I know that it can be nerve-wracking to perform in front of people.
When you're in front of the judges you're probably wondering what do they think of me?'

Or 'I wonder what they're looking for?'

Well, guess no more because today I'm going to share with you some of the things I've learned over the years.

Let's talk about what I look for as a pageant judge.

Preliminary

Interview

From the moment a contestant walks through the door I'm looking for confidence.

How do you show confidence?

Smile, make eye contact and be well-poised.

The second thing I pay attention to is a contestant's interview outfit.

Is it age-appropriate?

Does it fit well?

Does it complement this particular contestant?

Does it make her look like a queen?

As we begin the interview, I'm looking for someone who is easy to speak with, conversational and authentic.

She's not trying to be a pageant patty by giving the 'perfect cookie-cutter' answer.

It's always great to speak with a contestant who knows herself, her passions and can communicate that in an effective way.

In short, I want to see a woman who knows her brand.

If you win the judges over in the interview then most likely you'll continue to score high throughout the competition.

Advice:

If you make a mistake just laugh it off, maintain composure and keep going.

But if you do need to correct yourself, there's nothing wrong with saying "excuse me, what I meant to say is...".

Don't get hung up on your mistakes!

Onstage

Opening Number

As judges, we know that not every contestant is a dancer. (I sure wasn't)

So don't get caught up in thinking that you have to be the best dancer to win the judges over.

I tend to focus on the contestants who look like they are enjoying themselves.

A few years back, I was watching the opening number of a pageant and I was immediately drawn to a particular contestant.

She wasn't the best dancer.

But she looked like she was having so much being up there that I couldn't stop watching her.

So have fun, laugh your mistakes off.

Because in most pageants, the opening number is only for entertainment purposes.

Introduction

You can tell a lot about a contestant's confidence from the way they introduce themselves.

I like to see when a contestant has taken the time to memorize their intro and add personality to the delivery.

I also look to see if she knows how to hold the microphone so that her voice isn't muffled.

And if she knows how to project her voice.

Segments

Everyone knows that a pageant girl's walk is everything.

So when I'm judging, I'm looking to see if she has good posture, stride, poses, facial expressions and eye contact.

For the swim segment, in particular, I'm looking for a fun and energetic walk.

Plus bonus points if you can nail that turn.

A well-toned body will definitely catch the judge's eyes so be sure you're not skipping the gym.

I also love to see how contestants accessorize.

And of course, when it comes to evening gown I am looking for an elegant and graceful walk.

Poses that will accentuate all the best features of the gown. (Pia's evening gown walk)

Tip: Video yourself when practising your walk, especially if you're practising alone.

Videoing your walk is going to help you see if you're doing anything strange.

Some of the things you want to avoid include swinging your arms excessively, leaning back too much and having a fake smile.

The plastered smile is one I have seen quite often.

Most times contestants aren't aware that they are doing it.

So having that video to review can make a huge difference.

Final Question & Answer

Never underestimate the importance of your final Q&A.

While I believe that pageants are won in the interview.

I also believe that pageants are lost from the onstage question segment.

This especially rings true if you and another contestant are neck and neck.

When it comes to this segment, there are three things I am judging on:

• composure under pressure,

• how well she can relate the question back to her brand,

• And her ability to keep it concise.

Your answer doesn't have to be perfect.

Just be sure you answer the question posed.

Final Thoughts:

Putting yourself out there to be judged by a panel of people takes a lot of courage.

But now you have a little cheat sheet as to what the judges are looking for.

So do yourself a favour and use this to your advantage.

Put this into practice so that you won't lose points.

You'll be glad you did when you finish the competition with a sense of pride.