Confessions of a Pageant King

Win at pageants. And at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeI got sent a message the other day from someone asking about taking legal action after a bad pageant experience.And I get it.When you feel like someone has lied, mishandled something, treated your daughter badly, changed the rules, played favourites, failed to deliver what was promised, or simply behaved in a way that feels wildly unfair, the temptation is obvious.* You want consequences.* You want someone to admit they were wrong.* You want the situation fixed.* You want justice.The problem is that court is not really about justice in the emotional sense.Court is about law.Sometimes those two things overlap. Sometimes the legal outcome feels fair. Other times you look at a verdict and wonder how on earth that was the result.But if you are thinking about suing a pageant director, coach, system, contestant, or anyone else in the pageant world, you need to understand that distinction clearly.Because “this was unfair” is not the same as “I can prove a legal case.”And most pageant drama lives in that messy middle.A lot of what happens in pageantry is verbal, vague, badly documented, emotionally charged, or based on expectations that were never properly written down. Sometimes there is no contract. Sometimes there is a contract, but it is written so badly it looks like someone played lawyer after three glasses of wine and a motivational quote.That might make you think the director is easier to go after.Maybe.But it can also make the whole thing harder to prove.Because if you are standing in front of a court, the question is not whether your friends think you were wronged. It is not whether your daughter was devastated. It is not whether the whole thing felt shady.The question is much colder than that:* What were you promised?* Where is that promise recorded?* What did they fail to deliver?* What evidence do you actually have?Not vibes. Not rumours. Not “everyone knows.”Evidence.And that is where many pageant grievances begin to fall apart.I am not saying people in pageantry always behave well. They absolutely do not. I have heard enough stories behind the scenes to know there are people in this industry who operate with very loose ethics and an impressive amount of self-importance.But bad behaviour is not automatically a winning lawsuit.That is the part people do not want to hear.The other part is that court is expensive, draining, slow, and often miserable. Lawyers cost money. Letters cost money. Emotional energy costs money too, even if no one sends you an invoice for that part.And in pageantry, you have to ask a very blunt question:What exactly are you trying to win?* Your entry fee back?* A refund?* An apology?* The crown?Do you really want to force a director to install you as titleholder after you have taken them to court?How do you imagine that year is going to go?There are fringe cases where legal action may be worth considering. If you have clear, objective, black-and-white evidence that you were promised something and denied it, or you were dethroned for a factually false reason that can be proven false, then maybe you speak to a lawyer.Maybe.Not definitely.Maybe.Even then, you need money, evidence, and the temperament to go through with it. Some people are fighters. Some people can handle confrontation, industry whispers, and the nonsense that comes with standing up in a small, messy world like pageantry.Most people cannot.That is not an insult. It is just something you should know before you pick a fight that could consume the next year of your life.I wish pageantry had better standards. I wish contracts were clearer, directors were more accountable, and contestants had better ways to speak honestly about bad experiences without being punished for it.But wishing does not make it true.So my general advice is boring, blunt, and probably not what people want to hear.In most cases, do not sue.Get actual legal advice if you are seriously considering it. But do not confuse being hurt with having a case. Do not confuse unfairness with illegality. And do not assume court will give you the closure pageantry failed to give you.Sometimes the better answer is to learn the lesson, take your licks, choose a different system, and move on.Not because what happened was okay.Because your life is worth more than staying stuck in the muck.AdrianThe Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants. And at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeIt feels like it’s the peak of pageant season madness at the moment, and so there’s a good chance you’ve just finished competing, or are about to compete very soon.And, unless you’re competing in an incredibly small pageant (or one where the winner is appointed), there’s probably more than a ninety percent chance you’re going to lose.(Yes, in this case any result other than winning is counted as losing.)The question I’ve been asking myself recently, after seeing some of my clients endure some very painful losses:Is pageantry still worth it?I know I might be in a minority of one here as far as pageant coaches go, but something doesn’t feel right about encouraging you to pour your blood, sweat, and tears into something that has such a high chance of not being worth it.And before you get on your high horse, I’m well aware that we often say it’s about the journey and not the destination, and in pageant terms that means we should be focussed on the personal growth and connections we make.But let’s say that you spend somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars in total on your next pageant: gown, costumes, hair, makeup, travel, coaching, training, etc.(That’s a conservative estimate, by the way.)In terms of the “opportunities” that pageants supposedly give us, are we really so sure that we couldn’t create more opportunities for ourselves by using that money in other ways?* Living expenses whilst you take an unpaid internship toward your dream job* Travelling to do missionary work* Legal expenses to start up your non-profit* A business coach or software expenses to start up your side hustleWe’re not living in the 2000s anymore. Your ability to create opportunity for yourself, as an individual, is greater than at any other point in human history. Between the internet, social media, and AI, you could quite literally teach yourself anything you want to know, or start a multi-million-dollar business overnight.Against that backdrop, what is the ‘opportunity’ that pageantry can give you that you wouldn’t be able to give yourself better, faster, and probably cheaper?For myself, there are two and only two reasons that genuinely make pageantry worth it in today’s world, not the world of twenty to thirty years ago. I allude to them in this week’s video, but the point isn’t to copy my reasons.The point is to find your own.And if you haven’t found them yet, keep looking.Maybe outside of pageantry.Adrian.The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

We show you how to win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT HOLLY HUBERAfter competing for nearly eight years, Holly Huber brought home the Miss Alaska USA title on June 28, 2026. Hailing from Juneau, she’s the first woman from her hometown to ever don this title.Holly’s pageant journey began when she was just two years old, taking the stage at a Sunburst Pageant in Red Lodge, Montana. Since then, she’s competed her entire life, most notably as Miss Alaska Volunteer and now, Miss Alaska USA.Her platform, “Stay Another Day” was founded in 2016 after she came home to find her own mother had made an attempt on her life, and her efforts were proven relevant once more when, in 2020, her brother died by suicide. Holly’s efforts have been taken nationwide as she serves on the board of Directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s lobbied with both state and federal agencies to ensure that Americans get access to mental health resources freely and without judgement.Now, she prepares to take the Miss USA stage and show everyone just what the last frontier has to offer.FOLLOW HOLLY HUBER👉 https://www.instagram.com/kurramaas/👉 https://tiktok.com/@kurramaasThe Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants. And at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeYour edge probably isn’t where everyone else is lookingIf you have just finished competing and did not get the result you wanted, there is a good chance your brain is already doing the thing pageant brains do.Planning the return.Maybe you are giving yourself a week. Maybe a month. Maybe you are pretending you are taking a break while quietly scheming your next move.I can respect that.But if you are serious about coming back better next year, think carefully about how you are going to prepare.Because if your plan is simply to do the same prep for next year as everyone else, with the same coaches, same advice, same mocks, same walking lessons, and same recycled pageant wisdom, I have a question:Why would that make you stand out?Pageantry has changed. Has your prep?The world has changed dramatically in the past five years.Social media has changed. AI has changed. Branding has changed. Communication has changed. The way people build influence, tell stories, share ideas, and create opportunity has changed.Pageantry is not separate from that.So if you are still getting the same advice that was being handed out five, ten, or twenty years ago, you need to ask yourself whether that advice is still enough.Some of it may be. Good advice is good advice.But if your entire strategy is built around what everyone in the pageant ecosystem already knows, you are probably not building an edge.You are building sameness.Pageant problems do not always need pageant solutionsNeed better interview? Get an interview coach.Need better walk? Get a runway coach.Need better wardrobe? Get a stylist.And yes, those things can help.But they are not the only options, and they may not be where your biggest breakthroughs come from.If you want to get better at interview, why would you only practise pageant interview?Start a podcast. Do straight-to-camera videos. Go live. Take acting classes. Try improv. Do public speaking.Put yourself in situations where you have to communicate, think, adjust, recover, and hold attention in real time.That is interview training.You are training the skill UNDERNEATH the skill.Do the thing that makes the pageant skill easierA great pageant interview is not just about answering questions.It is presence. Warmth. Timing. Listening. Storytelling. Persuasion. Self-awareness. The ability to think under pressure without becoming a robot.You can develop those things in coaching.But you can also develop them by hosting conversations, speaking on camera, doing theatre, performing stand-up, or learning how to keep an audience engaged.Same with runway.If you want a stronger walk, pageant runway coaching may help. But so might modelling. Dance. Ballet. Salsa. Anything that builds body awareness, rhythm, confidence, and comfort being seen.If you want to become truly fluent in a language, you don’t just take one