To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

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Session Details

• Date: Thursday 28 May 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 29 May, 10am AEST

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What’s the worst thing that could happen?

Not in a vague, motivational-poster kind of way.

Actually answer the question.

You submit a headshot and don’t make it through?
Okay. At least you tried.

You make it through one round and get cut later?
Still, you gave it a go.

You make it all the way through and get picked?
Then suddenly you’re preparing for Miss USA or Miss Teen USA in Miami during the 75th anniversary year.

That is not exactly a tragic outcome.

The bigger issue, in my opinion, is that a lot of contestants are trying to make this decision without first getting clear on what they actually want.

• Do you want to win your specific state title?

• Do you want to compete on the Miss USA stage?

• Do you want more “at bats” before you age out?

• Do you want the clean, traditional route, or do you want the opportunity that exists in front of you right now?

Those are not always the same thing.

And when contestants feel stuck, it’s usually because two values are colliding: loyalty, tradition, opportunity, timing, identity, public perception, fear of judgment, unfinished dreams.

That’s why this isn’t just a pageant logistics conversation. It’s a values conversation.

In this week’s video, I break down:

• Why I’d tell most contestants to apply

• The one major exception

• Why Texas is the trickiest situation

• The difference between your dream and your “blueprint”

• Why waiting for the perfect path can quietly cost you opportunities

• And why “what will people say?” is a terrible way to make life decisions

Because the sentence that keeps people up at night usually isn’t:

“I tried and it didn’t work.”

It’s:

“I wonder what would have happened if I had.”

Watch the full video above. Especially if you’re sitting on the fence.

Adrian.

The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:

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👑 ABOUT EDEN RAINEY

Eden Rainey is a graduate of Union University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology, and is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in pageant hair and makeup. Through her professional experience, she has had the opportunity to mentor young women, helping them build confidence and discover their true sense of self-worth.

She currently holds the title of Miss West Tennessee Volunteer, where she actively serves through her platform, Empowerment Garden: Cultivating Healthy Lives and Building Strong Foundations by Planting Seeds of Change. Her platform focuses on empowering individuals through education as a foundation for success, while also supporting those in need by providing essential resources that equip them to thrive.

With a unique blend of experience in science, beauty, leadership, and service, Eden is deeply committed to empowering others, promoting education, and making a meaningful impact in her community.

👉 FOLLOW EDEN RAINEY

https://www.instagram.com/misswesttnvolunteer/

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at pageantmock.com:

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We asked you to share your pageant horror stories, and you guys delivered.

From wardrobe malfunctions to prison sentences, this episode really does have it all.
--

Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.

Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:
👉 https://pageantpod.com

OUR CO-HOSTS:

Morgan Morgan:

👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/

👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/

Peyton Christen:

👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/

👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/

Kenzie Hansley:

👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/

👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/

For all media and sponsorship enquiries:
👉 info@thepageantproject.com

“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:

Get it on Amazon

Subscribe now

It’s almost a guarantee that, at some point during your pageant journey, you’ll need to make a decision on whether to stand up for yourself, or to keep your head down and continue to roll with the punches. And it can be difficult to decide when to take Option A, and when to take Option B.

For those who don’t know better, it might seem simpler than that - just do what’s expected of you, do the right thing, and everything will work out… right?

Unfortunately, learning to navigate the world of pageantry often involves navigating around certain unspoken taboos, and running aground on them can derail your pageant career faster than a broken heel.

--

Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.

Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:
👉 https://pageantpod.com

OUR CO-HOSTS:

Morgan Morgan:

• https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/

• https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/

Peyton Christen:

• https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/

• https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/

Kenzie Hansley:

• https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/

• https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/

Geanna Koulouris:

• https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/

For all media and sponsorship enquiries:
👉 info@thepageantproject.com

“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:

Get it on Amazon

Subscribe now

👑 ABOUT RACHEL BETTERLEY

Rachel Betterley is a multifaceted artist, award winning art educator, and influential voice in creative leadership. A Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist, Rachel champions inclusive, choice based pedagogy and builds innovative programs, presentations, and coaching that inspire students and communities to create, connect, and grow.

