You're trying to decide if you should enter Miss World or Miss Universe.

And you're probably thinking, what kind of titleholder are they looking for?

And which one of these pageants closely aligns with me and my brand? 

Contestants often enter pageants that are not suited to their personal brand and this leads to disappointment. 

If your values, qualities, skills and interests don't match the pageant you're entering then chances are you won't enjoy the experience or get the results you're looking for.

So how do you determine which pageant is best for you?

Do your research!

Look at past titleholders. Are they exciting and glamorous or are they more down to earth and laid back? Also look at your pageant's requirements, watch a few pageants and fully immerse yourself in the pageant community. 

Below are some insights you should consider before making your decision.

What is the Miss Universe Brand?

The Miss Universe (MU) pageant has long been regarded as a traditional beauty pageant, which really informs their brand.

The MU brand puts the spotlight on beauty, glamour and fashion.

Yes, they have a Judges Interview segment, yes they have two onstage questions and yes they love a woman with a heart-warming backstory.

But they also really love women who can be glamorous brand ambassadors. 

Why? Because MU is in the beauty business.

So they want their titleholder to grab your attention with her beauty, personal style, elegance, and goddess-like aura.

What is the Miss World Brand?

The first thing you need to understand about Miss World (MW) is that it is NOT MU.

If you jump into this pageant thinking that it is just like MU then you will be surprised.

MW is a completely different system and it really looks at who you are as a person and what you have to offer your community.

In fact, the MW brand is very conservative compared to MU's brand.

The MW titleholder is more like the 'Girl Next Door': charming, elegant, sweet, and feminine. 

I am a Legit Fashionista. Which Pageant am I More Suited For?

If you love fashion and love showing others your sense of style then you'll really enjoy competing in MU because there are lots of opportunities to showcase your personal style.

Because MU is a traditional beauty pageant you'll definitely stand out if you give a lot of attention and detail to your styling.

And even if you're not a fashionista but want to learn how to style yourself for different events. 

MU is a great challenge and you can also rely on a pageant coach to help you make the right styling choices. 

With the MW pageant being more conservative it does not place the same emphasis on fashion as MU.

You'll see this reflected from a local point of view as well. 

Miss World Cayman Islands (MWCI) contestants have less of an opportunity to showcase their personal style because they are usually provided with official branded T-shirts to wear to their events and activities. 

I Love Modeling and I Heard That There's a Top Model Segment in Miss World. Is this the Pageant For Me?

Yes, there's a Top Model segment in MW but this won't necessarily win you over with the judges. 

In MWCI, Top Model segment doesn't carry much weight in the scoring. 

So being able to model doesn't really matter as much to this pageant. 

On the other hand, if you're often recruited to model in fashion shows and modeling is important to you then MU may be a better fit for you.

Having stage presence and being able to kill it on stage will definitely set you apart from the other contestants.

And the judges will love it.

Whether you choose to enter Miss World or Miss Universe remember to also focus on the other areas of the competition rather than just walking.

Always remember that modeling is just one aspect of pageantry.

Okay. But Isn't There a Height Requirement for Pageants?

Although neither the MU or MW pageants have an official height requirement, there does seem to be an unspoken rule in pageantry that you do have to be a certain height to take home the crown.

Though MU & MW winners have been on the taller side (5'7" and up), both pageants have had moments when they have crowned women shorter than 5'7". 

Like MU 2012 Olivia Culpo who stands at 5'5" and recently crowned MW, Toni Ann Singh who's is 5'6".

In a 2012 interview, Julia Morley, head of the MW pageant, is quoted as saying "You can be 5’1” and still win the Miss World contest. In the year 1963, Miss Jamaica, Carole Joan Crawford, won the title and she was just 5’3”! So there is a misconception".

And even looking back at past Miss Cayman titleholders, a fair amount of them stand at least 5'7".

Now that's not to say that a shorter woman can't win. 

But it does establish a pattern that should't be ignored when considering if this is the right pageant for you.

On the hand, in the short time that MWCI has been around, height has not seemed to be a major factor (think: MWCI 2018 queen Kelsie Woodman-Bodden standing at 5’2”.)

Yea, you read that right. Kelsie is only 5'2" tall!

And yet she charmed her way into the judges hearts and became the second woman to wear the coveted MWCI crown. 

So What About Volunteer Work?

While both pageants do encourage their contestants to be involved in the community. 

The MW pageant has an entire segment, Beauty With a Purpose, dedicated to highlighting the awe inspiring work that titleholders are doing to make their communities better.

If you have a real passion for volunteering or a cause that is near to your heart that you would like to raise awareness about, then you should consider going for the MW title. 

Also the MW finalists usually travel the world doing various charity work in different places which is a great opportunity for someone who is really into volunteering.

The MWCI does require contestants to choose a platform for their Beauty With A Purpose segment. 

Do not sleep on this segment because you will have to make a presentation on your platform during your Judges Interview.

And that's why it's super important that you love the project that you choose.

With MCIU, the committee will ask the contestants to vote for one charity organization to support as a group.

This can be great because it takes the pressure off of feeling like you have to choose the PERFECT platform.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have a better understanding of each pageant's brand and who each pageant might be looking for, you should have an inkling as to which one closely aligns with you.

Ultimately, you will need to do your own research to truly determine which pageant fits you best and which one you think you'll enjoy competing in more.

After all it makes no sense to enter a pageant that does not value you and what you have to offer. 

You should always strive to enter the pageant where you have the best chance for success. 

xoxo - T

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