lesson a week and call it a plan.You go live in the country for twelve months.So why are you treating pageant prep differently?Your coach should not be your only practiceThis is where a lot of contestants get it wrong.They say they are practising because they see their coach once a week.That is not enough.Coaching is not a substitute for practice. Coaching should help you see what to work on, correct what is not working, and check whether you are improving.But the actual improvement happens in the reps you do outside coaching.If interview scares you, do not hide inside comfortable coaching sessions. Speak on camera. Go live. Answer questions under pressure. Watch yourself back.Learn what your face does. Learn what your voice does. Learn what happens when your heart is in your throat and you still need to communicate clearly.That is the REAL game.Create an overlap no one else hasThe goal is not to make your practice random for the sake of being different.The goal is to build a COMBINATION of experiences that makes you genuinely harder to compare.Pageantry plus podcasting.Pageantry plus modelling.Pageantry plus acting.Pageantry plus stand-up.Pageantry plus sport.Pageantry plus leadership, media, music, business, dance, advocacy, or whatever else you bring to the table.That overlap becomes your edge.Not because you can say, “I am unique,” which means almost nothing.But because your preparation, confidence, presence, and perspective are coming from places your competitors may not be looking.If you are brand new, learn the fundamentals.But if you are already competitive and looking for the next level, stop assuming the answer is more of the same.You will not find your edge by copying the same prep path as everyone you are trying to beat.Try something different.Then make it count.Adrian.The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

We show you how to win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT JOSEPHINE BØTTGERJosephine Bøttger, 25, is a professional ballet dancer and childcare worker from Denmark. After moving abroad alone at 17 to pursue her ballet career, she graduated from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and later joined Junior Ballet Antwerp in Belgium.Born with a congenital heart condition, Josephine is passionate about supporting children and families living with heart disease through her work with the Danish Heart Foundation’s Children’s Club. As Miss World Denmark, she hopes to inspire others by proving that our greatest challenges can become our greatest strength.FOLLOW JOSEPHINE BØTTGER👉 https://www.instagram.com/josephinebottger/The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

We show you how to win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT BRITTANY BOLTINHOUSEBrittany Alondra Boltinhouse is Miss North Carolina USA 2026, a proud Latina woman with Honduran roots, entrepreneur, and community advocate. As a business owner in the flooring and turf industry, she is passionate about inspiring women to step into leadership, build confidence, and pursue their dreams regardless of their age, background, or past.What makes Brittany’s journey unique is that she had never competed in a pageant before earning the title of Miss North Carolina USA. Her experience is proof that you don’t have to wait until you feel qualified to chase a dream. She hopes her story reminds others that your past does not define you, experience should never limit your potential, and with faith, hard work, and the courage to take the first step, anything is possible.FOLLOW BRITTANY BOLTINHOUSE👉 https://www.instagram.com/Espino.Sosa/The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants. And at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeStop collecting opinionsIt’s crunch time.For some of you, your pageant is days away. For others, it’s close enough that every tiny detail now feels bigger than it probably should.That is exactly why you need to be careful about who you let inside your head.The final stretch before your pageant is NOT the time to ask ten more people what they think of your walk, wardrobe, platform, interview, onstage answer, hair, makeup, talent, opening statement, or entire existence.At some point, more input stops helping.It becomes noise.And if you keep listening to noise this close to your pageant, don’t be surprised when you cannot hear yourself think.Advice has an expiry dateI’m not saying advice is bad.Obviously.I’m a coach. People pay me for my opinion.But timing matters.If someone had serious concerns about your preparation, the time to raise them was months ago.Not the night before. Not the week of. Not when you are already nervous, tired, emotional, and trying to hold yourself together.People love saying, “I’m only trying to help.”Fine.But the road to hell is paved with good intentions.If your “help” puts doubt into someone’s head right before she needs to perform, you’re not helping. You’re hurting.Stop outsourcing your brainHere is the bigger problem.Some contestants get so used to asking everyone else what they think that they stop developing their own judgment.They ask their coach. Their mum. Their director. Their pageant friends. Random people online.Then, when you ask them what they think, they say:“I don’t know.”No. I don’t believe that.You probably do know.You’ve just trained yourself to believe your opinion doesn’t count until someone else validates it.That is dangerous.Because when you are onstage, no one can think for you. When you are in interview, no one can sit beside you and whisper the “right” answer.At some point, you need to be able to say:This is what I think.This is what I want.This is what I’m doing.That does not mean you ignore good advice.It means you stop treating every outside opinion as gospel.A coach can see things you cannot see. A coach can challenge you. A coach can sharpen your strategy, interview, delivery, mindset, and preparation.But your coach is not God.If you are dependent on someone else to tell you what to think, what to wear, what to say, how to feel, and whether you are doing well, that is not confidence.That is dependence.And dependence does not make a strong titleholder.Lock inThe closer you get to your pageant, the more selective you need to become.Not everyone gets access to your head.Not every comment needs to be processed, analysed, defended, debated, or cried over.Some of it is just chatter.“You should have been Top 2.”“The judges had no idea what they were doing.”“Your dress should have been different.”“Your answer was too much.”Noise.The more attention you give to that, the more unfocused you become.Your job in the final stretch is not to become available to every opinion.Your job is to lock in.Know what you have worked on. Know what you bring to the table. Know what you want to show. Know what kind of woman you want to be when you walk into that room.Then use that as your compass.Decide what you wantBefore your pageant, ask yourself:* What do I want to show the judges?* What energy do I want to bring?* What have I worked on hardest to improve?* Which voices help me perform better?* Which voices make me spiral?Then act accordingly.Listen to the people who make you clearer, calmer, stronger, and more prepared.Block out the people who make you doubt yourself.And yes, that might include people who love you.Love does not automatically make someone useful in your final stretch.Final thoughtPageantry is subjective.Different panel, different day, different result.That does not mean preparation doesn’t matter.But if your only measure of success is the crown, you are putting yourself in a fragile position.The better question is:Did I become better through this process?More self-aware. More disciplined. More courageous. More articulate. More capable of thinking for yourself.That is the part no judging panel can take from you.So stop asking everyone what they think.Ask yourself what you want.Then lock in and go get it.Adrian.The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants. And at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeStop turning one bad mock into a disasterI made this video because one of my private clients is competing in her dream pageant in roughly two weeks.She has worked hard for close to six months. She has practised. She has improved. She has put in the time.Then she had one mock interview that she felt went badly.And suddenly, in her mind, everything was falling apart.No.That is catastrophizing.One bad mock does not erase six months of work. But panicking over it can absolutely stop you from accessing the skills you have built.That is the real danger.You did not suddenly forget how to interviewIf you have genuinely worked on a skill for six months, you have improved.You may not perform perfectly every time. You may have an off day. You may get nervous. You may tighten up under pressure.But you did not suddenly lose the skill overnight.Unless you hit your head and developed retrograde amnesia, your interview ability is still there.The issue is not always skill.Sometimes the issue is that you are so far inside your own head that you can no longer access the skill.That happens in sport all the time. Athletes train brilliantly, then fall apart under pressure. The ability did not disappear. Their state changed.And if your performance suddenly gets worse two weeks before the pageant, that timing is not random.The pageant is closer.The stakes feel higher.You are making it bigger in your head.Stop making one bad performance mean everythingA bad mock means you had a bad mock.That is it.It does not mean:* you are hopeless at interview* your preparation has failed* you are not ready* you have wasted six months* you are going to loseYou are the one adding that meaning.And once you do, you create a much bigger problem.Now you are practising from fear. You are questioning everything. You are adding more talking points. You are trying to control every sentence. You are rehearsing harder while becoming less natural.Then you wonder why interview feels worse.You are allowed one freak-out.Cry. Rant. Complain. Be dramatic for five minutes.Then stop.Because catastrophizing is not preparation. It is emotional self-sabotage.More practice may make it worseYour first instinct will probably be:I need to practise more.Maybe you do.But if you have already been practising constantly, more of the same may be exactly what you do not need.If the problem is pressure, repeating more answers in a comfortable room will not fix it.If the problem is overthinking, adding more notes will not fix it.If the problem is exhaustion, another late-night practice session will not fix it.If the problem is that you have made the pageant feel like life or death, memorising another talking point will not fix it.Stop automatically assuming the answer is more work.You need to work on the right problem.Ask yourself:* Was I tired?* Was I distracted?* Did one question throw me off?* Was I trying to remember too much?* Have I practised only when I feel comfortable?* Have I made this pageant so important that I can no longer think properly?That is diagnosis.