Driven by childhood adversity, she founded Sketchbooks for Kids — a healing arts project that has delivered sketchbook sets to thousands of youth across 25+ U.S. states and 12 countries. By equipping children facing trauma, abuse, financial hardship, or mental health challenges with tools to express themselves, Rachel and her partners foster emotional wellness, resilience, and hope through art.

Rachel also leverages the pageant stage to amplify the transformative power of creative expression. Her “art of pageantry” mindset celebrates authenticity, confidence, community, and female led artistry — a journey that earned her multiple titles and most recently 1st Runner Up, Miss Minnesota USA 2025. Through storytelling filled with resilience, humor, and relatability, she reaches audiences across news outlets, podcasts, and social platforms.

👉 FOLLOW RACHEL BETTERLEY

• https://www.instagram.com/rachelbetterley/

• https://www.instagram.com/sketchbooksforkids/

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at pageantmock.com:

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👑 ABOUT PAIGE GONOR

Paige Gonor is currently Miss Southern California All American and a rising junior at the University of San Diego studying Communication with a minor in Real Estate. She is passionate about media, connecting with people, and using her voice to make a meaningful impact.

She began competing in pageants at just eight years old, growing up in an environment that shaped her confidence, discipline, and sense of self. Over the years, pageantry has played a huge role in helping her find her voice and step into leadership in her own way.

Paige is also the founder of Turning the Paige, a platform focused on empowering the next generation of young female leaders to think different, be different, and act different so they can create change in their communities. Through school visits, mentorship, and empowerment seminars she shares mindset tools that help young women build confidence and believe in themselves.

Outside of pageantry, Paige works in luxury hospitality, where she has developed a strong foundation in high level service and professionalism. She also has experience in runway, print, and promotional modeling. She has a passion for fitness, spending much of her time staying active or in the gym and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. As a certified Lagree instructor, she loves helping others feel strong and confident. Paige aspires to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, with the goal of becoming a sideline reporter.

👉 FOLLOW PAIGE GONOR

https://www.instagram.com/paigegonor/

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at pageantmock.com:

pageantmock.com

To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

pageantmock.com

Session Details

• Date: Thursday 21 May 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 22 May, 10am AEST

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In this week’s video, I talked about a phenomenon I’ve been noticing more and more in pageantry over the last decade: crown inflation.

Ten years ago, it would’ve been unthinkable for a single state pageant to crown five separate titleholders in one night.

Today, it’s becoming normal.

More systems. More appointed titles. More international crowns.

But if the industry is shrinking… why are there suddenly more titles than ever?

And perhaps more importantly:

If everyone can win a crown, what actually still holds value?

In this video, I break down:

• What “crown inflation” is

• Why I think it’s happening and

• Why contestants need to become more selective than ever about the systems they enter

Until next week.

Adrian.

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:

pageantmock.com

To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

pageantmock.com

Session Details

• Date: Thursday 14 May 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 15 May, 10am AEST

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Must be pageant paperwork season.

Recently, I’ve been getting so many requests from my private coaching clients asking me to take a look at their paperwork, I think they’ve all started blending into one.

(Quick note: there’s a noticeable trend toward using introduction videos or sizzle reels to either complement or replace traditional pageant paperwork. The 3 Edicts we’re discussing here apply to both a video script and the more traditional paperwork.)

Before you start working on any aspect of your pageant preparation or ask any external party for feedback, it’s a good idea to remind yourself of what your end goal is.

The simplest example is the talent section.

Many of you fall into the trap of thinking that the end goal of talent is to perform flawlessly, whereas I would argue that a better goal would be to get a standing ovation. The former is based on your need for perfection. The latter is based on forming an emotional connection with the audience.

The former doesn’t affect your score. The latter very much does.

In a similar vein, many of you think the goal of your paperwork or your introductory video is to impress. You cram in as many qualifications, achievements, miles travelled, dollars raised, and appearances made as possible into the meager word limit you’re allowed.

Let me give you a different possibility.

The goal of your paperwork should be to control your interview.

