Winning on a Budget: Interview Outfit

In an earlier post, I discussed the role of clothes and how interview outfits can fit into that role. To remind everyone, a few guidelines I discussed were:

1. Wear something you feel comfortable in

2. Don’t be afraid of bright colors

3. Look professional

These are all still very important – but how do you choose when there are so many options out there? First, you need to decide if you want to wear a suit or a dress. I wore a suit for my interview. It was a turquoise, knit Jennifer Roberts suit that I was able to borrow from a wonderful friend! However, if I wasn’t able to borrow that suit, I would have worn a dress. This is because for me, I would get more wear out of a dress later on. I don’t wear suits to work or to many appearances, so a dress would be a better investment of my money.

There are some suits & dresses that are appropriate for a pageant interview listed on “pageantresale.com,” but that does not mean that you need a “pageanty” outfit for the interview competition. The judges are looking for someone to take over a job, so they are looking for someone who looks professional. With that said, this is WAY more fun than most jobs! So I would recommend staying away from darker colors (like black) & wear something that will brighten up your face & make your interviewer not want to stop looking at you! It should be interesting without being overpowering.

There are many dresses available at department stores or boutiques that would be perfect for interviewing to become Miss International! And how does that fit in with “staying on a budget??” Choose something that you can wear again. You can wear the same interview outfit for your on stage question (once you make Top 10!), & again for appearances throughout your year. Re-wearing competition outfits doesn’t really fit in with the fun fashion competition or evening gown (except for special occasions!), but your interview outfit should definitely be something that you would want to wear again (and again!) Happy Shopping!

Ashley Smith

Color Day: Passion for Pastels

This time of year is one that inspires so many different color combinations.  For many people, springtime inspires us to decorate and dress in pale, soft colors like green, pink, blue, or yellow.  Or, if you'd like, you can combine them all together for a pastel palette suitable enough for the easter bunny himself. While these colors have come to represent Easter, we're not saying you need to go full on bunny and rainbow colored crazy.  Just adding some pretty vintage looking pastels and an egg/bird decorative item here and there can be quite cheerful and truly egg-cellent.

Vintage Pastels/Easter Inspiration Board

Images from: Pretty Chicky, Wedding Nouveau, Marigolds and Mithai, Cedar Wood Weddings, ZsaZsa Bellagio, The Sweetest Occasion, My Girl Design, Eternal Eden, highteaforalice, Pickled Parlor, The Cinderella Project, Design Sponge, Martha Stewart

XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Pageant Tips for Nationals #5: Interview

Interview is 40% of your score at Nationals. You must chose a platform that you are passionate about. The best way to choose a platform is to pick one that you feel some sort of personal connection with, that way your personal connection will create passion and drive to work on behalf of your platform and your love of it will shine through to your judges during interview.

I recommend not only being passionate about your platform, but also trying to align yourself with a national or international organization because as an International queen, you need to have a platform that is recognizable and promotable on a large scale.

Be clear on what you have done and what you plan to do if you become Miss Teen International. Make sure that you know what your paperwork says inside and out. Most importantly, be truthful about your accomplishments. Astute judges can see through “holes in your paperwork”.

If you make it into the top ten, you will recompete and 40% of your score will come from your on stage interview. Make sure that your interview suit or dress is age appropriate, fits you properly and is steamed or ironed. Make sure that your platform introduction speech is a maximum of 30 seconds as points will be deducted from your score if you go over time. Practice your introduction for your family and friends and in front of your mirror. The second question will have something that has to do with your platform, but it is nothing you can memorize. Listen carefully to the question that is asked, it will be repeated to you. Then answer the question. Yes, make sure that you answer the question that is asked and do it from the heart. You can never make a mistake if you speak from the heart.

If you feel that you need preparation for interview, I recommend Suzy Bootz, Mrs. International 2007. Although, I did not personally use her, I have heard from many winners that she is one of the best interview coaches out there.

Here are pictures of my interview group at Nationals. I wore the same Jennifer Roberts knit dress, from Joey Rutherford of the Competitive Image, for one-on-one interview both years that I competed- just another piece of evidence that it does not matter what you spend, but rather that you are well put together and well spoken- the “total package” in a sense.

By the way, I did win interview and I believe a lot of it was simply answering the question and speaking from the heart.

Juliana McKee

DC International Pageants 2011

On Saturday, March 19th, I attended and participated in the Miss and Miss Teen DC International 2011 Pageant. This pageant has special meaning to me since I was the 2009 teen titleholder for the DC International System! I am fortunate to still have a close relationship with my former director, Rita Sinha, and have been able to help her and her contestants with various workshops leading up to the pageant. This year Rita asked me to help with emceeing the on stage questions for the Teen Division.

My sister queen, Ashley Smith, was also there and helped with the Miss on stage questions.

This year Rita added a “Tween Category.” She also had a Princess category. The princesses are sooo adorable and the Tweens are impressive and a great pool of future talent for the Teen Division, as they are required to make at least one community service appearance per month during their reign.

Ginny Meerman, a former Mrs. International contestant, did a fabulous job serving as the emcee for the production! Mrs. Maryland International 2011, who was also in attendance, served as a judge.

There were also many former International titleholders including Ashley Fleming, Miss Teen DC International 2008- we took advantage of a super cute photo-op of the Miss Teen DC International titleholders from 2008, 2009, 2010, and the newly crowned 2011 queen in a “family tree” pose! This picture is truly something I will cherish and definitely illustrates the lifetime family bond and sisterhood of being an International titleholder.

The new Miss DC International is Allison Hill, a Doctor of Pharmacy, who was not only gorgeous but also had a fabulous stage presence and wardrobe.

The new Miss Teen DC International proved that perseverance always pays off, having competed this year for her third time. It was amazing to see how Lystra had blossomed and transformed since we originally competed together two years ago. The two new queens are very passionate about their platforms and will be a fabulous team!

At the end of the pageant, one of the teen contestants was quietly tearing up back stage, disappointed that she didn’t win. I told her that it took a total of 5 tries to become Miss Teen International and to keep up the good work and not give up. She seemed consoled by my words and my story of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Juliana McKee