“I just need to practise harder” is not diagnosis.If pressure is the problem, practise pressureOnce you understand the cause, do something specific.If pressure makes you freeze, introduce pressure into practice.If one type of question rattles you, practise that type of question.If you are too rehearsed, stop scripting and learn to talk.If you are distracted by something happening in your life, deal with it or learn to compartmentalise.If you are exhausted, fix your sleep, food, and recovery.Do not keep hammering away at interview mechanics when the real problem is psychological.This is why I keep saying pageantry is 80% psychology and 20% mechanics.Your talking points do not matter if panic stops you from accessing them.Your preparation does not matter if you convince yourself it has all been pointless.Your skill does not matter if you turn the interview into a threat.Interview is not life or deathYou cannot communicate well when you are treating every answer like a survival test.When your brain thinks you are under threat, it does not care about warmth, connection, humour, or persuasion.It wants to escape.That is why you freeze, rush, ramble, forget obvious things, or give answers that sound nothing like you.The contestants who interview best are not usually the ones trying hardest to be perfect.They are the ones who enjoy communicating.They prepare. They practise. They watch themselves back. They confront their weaknesses.But they do not walk into the room thinking the judges are there to execute them.They talk.They connect.They persuade.What to do nowAfter a bad mock:* Stop catastrophizing.* Work out what actually went wrong.* Fix that specific problem.That is it.Do not turn one bad performance into your identity.Do not tell yourself the entire pageant is over.Do not spend the next two weeks panicking and call it preparation.The mock did not erase your ability.The panic might stop you from using it.The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free by clicking the button below:Peyton’s back from Miss Volunteer America 2026 where she placed second runner-up, and tells us all about her experience, including winning preliminary talent, and the lessons she learnt along the way.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected]“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

We show you how to win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT NOELIA VELAZQUEZNoelia Velazquez of Greenville, North Carolina is the reigning Miss Teen All American. She is currently a rising Junior at High Point University, where she is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Entrepreneurship. On campus, she serves as a the Vice President for the Class of 2028, Social Media Ambassador, Director of Social Media for Alpha Gamma Delta, 2024 CoHort representative for the LIFT Fellowship Program, and an anchor for HPU Vision, the university’s student-led news program.Noelia began her community work at just 11 years old, helping hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, which has now evolved into her now internationally recognized platform, Girl Strong by Noe. Through this initiative, she has led over 50 workshops locally, nationally, and internationally, encouraging young girls to lead with confidence, compassion, and resilience.With strengths in public speaking, storytelling, and leadership, Noelia brings energy, empathy, and impact to every project she takes on. She is especially passionate about mental health advocacy, female empowerment, and using her social media platform as a tool for change.Outside of the spotlight, Noelia loves fashion, traveling, connecting with new people, and filming podcast episodes with empowering women of all backgrounds for her Instagram series, “Girl Talk by Noe.” Her ultimate goal is to own her own Couture Dress Store.FOLLOW NOELIA VELAZQUEZ👉 https://www.instagram.com/iam_noeliavelazquez/The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free by clicking the button below:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeAI generated pageant headshots are officially here and making waves. In this episode we’re discussing our thoughts on this and other AI-related pageant matters.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected]“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Win at pageants and at life. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeThe AI conversation pageant girls need to haveI wanted to talk about AI this week because it has been popping up again in the pageant space, most recently around AI-generated pageant headshots.And, as expected, people have opinions.Some of those opinions are thoughtful. Some are not. But what worries me is that much of the conversation seems to stop at the most obvious, surface-level question: Are AI pageant headshots good or bad?That is a valid question. But it is also a very narrow one.Because the bigger issue is not whether one contestant should or should not use an AI-generated headshot. The bigger issue is whether pageant girls are actually learning how to use AI intelligently, or whether they are dismissing it before they understand it.And that, I think, is a much more important conversation.You are probably already using AIOne of the strange things about the AI debate is that many people talk about AI as though it is some completely separate, futuristic, morally suspicious thing that only exists inside ChatGPT.But if you use GPS, you are using AI. If your phone unlocks with your face, you are using AI. If you use FaceTune, skin smoothing, Instagram filters, background removal, auto captions, or many of the tools already sitting inside your phone, you are using some version of AI.So the question is not really whether pageant girls should use AI.The better question is:How can pageant girls use AI well?That distinction matters, because “AI bad” is not a serious strategy. Neither is “AI good.” Both are lazy positions. The real skill is learning what the tool is good for, what it is not good for, where the ethical lines are, and how to use it in a way that actually improves the quality of what you are doing.The headshot debate is not as simple as people want it to beFor the record, I do not think AI-generated headshots should be used for photogenic awards. If contestants are being judged on a headshot, and the headshot is not actually a real photo of them, then I think that creates an obvious fairness issue.But this is where the conversation gets more complicated.If the argument is that AI headshots are bad because they are “not real,” then we need to be honest about how much of pageantry already involves altering appearance.Heavily edited photos are not exactly “real” either. Neither is FaceTune. Neither is aggressive Photoshop. Neither is contouring that changes the structure of someone’s face. Neither are certain cosmetic procedures.That does not mean all of those things are the same. They are not. But it does mean the conversation requires more nuance than pretending there is a clean line between “real” and “fake.”In pageantry, as in most of life, the line is often messier than people want to admit.The real risk is refusing to learnMy concern is not that every contestant needs to start using AI for everything. Please do not use AI to turn yourself into a generic pageant robot. We already have enough of those.My concern is that a lot of smart, capable, ambitious young women are going to leave an incredibly powerful tool on the table because they have decided, often without much experience, that AI is bad.And I think that is a mistake.AI is going to affect almost every industry. Business. Marketing. Media. Medicine. Law. Education. Coaching. Content creation. Your platform. Your career. Your future business.Whatever direction you go in, you are going to be competing with people who know how to use AI. And the danger is not that they will “cheat.” The danger is that they will move faster, create better, learn quicker, communicate more effectively, and build things that you still think are impossible.That is why I think the real risk is not using AI badly.The real risk is refusing to learn it.Using AI well is still a skillOne of the laziest criticisms of AI is that using it is lazy.And yes, it can be.But that is true of almost any tool. A contestant can use AI badly. A business owner can use AI badly. A coach can use AI badly. A creator can use AI to churn out generic rubbish that no one asked for.But using AI well is different.You still need taste. You still need judgment. You still need to know what good looks like. You still need to know what you are trying to say, who you are trying to serve, and what kind of output is actually useful.AI does not magically make someone excellent.It magnifies what is already there.That is why someone with real skill who learns how to use AI properly is going to become very difficult to compete with. Not because the AI replaces their ability, but because it allows them to extend it.Why this matters beyond pageantsPageantry is not separate from the real world. The same skills that help you succeed in pageantry often help you succeed in life: communication, confidence, leadership, personal branding, storytelling, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and the ability to learn quickly.AI can help with a lot of that.Not by replacing your personality. Not by writing fake answers for you. Not by giving you some soulless script to memorize. But by helping you practice better, organize your thoughts, sharpen your message, develop your platform, build your story bank, and get feedback when you would otherwise be sitting alone in your own head.That is the opportunity here.The point is not to become dependent on AI.The point is to become more capable because you know how to use the tools available to you.Free resource: interact with my pageant bookIn the video, I show you how to use NotebookLM to interact with my pageant book.Instead of reading the entire book from start to finish, you can ask questions and get answers based on the material inside it. For example, you could ask what I say about pageant interview, stage presence, onstage question, psychology, mindset, or the biggest mistakes contestants make.This is completely free to use.The book itself is not free, but I am giving you access to the NotebookLM version so you can explore the ideas in a more interactive way.Link:https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/ee31985c-2814-435f-9eb5-3d1c5a02afa7Final thoughtYou do not need to agree with every use of AI. I certainly do not.But please do not make the mistake of refusing to learn it.The contestants, coaches, creators, business owners, and leaders who learn how to use this properly are going to have an enormous advantage. Not because AI makes them good, but because they are already good, and AI helps them move faster.So watch the video, try the free NotebookLM resource, and ask yourself honestly:Where am I dismissing AI because I do not understand it yet?Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT JODIE WHITEHEADJodie Whitehead is the current Miss Lincolnshire International. She is preparing to compete in Miss International UK in July, and has competed for the title a few times, coming first runner-up last year. Jodie has lots of hobbies and talents and wants to inspire the women around her to never settle on their goals and dreams.FOLLOW JODIE WHITEHEAD👉 https://www.instagram.com/Jodiewhitehead16/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWe are well and truly in pageant season.Which means somewhere, right now, there is a contestant practising her walk for the 487th time, panicking about whether her interview dress says “future titleholder” or “real estate agent with excellent posture,” and wondering if she should change her entire platform three days before competition.You know. Normal behaviour.And look, I get it.Strategy matters.You need to know how to interview. You need to know how to walk. You need to know how to communicate your platform without sounding like you were assembled in a lab by three former titleholders and a ring light.But strategy is not always the problem.Sometimes the problem is the story underneath it.This week’s coaching video is about the three S’s I look at when working with contestants:State. Strategy. Story.Most pageant prep starts with strategy.* What should I say?* How should I stand?* How do I answer political questions?* How do I make my platform sound impressive?* How do I make the judges like me without looking like I’m trying to make the judges like me?Fair questions.Then there’s state.Are you walking into interview calm, grounded and confident? Or are you walking in like your entire nervous system has been put in a blender and someone forgot to put the lid on?Again, important.But the missing piece, the piece most contestants never really look at, is story.What does pageantry mean to you?What does winning mean to you?And perhaps more importantly:What would it mean if you didn’t win?Because if your story is:“If I win, it proves I’m worthy.”That is going to affect how you perform.If your story is:“If I don’t win, this was all a giant waste of time.”That is going to affect how you perform.If your story is:“I need this crown to feel validated, successful, beautiful, important, chosen, enough...”Well, congratulations. You’ve just placed the emotional weight of your entire self-worth onto five strangers and a scoring sheet you may never see.Which, as life plans go, is not exactly bulletproof.This is why some contestants become so tight.They care so much that they stop performing freely.They stop connecting.They stop enjoying the room.They stop being themselves and start trying to drag the crown toward them with the sheer force of their desperation.Which, weirdly enough, is rarely the most magnetic version of a person.The strange thing is, if you really want to win, you may actually need to care a bit less.Not stop caring.Not become lazy.Not float into competition weekend with the energy of someone who wandered into the ballroom looking for the breakfast buffet.But care less in the sense that your identity is not on the line.Your future is not on the line.Your worth is not on the line.Because pageantry can be a brilliant tool for growth. It can sharpen your interview skills, stretch your confidence, expand your network, push your advocacy and force you to become a more disciplined version of yourself.But it is a terrible place to outsource your self-worth.In this week’s coaching video, I break down why story matters so much, how it affects your state and strategy, and why the story you’re carrying into the room might be the very thing making pageantry heavier than it needs to be.So before your next pageant, ask yourself:What story am I bringing with me?And is that story helping me?Or is it slowly strangling the life out of me while smiling beautifully in a crown?Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWe were originally going to be discussing our pageant icks this episode, but with all of us being knee-deep in pageant season at the moment, let’s just say we went with it.For me personally, I would say this is my first proper ‘pageant season’ as a coach, and all I can say is that it’s truly been a WILD ride.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT LYNDSEY LOCKLEARLyndsey Locklear is originally from Lumberton, North Carolina, and is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she earned both a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she works as a traveling neonatal ICU nurse. In August, Lyndsey will begin pursuing her Master’s degree to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, continuing her commitment to improving outcomes for infants and families.A former Miss Lumbee, Lyndsey is currently representing the Queen City and will compete for the title of Miss North Carolina USA. As a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, she hopes to become the first Indigenous woman crowned Miss North Carolina USA and to go on to represent the state at the Miss USA competition, inspiring young people to dream boldly and embrace their unique identities.Lyndsey has been dancing since the age of two and is trained in tap dance, a lifelong passion that has shaped her creativity and discipline. Outside of her career, she enjoys cooking, playing golf, creating new coffee recipes, and spending time in the gym.She is also deeply passionate about mental health advocacy and preserving her Indigenous culture. This passion inspired her to implement traditional Indigenous talking circles as a tool for emotional healing, creating safe spaces that encourage connection, vulnerability, and community.FOLLOW LYNDSEY LOCKLEAR👉 https://www.instagram.com/LyndseyLocky/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@LyndseyLocky👉 https://www.facebook.com/lyndsey.locklearThe Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWe are right in the middle of pageant season.* Miss USA state pageants.* Miss America state pageants.* Miss Volunteer America.* Last-minute prep.* Last-minute panic.* Last-minute “what if I forget everything?”So here is the reminder I think some of you need more than another mock interview question:Your mindset is not optional.And I don’t mean that in the vague, fluffy, “just believe in yourself” way.I mean mindset in the competitive sense.Can you still perform when the pressure hits?Because there is a very specific kind of heartbreak in pageantry.It’s not losing.It’s knowing you were better than what you showed.It’s walking out of interview thinking:I answered that so much better in practice.It’s stepping off stage thinking:I nailed that walk last week.It’s getting back to your hotel room and realizing:That wasn’t me at my best.That feeling is awful.And most of the time, it is not a mechanics problem.It is a psychology problem.Recently, I worked with a young golfer in the United States.Not a pageant contestant.A golfer.I do not play golf. My entire understanding of golf is basically: hit the ball, make it go in the hole.So no, I did not magically fix her golf swing.But I do understand performance. I understand pressure. I understand what happens when someone has the ability to do something, but their psychology gets in the way.When we worked together, I didn’t want another polite conversation on the couch about “confidence.”I asked her to take me onto the golf course over video call while she was actually hitting balls.Why?Because that is where the real work happens.* It’s easy to talk about mindset when nothing is happening.* It’s easy to sound calm when you’re sitting in your house.* It’s easy to say, “I just need to stay positive,” when there are no judges, no scorecard, no audience, no lights, no pressure.But the breakthrough usually happens in the moment.* When the bad shot happens.* When the answer goes sideways.* When your brain goes blank.* When your body starts panicking.For this golfer, the pattern was frustration.She would hit one bad shot, get angry with herself, and that anger would affect the next shot.Then the next.Then the next.And this is where pageant contestants need to pay attention.The mistake is not always the problem.Your reaction to the mistake is often the problem.* One interview answer goes badly, and suddenly you mentally leave the room.* One turn feels off, and suddenly you start walking like you are apologizing for existing.* One unexpected question comes up, and suddenly you are no longer listening. You are panicking.That is not preparation failing.That is state failing.With the golfer, the shift was simple.Instead of getting angry, get curious.Not:I suck.I can’t believe I did that.What is wrong with me?But:What happened?What can I adjust?What do I need to do next?Anger locks you into the mistake.Curiosity moves you toward the solution.A week later, I heard she had played her best round and lowered her personal best by six strokes over nine holes.That is not small.And again, I did not fix her golf mechanics.The change was psychological.Which brings me back to pageantry.Most contestants spend almost all their prep time on mechanics.* How do I structure my answer?* How do I introduce myself?* How do I sound less robotic?* How do I walk?* How do I pose?* How do I talk about my platform?All of those things matter.Of course they matter.But mechanics only help you if you can still access them under pressure.That is the part most contestants forget.* You can have beautiful interview answers in practice.* You can have a great walk in rehearsal.* You can know your platform inside out.But when pressure hits, your nervous system takes over.* You rush.* You ramble.* You freeze.* You stop listening.* You try to remember a rehearsed answer instead of answering the actual question.That is why so many contestants sound robotic.Not because they don’t care.Usually, they care too much.But instead of being in conversation, they are in retrieval mode.They are searching their mental filing cabinet for the memorized answer that seems closest.And that is a dangerous place to be in interview.Because pageant interview is not a recital.It is a conversation under pressure.When I coached tennis, we had a phrase for certain players:Practice-court players.They looked amazing in practice.* Beautiful strokes.* Great timing.* Clean technique.* No pressure.* No score.* No consequences.But put them in a match, and suddenly they became a different player.Then there were the rare ones who seemed to get better when the pressure increased.That is what you want to become in pageantry.Not the contestant who is brilliant in the practice room.Not the contestant who gives a great answer only when she knows the question is coming.Not the contestant who looks incredible when the ballroom is empty.The contestant who can still be present when the room is real.* Real judges.* Real stakes.* Real nerves.* Real pressure.That is the skill.And it is trainable.Before an athlete competes, they warm up.They don’t sit slumped in a chair for forty minutes, watching everyone else compete, absorbing everyone else’s anxiety, and then expect to explode into peak performance the second their name is called.Yet that is exactly what many pageant contestants do before interview.* They sit outside the room.* They watch other contestants walk in.