking your talent performance is one of the most important decisions. You want to do soemthing that will showcase you, you are the STAR!! If you are a singer, stay within your range and sing something you beleive in. If you are a dancer, make sure your dancing is strong and showcases your best genre, and finally, if you are playing an instrument make sure your routine is differnt. It not a recital, it is a performance!

 1. Miss America herself- Savvy Shields! Her talent was killer on the Miss America Stage. She performed a Jazz number to "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from SMASH! Her smile was infectious, you could tell she loved the song and loved to perform it. Check it out above!

2. Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis wowed the judge with her rendition of "A Piece of Sky" first performed by Barbara Streisand. her passion was evident and her voice was enchanting!   

3. I love a great twirling routine and Miss Texas Caroline Carothers wowed my socks off!! Her talent was performed to "Hot Honey Rag" from the Musical Chicago. Her routine was fast and exciting. The main problem with twirling routines is when the twirler is not strong in dance and can only do the twirling tricks. I love how Caroline combined her strong background in dancing with her amazing twirling capabilities to spin her way to the top 5!

 4. I was so pleasantly surprised by Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess's performance of Desperado. Yes, she performed an old Eagles song at Miss AMERICA! This is unheard of, but she killed it! She made the words into her own and really performed the song. Theres that word again. The beautiful sparkling dress brought the pageant feel to the song and ultimately won her the preliminary Talent Award!

5. While this video above is not Miss South Carolina's MAO performance, it is a great example of her dance prowess. She is an amazing dancer. Her moved flow and her whole look compliments the song and choreography. She is an amazingly emotional dancers and it shows. Her performance was break taking and ultimately won her 1st Runner Up to Miss America

How to Style Red Hair for a Pageant

Check out this article written by fellow Florida titleholder, Miss Hollandale Beach USA Angela Cameron! YGG!https://t.co/ZDxd7TbLSk

— ThePageantDiaries (@Pageant_Diary) April 20, 2017

Knowing the Difference: Miss USA versus Miss America

DeShauna Barber, Miss USA 2016 

Savvy Shields, Miss America 2017 

As both the Miss America and Miss USA pageants prepare for their state preliminaries, I thought it would be good idea to clear up one of the most common misconceptions. Miss USA versus Miss America. These two pageants have coexisted for decades, but many people often get them mixed up.                                                                                                     At their core, the two pageants share similar goals. To empower young women and help them earn scholarship dollars, volunteer in the community, and develop leadership skills that can help them in their future careers.                                                                                                                                Both pageants begin with with pageants at the local level and then progress to the state and then national level.                                                                                                                                       Where it All Began                                                                                                                              Miss America was the first continuous women pageant in the US. It began in the 1920s in Atlantic City, N.J.  The event was officially called the Miss America Organization in 1940.                                                  Miss USA began in 1952 as on offshoot of the Miss America Pageant. It was started as a marketing project for former Miss America sponsor Catalina Swimsuits after a Miss America refused to wear a Catalina bikini in a  photoshoot. Since the Miss USA started after Miss America, all titleholder will have the words USA after their title. Example: Miss Florida USA versus Miss Florida.                                                                                                        Phases of Competition                                                                                                                        While the two pageants are very similar, there are some key differences in the phases of competition. They both feature a swimsuit and evening gown and an onstage question. The difference: Miss America contestants also compete in talent, and a longer interview during preliminaries.                                             What Comes Next                                                                                                                                  The Miss America pageant finishes completion at the National level. this is because the Miss America system is devoted to community service in the United State. In the Miss USA competition, the winner goes on to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant.  

No matter which pageant system you choose to compete in, know that it will be an awesome experience! Good Luck!!    

How to Conquer the Fitness Competition: 360 view of the Gym

Fitness is a huge part of every pageant system. While at one time pageant were focused on stick-thin model- esque figures, now they are all (mostly) calling for a fit girl. No longer will stick thin cut it, the judges want to see muscle, strenth and a dedication to overall health. For some this is easy, for others, like myself, this is the most daunting task. Growing up as a dancer, I was always fairly thin and fit. I didnt run, or play conventional sports, I had never lifted a weight or ran on a treadmill, I lived and breathed dance. I was fit and happy, until my world came crashing down. 

A reoccuring dance injury led me to retire my shoes and leotards, no longer was I spending countless hours a week dancing. My body went into shock, within three monthes my muscles had atrofied and I gained 20 pounds. It happened so fast, I didnt know what hit me. At 20 years old, I had never even been inside a gym and I was terrified. All I could imagine were big muscle men in wife beater shirts pumping iron while grunting loudly. I wanted nothing to do with it. Luckily, I wasnt fat- but I wasnt fit either. I didnt gain anymore than the 20 pounds and for me, at 5'9, it wasnt that bad. 

 Yet, I would comb through instagram, enthralled with this new wave of ultra fit women. I am naturally very competative- and I wanted to be one. I was ready to get fit, but I didnt beleive I could do it on my own. I worked for a summer and then hired myself a personal trainer. I was determined to get fit, and fast, and I needed someone to hold my hand. 

Boy was I wrong! While I prepared for Miss Florida 2016, I was met with an obstacle. I was spending countless hours in the gym and eating super healthy- but I wasnt seeing any results. 

I was so frustrated! 

I actually gained weight and looked larger. Yes, I could lift much more than I ever could in the past, but I didnt look the way I wanted. So what does any self-respecting 21st century girl do, I took to the internet! I spent days, weeks even, scouring fitness cites, read article after article, and do you know what I found? I found that I had been training all wrong for my body type, I hadnt even known there were different body types (It seemed my trainer didnt either). I learned what I needed to do and found the confidence to do it on my own. 

 Pictured above is the gym at my apartment complex. What used to be the last place you would ever find me, is now my favorite place to go. While I will always miss dancing at the intensity I used to, I can still get the same addrenaline rush at the gym. I love the hard work and the immediate payoff in my energy and mood. I've learned that fitness is not just a look, it is a mindset. It a devotion to your physical and mental well being, and it takes constant work. 

 My advice to my pageant friends: 

 1. Dont be scared. In the words of Nike, Just Do It. 

 2. Please dont starve yourself, a girls gotta eat!! Put in the hard work, you will look healthy and be so much happier. 

 3. Be patient, but dont always trust "the experts." You know your own body better than anyone else 4. If you still dont think you can do it alone, find a partner! Share your gym time with a friend, I gaurantee you will both benfit and become closer in the process. Friends who sweat together stay together!! 

5. Have fun, dont make it a chore. Play good music, watch netflix, or do your workouts outside. Anything that keeps you motivated!!