Helpful Hints

Helpful Hints

Interview: The contestants will be scored on their personality, mental alertness, sincerity, vocabulary, personal appearance and manners. Each judge will explore beneath the pageant façade. The judges will not ask any yes or no questions. For instance, they will not ask ‘do you like school?’ instead they will ask ‘why do you like school?’ It is important we have a queen who can handle herself in a one on one situation. Your director will ask the judges these questions: Is she fun to talk to? Is she memorable? Does she look like a queen?

Casual Wear and Communications: Contestants will be modeling an outfit similar to what they wore to the interview (possibly the same one). Their shoe should suit their age. We are asking the Junior Miss and Miss Contestants to wear a closed toe taupe shoe. Hair and makeup must be age appropriate. Each contestant should be wearing the proper undergarments such as a slip, underwear and bra (mainly the Junior and Miss Contestants). Modeling should look natural, poised and smooth. Speeches should be meaningful and they should make sense. It should flow well and spoken with confidence. Contestants should hold the microphone naturally (not right up to their mouth). Your director will ask the judges these questions: Did she make eye contact with you? Did you remember her speech after she left the stage?

Formal Wear and Pop Question: All contestants are sequestered backstage. Each contestant’s modeling should be graceful and done with confidence. Junior Miss contestants are not allowed to wear a strapless or backless dress. Dresses with one shoulder strap are acceptable. Your director will ask the judges these questions: Does her dress suit her? Is she wearing the correct undergarments? Does the color flatter her? Is it age appropriate?

Your answer to the pop question should be delivered with confidence and poise. Your director will ask the judges these questions: Did she answer the question? Does she sound like a queen? Will she be able to represent Gurnee well? Is she memorable? Will she do well at the Lake County Community Pageant in November?

Pageant Day: Everything you bring to the pageant should be kept in a laundry basket. After the contestants change for the last time, their dresser has the choice of leaving the dressing room. If they choose to do that, they will not be allowed back in until the competition is over. We will be sequestering the contestants for their pop question in the dressing room. Nobody will be let in or out during this time. We do not have a lot of space in the fitting room, so do not bring unnecessary items. There is not much time to change your clothes between categories, so keep things as simple as possible. You should come to the pageant with your hair and makeup done. Contestants should arrive in their opening number outfit-white shoes, black pants and pageant t-shirt.