* They watch them walk out.* They try to decode every facial expression.* They listen to whispers.* They let everyone else’s energy get into their head.Then they wonder why they feel flat, frozen, or frantic when their name is called.You need an interview warm-up.A real one.* Move your body.* Get your blood flowing.* Stand up.* Pace if you have to.* Get outside into the sunlight if you can.* Put your headphones in.* Listen to something that gets you into the right state.* Run a few practice questions with someone.* Use ChatGPT voice mode if you need to.* Get your brain answering before you enter the room.Because if your interview is two or three minutes long, you do not have the luxury of using the first two questions to warm up.You need to hit the ground running.And this is where I think a lot of contestants are underprepared.They train their body.They train their walk.They train their answers.They train their styling.But they do not train their nervous system.Then pageant weekend arrives, pressure hits, and they expect confidence to magically appear.It won’t.You train confidence the same way you train anything else.Through reps.Through discomfort.Through doing things that safely raise your heart rate and teach your body:I can feel pressure and still function.So here is one simple practice:Do something uncomfortable every day.Not something dangerous.Not something reckless.Something safe, productive, and uncomfortable.* A cold shower at the end of your normal shower.* Going live on Instagram for two minutes.* Answering a question you have not prepared for.* Filming yourself and watching it back.* Practicing without a script.* Asking someone to throw you questions you do not get to pre-approve.These things work because they train the muscle most contestants avoid training:Staying present when discomfort appears.The more you practice discomfort, the less shocking discomfort becomes.And when discomfort is no longer shocking, pressure loses some of its power.That is when you become dangerous.Because while everyone else is spiraling, you are steady.While everyone else is panicking because the interview is five minutes instead of three, you are adjusting.While everyone else is trying to remember the perfect rehearsed line, you are actually listening.That is titleholder energy.Not because you are pretending to be calm.Because you have trained yourself to handle pressure.This is why I do not want you to be a practice-room contestant.I do not want you to be the contestant who only feels confident when everything goes perfectly.I do not want you to be the contestant who needs ideal conditions to perform.I do not want you to be the contestant who says afterwards:I know I could have done better.I want you to be the contestant who walks into the room already warmed up.The contestant who can make a mistake and stay curious.The contestant who can feel nerves and still communicate.The contestant who can handle a change in schedule, a weird question, a quiet judging panel, a narrow stage, a long day, a bad night of sleep, and still access her best.Because pageantry will test your mechanics.But pressure will test your psychology.And very often, that is where the crown is won.So before your next mock interview, ask yourself:Am I practicing answers?Or am I practicing pressure?Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT CHRISTELL FOOTEChristell Foote is the reigning Miss Cosmo U.S. Virgin Islands and a pageant competitor who has earned Top 5 placements at three different national pageants before taking her journey to the international stage. Passionate about empowering young people through education, Christell advocates for youth to pursue their dreams and academic goals. She is currently earning her MBA while balancing a professional career and leading her footwear company, Footewear, which was founded to help women stand tall with confidence.FOLLOW CHRISTELL FOOTE👉 https://www.instagram.com/christell.foote/👉 https://footewear.store/👉 https://www.instagram.com/misscosmousvi/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeMost pageant fans are great. But we all know some of them cross the line from supportive to downright creepy (and then some).In this episode we’re discussing our pageant fan horror stories, together with some pointers to make sure you don’t end up getting kicked out, dragged out, or arrested (if you know, you know).--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT MYKALA DONLONMykala Donlon is a dancer, student leader, and advocate passionate about empowering young women through authenticity and service. As the founder of the “Girl in the Mirror” initiative, she encourages girls to embrace self-worth beyond appearance and social pressure.A dedicated member and leader in HOSA, Mykala has spent her high school career volunteering through blood drives and community service projects. She will continue her education at the University of Miami, where she plans to study microbiology and immunology on the pre-med track.Through pageantry, dance, and leadership, Mykala hopes to inspire others to lead with compassion, resilience, and purpose.FOLLOW MYKALA DONLON👉 https://www.instagram.com/mykaladonlon/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@mykaladonlon/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeThere is a certain type of coach who likes you to believe they possess secrets.Not experience.Not expertise.Secrets.Knowledge so rare and valuable that it must be guarded carefully, lest another coach discover it and the entire competitive advantage disappear overnight.I have encountered this mentality in tennis coaching, life coaching and now pageant coaching.And honestly?I don’t buy it.That doesn’t mean every coach is equally skilled. Some coaches are considerably better than others. Nor does it mean specialised knowledge has no value.Someone who competed in your exact pageant last year may know things about the director, schedule or judging environment that an outsider would not.But that’s insider knowledge.It’s not necessarily coaching ability.And it usually has a much shorter shelf life than people care to admit.Pageantry has changed dramatically over the past decade. Social media changed it. COVID changed it. The expectations placed on titleholders changed. The way contestants build platforms, communicate with audiences and handle public scrutiny changed.Winning a title years ago may give someone valuable experience.It does not automatically mean they know how to coach you.What worked for them, may not work for you.In this week’s video, I unpack what I believe creates those rare coaching moments where someone tells you something you genuinely had not considered before.And it’s not because they possess some closely guarded pageant secret.It’s because they bring together knowledge from several different worlds.* Sport.* Business.* Communication.* Psychology.* Life experience.Pageantry may be one piece of the puzzle, but it should not be the entire puzzle.That matters when you are choosing a coach.It also matters when you are developing yourself as a contestant.Your biggest competitive advantage may not come from doing another mock interview, taking another walking lesson or memorising another “winning” answer.It may come from building a more interesting life outside pageantry.* Studying something difficult.* Starting a business.* Coaching a sport.* Recovering from failure.* Speaking to people whose lives look nothing like yours.Those experiences give you something no pageant formula can manufacture.Perspective.I’ve said it before:The best way to succeed in pageantry is to create an amazing life outside of it.I believe the same principle applies to coaching.The best coach for you may not be the person with the most impressive former title.It may be the person who can see connections you cannot yet see for yourself.In this week’s video, I explain why I am sceptical of anyone selling “secrets,” what past pageant success can and cannot tell you about a coach, and what I would look for instead.Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT ALAYNA WILSONAlayna Wilson is a current PhD student, speech-language pathologist, part-time graduate teaching assistant, and a 24/7 Miss Kansas Volunteer. She is studying literacy disorders in middle/high school students and aspires to be a professor. Her SERVE initiative is “Love & Light: Giving Back, Moving Forward.” This initiative was sparked when one of Alayna’s friends, Trevor Luckey, passed away from childhood cancer seven years ago.Since then, Alayna has written a children’s book, helped pass legislation, presented to thousands of students, founded a dance convention, and holds a variety of leadership roles all in his honor. In her downtime, Alayna is finishing up the Harry Potter series, trying new restaurants, and keeping up with her 11 nieces and nephews.FOLLOW ALAYNA WILSON👉 https://www.instagram.com/alaynawilsonn/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missksvol/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT HANNAH KELSEYHannah Kelsey is a driven biomedical engineer with a passion for advocacy, health, and empowering others through resilience. Holding both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering, she combines intelligence, compassion, and determination in every aspect of her life and career. Hannah was homeschooled growing up in order to pursue competitive tennis, where she developed the discipline, confidence, and perseverance that continue to shape her professional and personal pursuits today. In addition to her work in healthcare, she has over a decade of modeling experience, working with notable brands including Nordstrom, Living Proof, and Jovani.Most importantly, Hannah’s perspective has been profoundly shaped by her journey as a brain tumor survivor. Her experience inspired a deep commitment to improving the future of cancer care and advocating for patients and families facing similar challenges. Recently, she traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased funding for brain tumor treatments and greater affordability and accessibility in cancer care. Her story of overcoming adversity fuels her platform of resilience, faith, and purpose. In the pageant world, Hannah proudly earned the title of first runner-up to Miss Massachusetts USA 2025, where she continues to use her voice to inspire confidence, perseverance, and the courage to pursue one’s purpose despite life’s obstacles.FOLLOW HANNAH KELSEY👉 https://www.instagram.com/Hannahekelsey/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@ThehannahkelseyThe Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeSocial media, particularly in the world of pageantry, can be a pretty crazy place to try to navigate at times. Forewarned is forearmed so to speak, so this week we’re discussing some of the worst and craziest things that have been said about you guys (and us too) online.When it comes to your options online, remember (in order of increasing severity):* Mute* Restrict* Unfollow* BlockWe may live in a free speech world, but it’s your social media. You get to decide the rules.