Five ways to prepare for NAM Nationals!
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| 2012 National Queens |
It is getting to be that time of year again where the largest event in Pageant History is about to take place! That's right, The 2013 National American Miss National Pageant is right around the corner. Girls from all across the country will travel to Hollywood, California to compete for 12 National Titles and hundreds of other awards! You have excelled at your state pageant and are either representing your state as a NAM state queen or have qualified to attend by placing in the optional competitions or winning an advertising title, which means it's time to start gearing up for the National competition!
5 Tips to get started!
- GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
- A Required portion of your overall score comes from community involvement. So pick a cause that you are passionate about and start volunteering! Not only will it help you with your overall score but you will gain so much more experience. Whenever you volunteer you are also working on those all important communication skills. You are meeting and working with leaders in your community, which will help you in the interview and personal introduction competitions.
Fun Fact: Your volunteer experience is a great topic to discuss in your interview. It shows the judges that you are active and are making a difference. This is a huge part of what being a titleholder is all about! Volunteer Service is also a great asset to add to your future job resume or college application!
- DECIDE WHAT OPTIONAL COMPETITIONS YOU WANT TO ENTER!
- Optional competitions are a great way to make the most of your pageant weekend. They give you more experience and more time on stage. You don't want to wait till the week of Nationals to decide what competitions you want to participate in. You want to start practicing NOW! Start shopping or looking through your closest for Casual Wear Modeling, write your Spokesmodel speech, and make sure your Talent music is cut down for the two minute time limit.
Fun Fact: The Top 5 in each optional competition re-compete during the Red Carpet Award Ceremony! This is a fabulous Hollywood inspired event where you get to walk the red carpet and compete for hundreds of awards!
- FILL OUT YOUR PAPER WORK BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT PAGEANT CHECK IN!
- A great way to breeze through pageant check in is to have all your paper work filled out before you arrive. Have each optional card filled and cut out so all you have to do is hand them out at the appropriate table.
Fun Fact: The Judges will read your resume, so this should be typed. You want to make a great impression. Your resume should look and feel like an actual job resume. You can include lots of fun information on your resume. Let the judges know what you are involved in and how you spend your time.
- WRITE YOUR PERSONAL INTRODUCTION NOW!
- You know the saying practice makes perfect! You want to be comfortable with what you are saying on stage. The goal of the Personal Introduction competition is to equip you with public speaking skills. So start working on it now. Write it out, think about what you want the judges to know about you. It is a moment in time where you have the opportunity to paint a picture of who you are to the judges! For the National Pageant there is a 1 minute time limit, so make sure you are not going over your time.
Fun Fact: It is not what you say but how you say it! Speak with confidence! Be proud of who you are! Think of fun and creative ways to say what you are involved in and what your goals are in life. Practice saying your Personal Intro to more people than just your parents; say it to your youth group, girl scout troop or cheer squad. You want to be natural and relaxed on stage. Don't come off too rehearsed or "pageant patty" JUST DO YOU!
- PLAN YOUR PAGEANT WEEK NOW!
- As soon as your receive your guide book look at your week of events that will take place at the National Pageant. Write out what you will need, go over your wardrobe for each day and look at what you need to wear for each event. At the National Pageant we have themed rehearsals so make sure you prepare for that. You can never be too organized. Make sure you turn all of your paperwork and pictures in to the national office before their deadlines. Read over all of the paper work that you receive in the mail- you can even book your hotel room now!
Fun Fact: We know that most pageant girls don't travel light so did you know that you can ship some of your items directly to the hotel so you don't have to fly with them? This may even be cheaper than those baggage fees! Don't forget those accessories and shoes!