Specifically, you know your paperwork is doing its job properly when you get asked the perfect questions in interview. That doesn’t mean you get asked easy questions by the way, it means that you get asked the perfect setup questions to show the judges why you’re their absolute best pick to be the next titleholder.

Without further ado, here are The 3 Edicts of great pageant paperwork:

1. Only include things you’re excited to talk about.

2. Remove everything you’re NOT excited to talk about.

3. If there’s anything you DO want to talk about that’s not currently on your paperwork, find a way to include it!

Most of you already have great paperwork that’s free from spelling and grammatical errors. That won’t win you a damn thing.

But if you make just a few minor tweaks based on The 3 Edicts, you just might be surprised at how well your next interview goes, and that could win you the whole shebang.

Until next week.

Adrian.

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:

pageantmock.com

To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

pageantmock.com

Session Details

• Date: Thursday 7 May 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 8 May, 10am AEST

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What happens when your partner doesn’t “get” pageants?

I remember the first few pageants I attended. It was always easy to spot the pageant partners. They were the ones standing around awkwardly in ill-fitting suits, usually to be found milling around the bar.

But here’s the thing.

Understanding and support are two separate things.

I met a pageant dad last year at Miss Volunteer America who didn’t understand pageants at all.

While his wife and daughter were inside loving it, he was sitting in the car listening to the radio.

And honestly?

I respected that.

He showed up. He didn’t interfere. He supported in his own way.

And that’s enough.

Support doesn’t mean you understand everything.

But it does mean making things easier, not harder.

At the same time, this goes both ways.

If you want someone to respect what you’re doing, you also need to respect what matters to them. Even if you don’t get it.

But here’s something to consider.

Pageantry has a way of changing you. It’s a journey of self-growth and self-discovery.

You learn what you DO want.

You also learn what you do NOT want.

And sometimes, that leads to a simple question:

Are you and your partner growing together… or growing apart?

That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s video.

Adrian.

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:

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Some of the biggest lessons you’ll learn from your time in pageantry are the life lessons, not just the pageant ones. In this episode, the Pageants & Tangents crew discuss some of their biggest life takeaways from their collective time in pageantry so far.

--

Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project (https://thepageantproject.com).

Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:
👉 https://pageantpod.com

OUR CO-HOSTS:

Morgan Morgan:

• https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/

• https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/

Peyton Christen:

• https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/

• https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/

Haley Poe:

• https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/

• https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoe

For all media and sponsorship enquiries:
👉 info@thepageantproject.com

“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:

Get it on Amazon

To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

pageantmock.com

Session Details

• Date: Thursday 30 April 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 1 May, 10am AEST

Read more

Subscribe now

I sat down with Thom Brodeur, CEO of the Miss USA Organization, in early April 2026 to get all your questions answered.

Here’s the TL;DR.

1. How is marketability judged?

Marketability is now a formal scoring category at the national level, and that changes the game.

You are no longer just being evaluated as a contestant. You are being evaluated as a brand ambassador. That means how you photograph, how you present on camera, how you communicate, and how people respond to you all matter.

Follower count is not the metric. Engagement is.

“It isn’t about the number of followers… it’s about the engagement.”

What does that actually mean? If you have 5,000 followers and they actively comment, share, and engage with you, that is more valuable than 50,000 passive followers. Brands care about influence, not reach.

So your job is simple: become someone people pay attention to, not someone who just looks good in a post.

2. What’s the best way to prepare for a state pageant?

Prepare holistically.

Most contestants over-invest in appearance and under-invest in capacity. They’ll spend thousands on wardrobe, hair, and makeup, but neglect sleep, nutrition, stress management, and mental clarity.

That’s a mistake.

If you are physically drained, mentally scattered, or emotionally unstable, it will show under pressure. Interview exposes it. Stage presence exposes it.

You are not just preparing a look. You are preparing a performer.

The contestants who win are the ones who feel grounded, not just polished.

3. Will contestants ever see their scores?

Expect movement toward transparency.

There is a clear push toward live or visible scoring, which would remove a lot of the confusion and speculation that happens after competitions. When scores are hidden, people fill in the gaps with assumptions.

Transparency fixes that.

The trade-off is emotional. Seeing a low score in real time can be uncomfortable. Some contestants will fixate on one judge instead of looking at the broader picture.

But the direction is clear: more visibility, less ambiguity.

4. What stands out in an open call video?

Be real.

Do not over-rehearse. Do not oversell polish. Do not deliver a scripted, pageant-perfect version of yourself.

“Just tell us who you are and why we should care.”

The mistake most people make is trying to impress. They think this is about saying the “right” thing.

It’s not.

It’s about being clear, grounded, and human enough that someone watching feels something. If it feels rehearsed, it creates distance. If it feels real, it creates connection.

Connection wins.

5. What is open casting?

Open casting is not a backup plan. It is a legitimate entry point.

It exists to fill states without active directors, which means it can open doors that would not otherwise exist. In some cases, it is the only pathway into the system.

Treat it seriously.

The standard is not lower. The process is simply different.

6. How important is production quality in your video?

It isn’t.

Production value is not scored. That means you do not need a videographer, a production team, or a cinematic edit.

What you need is clarity.

Do you look like yourself? Can we hear you? Do we understand you? Do we feel like we’re meeting a real person?

That’s it.

If anything, overproduction can work against you because it signals performance over authenticity.

7. How important is social media?

Social media is your modern business card.

It’s not about volume. It’s about signal.

If someone lands on your profile, they should understand who you are, what you care about, and what makes you different within seconds. If your content is generic, filtered, or interchangeable, it tells us nothing.

If it’s specific, personal, and consistent, it tells us everything.

Use it to build familiarity and trust, not just visibility.

8. Why are state dates delayed?

The system is in transition.

Leadership is stabilizing the structure, and state directors are operating under temporary agreements. Some are moving forward quickly. Others are taking more time to decide.

That creates inconsistency.

As a contestant, this means one thing: control what you can control. Timing may vary, but preparation should not.

9. What are the open casting eligibility rules?

For open casting states, residency is not required.

This is important because it removes a traditional barrier. You are no longer limited by geography in those cases.

Apply based on opportunity, not location.

10. Will eligibility rules be standardized?

Yes, but not yet.

2026 is a transition year. Expect more consistency and structure in 2027 once legal and operational issues are fully resolved.

For now, expect variation.

11. Will returning contestants or fast-track events be introduced?

Possibly.

There is openness to new formats, including returning contestants and fast-track style opportunities. But the broader strategy is not about copying other systems.

It’s about expanding the ecosystem.

That means more ways to engage, more ways to compete, and more ways to be seen.

12. Will there be more reality or behind-the-scenes content?

Yes.

The brand is moving toward an always-on model. That means audiences will follow contestants before, during, and after the pageant.

Think less “one-night event” and more “ongoing story.”

That benefits contestants who can show personality, growth, and consistency over time.

13. How important is community impact?

Very.

You are expected to demonstrate real impact, not just talk about it. That means specific actions, real involvement, and measurable contribution.

At the Miss level, this aligns with the “Beyond the Crown” framework at Miss Universe.

If your advocacy feels generic, it won’t land.

If it feels lived-in, it will.

14. How much freedom do titleholders have in shaping their reign?

A lot.

Your advocacy should be yours, not assigned to you.

“It is more important… that what matters to them is a centerpiece.”

When you care about something deeply, you show up differently. You speak differently. You commit differently.

That’s the difference between performative impact and real impact.

15. How will Miss USA prepare for Miss Universe?

With time.

The previous cycle allowed only days between crowning and international competition. That is not preparation, that is survival.

This cycle allows months.

That means better branding, better training, better positioning, and a stronger overall presentation on the global stage.

16. Will Miss USA return to television?

Yes.

This matters more than people think. Distribution shapes perception.

Television brings visibility, legitimacy, and reach. It also raises expectations around production and presentation.

17. How should contestants approach AI?

Use AI to enhance. Do not use it to replace.

Do not generate your identity. Do not create a version of yourself that doesn’t exist.

“It’s meant to make something already good, better. It’s not to take something from zero to 60.”

If you walk into a room and don’t match your images, you’ve already lost trust.

18. Will there be additional national titles?

The long-term vision includes larger events that may crown multiple titles. This is common globally and likely to be adopted here.

Expect expansion, not contraction.

19. Can a titleholder be a mother?

Yes.

This is not theoretical. It is expected to happen.

If judges choose a mother, she will be supported. The system is not designed to exclude based on life stage.

Do not disqualify yourself before the judges ever get the chance to decide.

20. Will interview footage ever be shared?

Possibly, in limited ways.

There is openness to giving contestants more visibility into their own interviews and potentially sharing more of that process publicly.

That would create a stronger feedback loop and better learning environment.

21. What is the future vision for Miss USA?

Put the contestant back at the center.

Everything flows from that. Experience, visibility, opportunity, and impact all stem from prioritizing the contestant as the core of the brand.

If the contestant wins, the brand wins.

22. What pressures come with leading Miss USA?

Scrutiny. Skepticism. Expectation.

The brand is rebuilding trust, and that means every decision is watched closely. Not everyone will believe in the direction immediately.

Operate anyway.

23. What is the defining trait of a modern Miss USA?

Relatability.

Not perfection. Not distance. Not untouchability.

Be someone people can connect with, understand, and see themselves in.

24. What advice applies to open title applicants?

Prepare the same way you would for a state pageant. The standard does not drop just because the pathway is different.

25. Is there room for different body types?

Yes. The direction is broader, more inclusive, and less tied to a single aesthetic standard. Do not try to force yourself into a mold that no longer defines success.

Final Thought

Most contestants are still preparing for the pageant the way it used to be judged.

That’s the gap.

If you take anything from this, take this:

Be real.
Be prepared.
Be someone people can connect with.

Everything else is secondary.

“The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero:

Get it on Amazon

Subscribe now

👑 ABOUT LAUREN SALIMBENE

Lauren Salimbene is the reigning Miss Volunteer America 2026, recognized for her commitment to service, leadership, and academic excellence. A former Miss Utah Volunteer, she earned over $50,000 in scholarships on her way to the national title.

She is a 4.0 student double majoring in finance and accounting at Westminster University and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, earning the Utah Seal of Biliteracy. A lifelong dancer with over 18 years of experience, in which she has also earned multiple state and national titles.

During her year of service, Lauren has traveled over 80,000 miles as a national brand ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Salvation Army, while coaching with the Special Olympics and sharing her message: “movement has no limits; neither do you.”

👉 FOLLOW LAUREN SALIMBENE

• https://www.instagram.com/laurensalimbene/

• https://www.instagram.com/missvolunteeramericapag/

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at pageantmock.com:

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Get it on Amazon

I’m heading to Miss Universe USA!

If you’re going to be there, or if you have any recommendations for things to do whilst in Miami, send me a DM or email and let me know!

The real moral of the story though can be summed up in one word.

Persistence.

When I started this journey a decade ago, I had no idea it would lead me here.

More importantly, pageantry is just like life. It has its shares of ups and downs. And sometimes, when you feel like you do things for the ‘right reasons’, it can be easy to feel discouraged at times.

I feel you on that one.

Here are three things that I think have helped me:

1. Persistence

2. Purpose (knowing my why)

3. Doing things for the right reasons (even when it’s tough)

Maybe, occasionally, delulu really can be the solulu.

Adrian.

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at:

pageantmock.com

Subscribe now

Looking for advice as a newcomer to pageants? We got you covered in this episode!

--

Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project (https://thepageantproject.com).

Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here:
👉 https://pageantpod.com

OUR CO-HOSTS:

Morgan Morgan:

• https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/

• https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/

Peyton Christen:

• https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/

• https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/

Haley Poe:

• https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/

• https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoe

For all media and sponsorship enquiries:
👉 info@thepageantproject.com

Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm ET. Sign up at pageantmock.com:

pageantmock.com

To book your spot, go to pageantmock.com and enter the code at checkout.

pageantmock.com

Session Details

• Date: Thursday 23 April 2026

• Time: 8 pm ET · 7 pm CT · 6 pm MT · 5 pm PT

• Australia: Friday 24 April, 10am AEST

Read more