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT VICTORIA TREADWELLFresh off the Miss Connecticut USA stage, Victoria is using pageantry as a platform for purpose. As an overdose survivor and advocate for mental health, substance abuse awareness, and personal growth, she is committed to sharing her story to inspire hope, resilience, and transformation.Through speaking openly about her journey, she works to break the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health while encouraging others to believe that their setbacks do not define their future. Passionate about empowering others to take charge of their lives, she uses pageantry as both a personal challenge and an outlet to create meaningful impact in her community and beyond.FOLLOW VICTORIA TREADWELL👉 https://www.instagram.com/victreaddd/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@victreadddThe Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT MYKALA GREENMykala is a 24 year old paralegal working in family law. With an interest in serving at-risk children, she aspires to one day become a family attorney. She graduated from Providence College in 2023 with her degree in Psychology and received her Masters in Child Policy from Boston University.After losing her best friend Nikki in 2025, Mykala started an internship program for high school and college students in New England to help them learn more about careers centered around Child Advocacy and engage in meaningful mentorship opportunities. After navigating her own experience with loss, Mykala began volunteering to help facilitate support groups for grieving children. In 2023, she co-founded a chapter of It’s On Us at Providence College to assist students impacted by interpersonal violence.Mykala has competed in pageants since she was 14 years old and has been a long time competitor with the Miss USA Organization. She is the former captain of her collegiate figure skating team, models with Monster Energy, and enjoys playing golf and trying new coffee combinations.FOLLOW MYKALA GREEN👉 https://www.instagram.com/mykalagreen/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@mykalagreenThe Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeOne of the most dreaded questions in pageant interview is some version of:“What makes you unique?”Or its slightly more terrifying cousin:“Why should we pick you?”And the reason it feels so uncomfortable is because, deep down, you know the obvious answers probably aren’t enough.* “I’ve worked really hard.”* “I care deeply about my community.”* “I’ve been preparing for this role all year.”* “I have a unique story.”None of those answers are necessarily wrong.The problem is that most of the other contestants could say something very similar.That’s where I think a lot of contestants get stuck. They assume the answer must be found in their story. Their background. Their hardship. Their platform. Their life experience.And yes, your story matters.But your story alone is not what makes you unique.Because everyone has a story.What matters is what your story created in you.That is the part judges are actually trying to understand.* Not just what happened to you.* Not just what you’ve been through.* Not just what you care about.But what those experiences shaped in you that would make you the right person for the job.In today’s video, I talk through a framework I’m still refining, but I think it’s a very useful starting point for contestants heading into pageant season.I believe your uniqueness sits at the intersection of three things:* Your beliefs.* Your gifts.* Your values.Your beliefs are the things you hold so deeply that you almost don’t question them.Not vision-board beliefs. Not cute affirmations. Not things you wish were true.I mean the things you genuinely assume about yourself because life has proven them to you again and again.Maybe you believe you can find a way through anything.Maybe you believe you are at your best under pressure.Maybe you believe that if someone else has achieved something, you can learn from them, model them, and grow faster because of it.Those kinds of beliefs matter, because they shape how you show up when things are difficult.Then there are your gifts.These may be natural talents, learned skills, or some combination of both.Maybe you read people well.Maybe you learn quickly.Maybe you make people feel safe.Maybe you are unusually good at simplifying complex ideas.Maybe you are the person who can walk into chaos and immediately see what needs to happen next.Again, the point is not just to list something impressive.The point is to understand how that gift would actually make you a stronger titleholder.Then there are your values.And this is where things get interesting.Because two people can have similar stories, similar skills, and even similar goals, but if their values are different, they will not lead the same way.What do you prioritize when there is a cost?What would you refuse to compromise?What do you want people to feel after they spend time with you?What do you want to be remembered for?Those questions go much deeper than, “Tell us something interesting about yourself.”They start to reveal who you actually are.And that is why “I have a unique story” is not enough.A story is only powerful when you can explain what it taught you, what it changed in you, what it strengthened in you, and how it now shapes the way you would serve.That is the difference between an answer that sounds like a biography and an answer that sounds like a titleholder.So before your next pageant interview, don’t just ask:“What makes my story different?”Ask:“What did my story create in me?”* What belief did it give you?* What gift did it reveal or develop?* What value did it make non-negotiable?That is where your answer starts to become much stronger.In the full video, I talk through this using examples from my own coaching journey, including why I don’t believe uniqueness is simply about having a story no one else has heard before.Because honestly, after hundreds of pageant interviews, I can tell you: even a powerful story can fall flat if the contestant has not done the deeper work of understanding what that story means.But when you can connect your lived experience to your beliefs, gifts, and values?That’s when your answer stops sounding rehearsed.That’s when it starts sounding like you.Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT THE HELLO QUEEN APPHello Queen is a women-focused marketplace designed for buying and selling pre-owned formalwear, including pageant gowns, prom dresses, talent costumes, interview attire, appearance wear, special event looks, and more. Founded by a mother–daughter duo, the app combines fashion, sustainability, and community. Empowering women to shop affordably, give garments a second life, and support one another through a safe, confidence-driven platform.DOWNLOAD HELLO QUEEN👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hello-queen/id6755137018FOLLOW HELLO QUEEN👉 https://www.instagram.com/helloqueenapp/👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@helloqueenapp_👉 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578735639044The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeIn this episode we’re sending off our Georgia peach Peyton Christen to Miss Volunteer America, and we get deep into the weeds about some pageant coaches and trainers taking way too much credit for their clients’ successes. Also, it’s open call season for Miss and Teen USA - do you need a state title to succeed?--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT TIO HOFHUIZENTio Hofhuizen is a 22-year-old international model based in the Netherlands. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, and raised in the south of the Netherlands, Tio has always valued creativity and leadership.In 2023, she stepped into leadership by founding Miss Teen Nederland, becoming the youngest national director in the country and guiding young women toward confidence and international success.At the same time, Tio has always believed in leading by example. That belief led her to compete internationally, earning the title of Super Model Universe Netherlands 2023 and placing as 2nd Runner-Up.Today, Tio is competing in Miss Eleganza 2026, on the road to Miss Globe, where she brings not only experience, but a message close to her heart.Growing up with an addicted parent, and losing him in 2024, made her realize how important it is to speak up in time. She now uses her voice to raise awareness around addiction and illness, to help break cycles, and to ensure that no one feels unheard or unseen.Her mission is to reduce the damage passed on to the next generation.FOLLOW TIO HOFHUIZEN👉 https://www.instagram.com/tiohofhuizen/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeABOUT KAITLYN HUMPHREYKaitlyn is the current Miss Tempe USA on the road to Miss Arizona USA.Music has been part of Kaitlyn’s life since she was 6 years old; leading her to open for famous artists and even audition for American Idol. Now, as a registered musician with Musicians on Call, she brings the healing power of music to patients across the country.After graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, she jumped into a career as a talk show host before growing a social media community of over 70,000 women through beauty, lifestyle, and motivational content.No matter the environment, Kaitlyn strives to use her talents to show others that their own gifts and dreams are not just worthy, but powerful.FOLLOW KAITLYN HUMPHREY👉 https://www.instagram.com/kaitlyn.humphrey/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeA lot of contestants are about to film pageant videos.* Open call videos.* Platform videos.* Optional competition videos.* “Tell us why you should be selected” videos.And here’s the thing:A good pageant video does not need to look like a Hollywood production.In fact, depending on the purpose, that might actually work against you.But it also cannot look like you grabbed your phone, hit record, panicked for 60 seconds, and hoped for the best.There is a middle ground.That middle ground is where most contestants need to live.* You need to sound natural, but not rambling.* You need to look polished, but not overproduced.* You need to feel authentic, but still intentional.That’s why the little things matter more than people think.* Read your script out loud before you film it. What looks good on paper may sound stiff, awkward, or impossible to say naturally.* Use natural lighting where possible. A ring light can help, but it rarely beats actual sunlight.* Keep your audio consistent. If every clip sounds like it was recorded on a different planet, people notice.* Stop holding the lapel mic directly under your mouth. You do not need to swallow the microphone for it to work.* Use captions when appropriate. Not decorative, unreadable captions. Simple ones that help people actually understand you.* Frame yourself like you’re having a conversation with someone, not like you’re either trapped in their personal space or hiding across the room.