MORE EXAMPLES

MORE EXAMPLES

What is the date and location of my pageant?
The date is March 17-18, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn — Metro Detroit.

How do I get started?
To get things rolling, take about fifteen minutes to scan through this web site. It contains everything you need to get started. To make sure that it meets your needs, it was written with the help of families who have participated in the pageant.

What do I send in and when does it need to be there?
When you receive your Newsletter #1, please see your “Important Pageant Information Sheet” in the back for your deadline and when items are scheduled to be in our office. To make things easy and accurate, please use the handy yellow tear-out cards found in the center of this booklet to include with the item(s) that you are mailing.

What if I miss my deadlines, like for my program book picture, or my sponsor fees? Am I out of the pageant?
The deadlines are an important guide to keep us all on track and ensure that you have a comfortable amount of time to prepare as well as allow the pageant to meet program book printing deadlines, etc. If you would like to request an extension on a deadline, just give us a call! Whenever possible we will extend the deadline for you.

You are not automatically out of the pageant if you miss a deadline. However, as the pageant approaches, there may be a waiting list of girls wanting to get in. Please keep in touch so that we can reserve your place in the pageant.

Do I have any help with questions about sponsor fees, dresses, etc..?
YES! We have an experienced office staff to serve you, Monday through Friday 9:00 to 5:00 central time. Do not hesitate to call! Of course, the primary source of information will be your newsletters.

What is a “Sponsor Fee” and how much is it?
The total sponsor fee for all divisions is $325. The sponsor fee pays for the cost of producing the pageant, awards, choreographers, emcees, lighting, staging, sound, judges expenses, staff, florists, hotel ballroom rental, trophies, cash awards, office support and all of the many other things that go together to make a first class event.

You may have as many or as few sponsors as you wish contributing to make up your total sponsor fee. Of course, the number of sponsors that may be listed under your contestant photo in the book is limited to space provided. Any combination of businesses, family or friends is acceptable. Neither the number nor name of your sponsors have bearing on the scoring in any way. Sponsor fees are not refundable.

What are the requirements for the formal dress?
The rules for all pageant outfits are shown under judging on this web site. The judges go exactly by the information on that page.

Where can I get the formal dress?
Most families look among four sources:

	1)	If you are a teenager, then perhaps you have a prom dress in the closet already; use it!
	2)	Bride and formal shops sell and/or rent formal dresses.
	3)	Friends might have one you can borrow or rent.
	4)	Friends, family members, or a local seamstress can make one for you.

Don’t forget to check clothing resale shops! In all cases be sure to have the rules with you when you are selecting a dress.

Does my formal dress have to be expensive?
Definitely not. What is important is that it meets the rules and is a dress that you enjoy. The formal wear scoring is based on your poise and presentation in the dress; not the dress itself.

Does it have to be white?
No. Choose a color that you feel good wearing. Solid colors work best.

White is a very popular color for dresses because it is easy to obtain and has a bright fresh appearance. Accordingly, many girls happen to have white dresses. This is not a scoring criteria in any way.

Tell me about the Interview Outfit?
You already have one! It is in your closet now. See page 6 when you receive Newsletter #1.

What else will I need?
You will want to bring some comfortable clothes as well for rehearsals. You will obtain your Official T-Shirt and Shorts Outfit on pageant weekend.

Do I need to go to any other functions or take a modeling/grooming course?
No. We will provide training for all required pageant activities that will take place on pageant weekend at the pageant host hotel. All prior preparation can be learned easily in the comfort of your home. Everything that you need for preparation will be in your newsletters.

Please see the Optional Contests page of this web site for information on the optional pre-pageant workshop.

Will my family also have fun at the pageant weekend?
YES! The pageant will be a fun mini-vacation for the whole family. They will have a great time cheering for you and will have opportunities to support you. Bring your swimsuits and enjoy the pool! There are lots of fun activities near and around the host hotel!

Do I have to stay at the hotel?
No. However, it helps make the weekend more enjoyable for you since all of the pageant events are right there. If you would like to stay at the hotel, there are special discount room rates available for the pageant contestants, families and guests. In your Newsletter #2 you will receive a convenient reservation card, or you can call the hotel directly to make a reservation.

Do I have to be “beautiful,” thin, or have perfect teeth to have a chance to win?
No. The American Coed Pageants while glamorous events, are NOT known as “beauty pageants.” The rules and scoring are shown on the Judging page of this web site. This is what the judges go by. Braces, glasses, skin problems, varying weights, varying heights, and many other conditions are all just a natural part of being young. The judges are scoring you on where you are in life, just the way you are. For instance, did you know that approximately one out of six of our “Princess” age winners are missing their front teeth? Likewise, about one in seven of our “Pre-Teen winners happens to have braces.

What you need to concentrate on is just being your best and remembering to be positive, SMILE, and do the best with what you have! If you can develop and apply this attitude now, it will benefit you your whole life!

Can I win the pageant without participating in the optional contests?
Absolutely! The optional contests are provided to give you more ways to gain experience as well as earn recognition, trophies, and cash awards. They are summarized on the Optional Competitions page on this web site. They in no way enter into the scoring for the queen’s title. However, the more things you enter, the more opportunities you have to win trophies and get the most out of the pageant weekend!

Since the optional contests are offered “cafeteria-style” you can pick and choose those areas in which you want to participate. To ensure their separateness, the optional contests are evaluated by a separate panel of judges than the panels that are doing the scoring for the queen’s title.

What will I need to learn and do at the pageant weekend?
Most of the pageant weekend you will be involved in fun rehearsals; learning the skills which you can apply in the pageant. Basic stage modeling, using a microphone, public speaking, and interviewing in a job-interview format are examples of the activities that you will have the opportunity to master while rehearsing at the pageant.