Welcome to this week’s bonus coaching session. Paid subscribers get access to the video version, along with our entire coaching catalog. To join, click the button below:
Let’s talk stage presence.
Most contestants will burn through their coaching budget on two things: runway coaches and interview coaches.
But instead of running to the first person with a “pageant coach of the year” plaque (which, let’s be honest, doesn’t mean much), why don’t we take a step back and look at this from a different POV.
The judges’.
Because at the end of the day, I don’t care how many turns you can land or how sharp your smoldering smize is. If it doesn’t land with the judges, it’s game over.
In this week’s coaching session, I pull apart some of my favorite walks from Miss Universe and Miss Earth. You’ll see why someone like Miss Universe South Africa Natasha Joubert looks effortless on stage, why Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil connects so strongly with her smile, and why a ballerina-turned-contestant can make spins look like second nature. More importantly, we dig into why these walks work with judges - and why some technically “perfect” performances still fail to make the first cut.
Practicing walk is pointless if you don’t know what the judges are looking for.
Remember, stage presence is a performance, not a math test. There’s no formula that guarantees you a win, but there are qualities that judges consistently reward, and you need to understand both what they are and how to show them.
The goal is simple: evoke an emotional response that translates into high marks, instead of blank stares or notes that say “too try-hard.”
Inside the video, we run an exercise: watching real walks and scoring them like a judge. It’s a chance to put yourself on the other side of the table and sharpen your own eye for what works.
That’s what we’re diving into this week.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro and tennis coach analogy
02:00 Judge’s POV and why it matters
03:00 Sarong flick story and try-hard mistakes
08:00 What judges really want on stage
09:00 Natasha Joubert’s swimsuit and gown walks
15:00 Maria Thattil’s walk and emotional connection
22:00 Saartje Langstraat’s ballerina background and smooth transitions
Remember: DM me in the free Substack app (iOS/Android), on Instagram, or email info@thepageantproject.com with your questions.
I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.
Pageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Join us if you're ready to go beyond the crown.
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