* And if you use music, keep it instrumental, rights-free, and quiet.The goal is not to show off your editing skills.The goal is to make it easier for people to connect with you.Because that’s what a pageant video is really doing.It is not just showing what you look like on camera.It is showing whether you can communicate clearly, warmly, and confidently when no one is feeding you the next question.Watch the full video for the complete breakdown, especially before you film anything important.And if you’re working on an open call video, platform video, or competition submission and you’re unsure what to do, reply to this email or leave a comment.Adrian.The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeSometimes it can feel like there’s a new pageant system cropping up every five seconds, so how can you tell which one is the best fit for you?--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Geanna Koulouris:👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/Victoria Vredevoogd:👉 https://www.instagram.com/victoriavredevoogd/Danielle Latimer:👉 https://www.instagram.com/danilatimer/Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe--What’s the worst thing that could happen?Not in a vague, motivational-poster kind of way.Actually answer the question.You submit a headshot and don’t make it through?Okay. At least you tried.You make it through one round and get cut later?Still, you gave it a go.You make it all the way through and get picked?Then suddenly you’re preparing for Miss USA or Miss Teen USA in Miami during the 75th anniversary year.That is not exactly a tragic outcome.The bigger issue, in my opinion, is that a lot of contestants are trying to make this decision without first getting clear on what they actually want.* Do you want to win your specific state title?* Do you want to compete on the Miss USA stage?* Do you want more “at bats” before you age out?* Do you want the clean, traditional route, or do you want the opportunity that exists in front of you right now?Those are not always the same thing.And when contestants feel stuck, it’s usually because two values are colliding: loyalty, tradition, opportunity, timing, identity, public perception, fear of judgment, unfinished dreams.That’s why this isn’t just a pageant logistics conversation. It’s a values conversation.In this week’s video, I break down:* Why I’d tell most contestants to apply* The one major exception* Why Texas is the trickiest situation* The difference between your dream and your “blueprint”* Why waiting for the perfect path can quietly cost you opportunities* And why “what will people say?” is a terrible way to make life decisionsBecause the sentence that keeps people up at night usually isn’t:“I tried and it didn’t work.”It’s:“I wonder what would have happened if I had.”Watch the full video above. Especially if you’re sitting on the fence.Adrian.--The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 ABOUT EDEN RAINEYEden Rainey is a graduate of Union University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology, and is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in pageant hair and makeup. Through her professional experience, she has had the opportunity to mentor young women, helping them build confidence and discover their true sense of self-worth.She currently holds the title of Miss West Tennessee Volunteer, where she actively serves through her platform, Empowerment Garden: Cultivating Healthy Lives and Building Strong Foundations by Planting Seeds of Change. Her platform focuses on empowering individuals through education as a foundation for success, while also supporting those in need by providing essential resources that equip them to thrive.With a unique blend of experience in science, beauty, leadership, and service, Eden is deeply committed to empowering others, promoting education, and making a meaningful impact in her community.👉 FOLLOW EDEN RAINEYhttps://www.instagram.com/misswesttnvolunteer/Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWe asked you to share your pageant horror stories, and you guys delivered.From wardrobe malfunctions to prison sentences, this episode really does have it all.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss?Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works.Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.comIt’s almost a guarantee that, at some point during your pageant journey, you’ll need to make a decision on whether to stand up for yourself, or to keep your head down and continue to roll with the punches. And it can be difficult to decide when to take Option A, and when to take Option B.For those who don’t know better, it might seem simpler than that - just do what’s expected of you, do the right thing, and everything will work out… right?Unfortunately, learning to navigate the world of pageantry often involves navigating around certain unspoken taboos, and running aground on them can derail your pageant career faster than a broken heel.--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/* https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Kenzie Hansley:* https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/* https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/Geanna Koulouris:* https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 ABOUT RACHEL BETTERLEYRachel Betterley is a multifaceted artist, award winning art educator, and influential voice in creative leadership. A Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist, Rachel champions inclusive, choice based pedagogy and builds innovative programs, presentations, and coaching that inspire students and communities to create, connect, and grow.Driven by childhood adversity, she founded Sketchbooks for Kids — a healing arts project that has delivered sketchbook sets to thousands of youth across 25+ U.S. states and 12 countries. By equipping children facing trauma, abuse, financial hardship, or mental health challenges with tools to express themselves, Rachel and her partners foster emotional wellness, resilience, and hope through art.Rachel also leverages the pageant stage to amplify the transformative power of creative expression. Her “art of pageantry” mindset celebrates authenticity, confidence, community, and female led artistry — a journey that earned her multiple titles and most recently 1st Runner Up, Miss Minnesota USA 2025. Through storytelling filled with resilience, humor, and relatability, she reaches audiences across news outlets, podcasts, and social platforms.👉 FOLLOW RACHEL BETTERLEY* https://www.instagram.com/rachelbetterley/* https://www.instagram.com/sketchbooksforkids/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 ABOUT PAIGE GONORPaige Gonor is currently Miss Southern California All American and a rising junior at the University of San Diego studying Communication with a minor in Real Estate. She is passionate about media, connecting with people, and using her voice to make a meaningful impact.She began competing in pageants at just eight years old, growing up in an environment that shaped her confidence, discipline, and sense of self. Over the years, pageantry has played a huge role in helping her find her voice and step into leadership in her own way.Paige is also the founder of Turning the Paige, a platform focused on empowering the next generation of young female leaders to think different, be different, and act different so they can create change in their communities. Through school visits, mentorship, and empowerment seminars she shares mindset tools that help young women build confidence and believe in themselves.Outside of pageantry, Paige works in luxury hospitality, where she has developed a strong foundation in high level service and professionalism. She also has experience in runway, print, and promotional modeling. She has a passion for fitness, spending much of her time staying active or in the gym and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. As a certified Lagree instructor, she loves helping others feel strong and confident. Paige aspires to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, with the goal of becoming a sideline reporter.👉 FOLLOW PAIGE GONORhttps://www.instagram.com/paigegonor/The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327--In this week’s video, I talked about a phenomenon I’ve been noticing more and more in pageantry over the last decade: crown inflation.Ten years ago, it would’ve been unthinkable for a single state pageant to crown five separate titleholders in one night.Today, it’s becoming normal.More systems. More appointed titles. More international crowns.But if the industry is shrinking… why are there suddenly more titles than ever?And perhaps more importantly:If everyone can win a crown, what actually still holds value?In this video, I break down:* What “crown inflation” is* Why I think it’s happening and* Why contestants need to become more selective than ever about the systems they enterUntil next week.Adrian.--Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327Must be pageant paperwork season.Recently, I’ve been getting so many requests from my private coaching clients asking me to take a look at their paperwork, I think they’ve all started blending into one.(Quick note: there’s a noticeable trend toward using introduction videos or sizzle reels to either complement or replace traditional pageant paperwork. The 3 Edicts we’re discussing here apply to both a video script and the more traditional paperwork.)Before you start working on any aspect of your pageant preparation or ask any external party for feedback, it’s a good idea to remind yourself of what your end goal is.The simplest example is the talent section.Many of you fall into the trap of thinking that the end goal of talent is to perform flawlessly, whereas I would argue that a better goal would be to get a standing ovation. The former is based on your need for perfection. The latter is based on forming an emotional connection with the audience.The former doesn’t affect your score. The latter very much does.In a similar vein, many of you think the goal of your paperwork or your introductory video is to impress. You cram in as many qualifications, achievements, miles travelled, dollars raised, and appearances made as possible into the meager word limit you’re allowed.Let me give you a different possibility.The goal of your paperwork should be to control your interview.Specifically, you know your paperwork is doing its job properly when you get asked the perfect questions in interview. That doesn’t mean you get asked easy questions by the way, it means that you get asked the perfect setup questions to show the judges why you’re their absolute best pick to be the next titleholder.Without further ado, here are The 3 Edicts of great pageant paperwork:* Only include things you’re excited to talk about.* Remove everything you’re NOT excited to talk about.* If there’s anything you DO want to talk about that’s not currently on your paperwork, find a way to include it!Most of you already have great paperwork that’s free from spelling and grammatical errors. That won’t win you a damn thing.But if you make just a few minor tweaks based on The 3 Edicts, you just might be surprised at how well your next interview goes, and that could win you the whole shebang.Until next week.Adrian.Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 ABOUT LAUREN SALIMBENELauren Salimbene is the reigning Miss Volunteer America 2026, recognized for her commitment to service, leadership, and academic excellence. A former Miss Utah Volunteer, she earned over $50,000 in scholarships on her way to the national title.She is a 4.0 student double majoring in finance and accounting at Westminster University and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, earning the Utah Seal of Biliteracy. A lifelong dancer with over 18 years of experience, in which she has also earned multiple state and national titles.During her year of service, Lauren has traveled over 80,000 miles as a national brand ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Salvation Army, while coaching with the Special Olympics and sharing her message: “movement has no limits; neither do you.”👉 FOLLOW LAUREN SALIMBENE* https://www.instagram.com/laurensalimbene/* https://www.instagram.com/missvolunteeramericapag/Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327--I’m heading to Miss Universe USA!If you’re going to be there, or if you have any recommendations for things to do whilst in Miami, send me a DM or email and let me know!The real moral of the story though can be summed up in one word.Persistence.When I started this journey a decade ago, I had no idea it would lead me here.More importantly, pageantry is just like life. It has its shares of ups and downs. And sometimes, when you feel like you do things for the ‘right reasons’, it can be easy to feel discouraged at times.I feel you on that one.Here are three things that I think have helped me:* Persistence* Purpose (knowing my why)* Doing things for the right reasons (even when it’s tough)Maybe, occasionally, delulu really can be the solulu.Adrian.--Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe--Looking for advice as a newcomer to pageants? We got you covered in this episode!--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project (https://thepageantproject.com).Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/* https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeFor all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeHow do you stay mentally healthy, confident, and resilient before the pageant, during the pageant, AND after the pageant?--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project (https://thepageantproject.com).Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/* https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeSPECIAL GUEST CO-HOST:Elleana Garcia:* https://www.instagram.com/ellleanaa/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe--Not all pageants are built the same. So how do you find your perfect pageant soulmate?--Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:👉 https://pageantpod.comOUR CO-HOSTS:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/* https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeFor all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 [email protected] to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com--This week, I had a breakthrough with one of my private clients that completely changed the way she’s preparing for her upcoming pageant.Like a lot of contestants, she had a simple to-do list.One of the items said:Practice piano.Nothing wrong with that.But it was answering the wrong question.A to-do list answers: What do I have to do today?That’s useful, but it almost always prioritizes what feels urgent over what’s actually important.And in pageantry, that’s where contestants quietly fall behind.Because the things that separate winners are rarely the loudest things on your list.They’re the important things that don’t feel urgent yet:* finalizing your talent cut* defining your brand* locking in your interview stories* choosing the right gown direction* building a social media narrative* clarifying your platform planThese are the things that never scream for your attention.Until it’s pageant week.Instead of asking what do I need to do today?, I want you to ask:What result do I want this week?When I asked my client that question, her thinking changed immediately.The result wasn’t “practice piano.”The result was:Win talent.Now the strategy changes.Winning talent is not just about getting the notes right.It’s about:* showmanship* crowd connection* emotional pacing* music cuts* creating a standing ovation momentThe real breakthrough?She realized the first step wasn’t practicing at all.It was getting the cut of the piece right, so every rehearsal was preparing the exact competition version.That never would have made it onto a normal to-do list.But it became obvious once the result was clear.This week, I want you to break your prep into categories:* interview* gown* swim/fitness* talent* branding* social media* platform* mindsetThen ask:What result do I want in this category this week?That one question will instantly make your prep more strategic.You’ll stop feeling busy.You’ll stop feeling overwhelmed.And most importantly, you’ll start building momentum in the areas that actually win crowns.Busy feels frazzled.Productive feels powerful.This week, stop managing tasks.Start managing outcomes.Adrian.--I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions for contestants who are serious about taking home the crown. Find out more:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/coaching This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe--👑 ABOUT THOM BRODEURThom Brodeur is an American businessman, brand builder, and philanthropist with deep roots in the pageant world. In 2025, he stepped into the role of CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.👉 FOLLOW THOM BRODEUR* https://www.instagram.com/officialthombrodeur/* https://www.instagram.com/missusa/* https://www.instagram.com/themissteenusa/--Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com👑 ABOUT GEANNA KOULOURISGeanna Koulouris is an educator, author, and community advocate from Long Island, New York. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English and Teaching Students with Disabilities from NYU and currently works in education supporting diverse learners. As a first generation Greek-American, she also teaches Greek dance across Long Island to students of all ages and abilities, passing on cultural traditions to the next generation.Passionate about creating inclusive spaces, Geanna also founded EmpowerEd, a platform dedicated to helping young people feel confident, capable, and supported in their education and communities. Geanna uses her platform EmpowerEd to uplift young people through education, confidence building, and leadership opportunities. Through pageantry, education, and community service, Geanna is committed to using her voice to inspire other young women to lead with purpose and compassion.👉 FOLLOW GEANNA KOULOURIShttps://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/📖 GET GEANNA’S BOOKhttps://www.amazon.com/Team-Room-Everyone-Geanna-Koulouris/dp/B0GS9NLG6X/Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe--Most contestants don’t have a talent problem.They have a coaching problem.And they usually don’t realise it until they’ve already spent months, sometimes years, doing everything they were told…Only to step on stage sounding exactly like everyone else.This week, I broke down 7 red flags to watch for in a pageant coach.This came off the back of a conversation I had with Ashley Gonor, where we went deep into what’s broken in pageant coaching and what actually needs to change.If you want the full interview, you can watch it here:👉 Watch the full interview with Ashley GonorBut here’s the short version.👀 The Pattern I Keep SeeingA contestant comes to me and says:“I feel like I sound too pageant.”“I feel like I’m saying the same thing as everyone else.”“I’ve been doing everything my coach said… and I’m not improving.”And within minutes, it’s obvious why.They’ve been taught:* The same opening lines* The same structure* The same “safe” answersDifferent girl. Same script.🚩 The 7 Red FlagsIf you’re working with a coach right now, or thinking about hiring one, watch for these:1. They rely on outdated credentials Coaches who trade on having won a state title “5,000 years ago” or being a “sponsored/official coach” without showing how their methods have evolved. The world changed dramatically even just since COVID — if their coaching hasn’t, that’s a problem.2. They teach a formula that can’t possibly work The “do A and you win” model is logically flawed. If you teach 10 contestants the same formula, only one can win. A coach selling certainty of outcome is selling something they can’t deliver.3. Their entire toolkit is “think positive and be yourself” That’s not coaching — that’s a bumper sticker. If a coach can’t go deeper than surface-level positivity, they’re not equipped to help a contestant at a meaningful level.4. They bring their client down instead of elevating them When a contestant outgrows a coach or challenges them, a bad coach turns it around on the girl — calling her “too pushy” or “expecting too much” rather than acknowledging the fit isn’t right.5. They answer for the contestant Your example of the mom coaching answers during a mock interview session is a version of this. Any coach who doesn’t protect the contestant’s voice and authentic expression is doing damage, not development.6. They focus entirely on strategy and ignore mindset Walk technique, interview scripts, stage routines — these are strategy. A coach obsessed with strategy while ignoring state and story is only ever going to get 10–20% of the result they could.7. They don’t know when to refer out or let go A good coach admits when they’re not the right fit. A red flag coach holds on to clients they can’t serve, or worse, holds them back.🙈 The Uncomfortable TruthA lot of contestants don’t need more coaching.They need to unlearn what they’ve been taught.Because if you’ve been trained to:* Follow the same structure* Use the same phrases* Deliver the same polished answersYou’re not being prepared to stand out.You’re being prepared to blend in.🎯 What Actually MattersNot more scripts.Not more memorisation.What matters is:* Your state: how you show up under pressure* Your story: what you believe about yourself* Your strategy: yes, it matters, but it’s not the driverIf your coach isn’t working on all three, you’re leaving results on the table.✅ A Better Question to AskInstead of asking:“Is this a good coach?”Ask:“Is this making me more me… or more like everyone else?”Because if you want to win, you don’t need to do what everyone else is doing.You need to do what they’re not.If you want the deeper breakdown, including the full conversation that sparked this, watch the interview with Ashley here:👉 Watch the full interview with Ashley GonorThen take a hard look at who you’re learning from.It matters more than you think.Adrian.--Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:👉 pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe