Confessions of a Pageant King

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.comOur co-hosts:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeFor all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 info@thepageantproject.comHigh-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:http://thepageantproject.com/subscribe-Have you ever noticed that the likelihood of a fanbase getting irrationally angry is directly proportional to how passionate they are?Whether they’re Trekkies, Swifties, or Flat Earthers, there’s no point trying to convince them they’re wrong - you are.The exact same rule applies to pageants. The industry may not be as big as it once was, but in many ways, that means the remaining people are even more passionate on average. And, make no mistake, they’re passionate about many things:* Which pageant is the best* Which pageant coach is the best* Who the favorites/hotpicks are for any given pageant* Who’s got the prettiest dress* Who spoke the most eloquentlyBut here’s the question. Should you listen to any of it?Forget pageant fans for a second. If you take on a well-known pageant coach, and they tell you that you entered the wrong pageant, would you take their advice?What about if they told you your talent or platform was wrong, or they made you question things such as your food choices or your religious or political beliefs?Unfortunately, pageantry is FULL of characters like that. There are far too many people with opinions, and far too few with the reasoning, experience, or critical thought to back them up.All this to say - never let anyone tell you that your reasons are “wrong”, whether that’s your reasons for competing in a pageant, the career path your choose to take, or the life partner you choose to spend the rest of your life with.And never let anyone tell you you’re a moron either… but you’ll have to watch or listen to this week’s episode to get the BTS on that one!Adrian.-Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm EST. To sign up, go to:https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

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.comOur co-hosts:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeSpecial guest co-host:Geanna Koulouris:* https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/For all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 info@thepageantproject.comHigh-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:👉 https://thepageantproject.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Our next mock interview is on Thursday 29th January at 8pm EST. If you’re serious about winning your next pageant interview, visit pageantmock.com (3 spots left).Never ever enter a pageant purely to win.I get it, I’m competitive too, but let’s be real. Pageant judging can be an absolute farce, and it’s often when you least expect it.Are you honestly telling me you’re prepared to put in all the hard work, only to have it thrown away simply because a clueless judge picked the pretty girl who smiled at him?I didn’t think so.In my opinion, there are only 3 reasons you should be entering a pageant in 2026. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want to win, or that you won’t win, it simply means that the win would be the proverbial icing on the cake.If I had only one wish for you heading into 2026, it would be that you set up the game of pageantry in such a way that you walk away as a better person at the end of it, regardless of the result, and that you viewed the whole experience as ‘worth it’.Watch this week’s video or listen to the episode and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.Do you agree with my 3 reasons? Or would you make some changes?BestAdrian.Got a question or issue that needs to be discussed about the pageant industry? Visit pageantpod.com. Questions can be submitted anonymously. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

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.comOur co-hosts:Morgan Morgan:* https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/* https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/Peyton Christen:* https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/Haley Poe:* https://www.instagram.com/haleygracepoe/* https://www.youtube.com/@haleygracepoeFor all media and sponsorship enquiries:👉 info@thepageantproject.comHigh-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free:http://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About MadalainaAn engineer and STEM advocate who believes confidence matters just as much as credentials. As the founder of EmpowHER in STEM, she focuses on building community and sharing resources that support girls and young women as they navigate STEM, leadership, and spaces where they may not always feel represented.👉 Follow Madalaina:https://www.instagram.com/_m.hlava_/https://www.instagram.com/official_madalainahlava/Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm EST. Sign up at: pageantmock.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Got a question or issue that needs to be discussed about the pageant industry? Visit pageantpod.com. Questions can be submitted anonymously.-There's a post pinned to the top of my Instagram right now. It’s been one of my most viral posts to date, scoring close enough to 10,000 likes, and over 1,000 saves and shares.Here’s a little BTS insight - when I create posts such as these, I view it almost as a test to see how well I have my finger on the pulse of the pageant industry* Do I still understand what contestants such as you really want?* What obstacles you’re struggling to overcome?* And what issues you want to see discussed?When a post lands (i.e. performs well), I take it as a sign that it’s spoken to some element of truth within the pageant industry. When it doesn’t, perhaps not (although the algorithm can play a role in that too).But whenever a post does do well, there’s almost always a comment from someone who bites back at it. Recently I had one well-known US pageant queen comment:“What do men know about pageants. This irks me so bad.”This time around however, the comment was more nuanced.Here’s the thing - I actually agree with this comment. “Being real” is no guarantee of winning a pageant, or anything else for that matter.But here’s the question - what does “winning” mean to you?And is it possible for you to change the pageant game in such a way that you ALWAYS walk away a winner?I believe so. And that’s what we’re discussing in this week’s episode.BestAdrianOur next mock interview for 2026 is on Thursday 22nd January at 8pm EST. Click the button below to sign up or visit pageantmock.com (6 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works. Subscribe for free at:https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About ArianaAriana Leigh Scott, Miss New Jersey Teen Volunteer, is a dedicated high school student and the proud founder of Hand 2 Hand Heroes, an initiative focused on uplifting those in need through compassion and connection. Passionate about service, Ariana devotes her time to creating meaningful change in her community, inspiring others to lead with kindness, purpose, and heart.👉 Follow Ariana:https://www.instagram.com/missnjteenvol/https://www.instagram.com/hand2handheroes/-Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm EST. To sign up, go to:https://pageantmock.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Got a question or issue that needs to be discussed about the pageant industry? Visit pageantpod.com. Questions can be submitted anonymously.I got asked a question last week by one of our VIPs. She was asking whether it was possible to negotiate her pageant contract. My answer was pretty straightforward:* Yes you absolutely CAN.* Whether you SHOULD or not is a judgment call.In this week’s episode I talk about one of my experiences helping an international titleholder navigate a particularly treacherous contract. While her qualms surrounded financial arrangements and percentages, I’ve also consulted with contestants who wanted to bring a class action against a pageant system for breach of contract, as well as one titleholder who managed to b*tch slap her director so hard (figuratively) that she ended up becoming the NEW director.The moral of the story, however, is always pretty simple.Know your worth.And if that means you step away from a title or a pageant, then so be it.I know that you might think that’s easier said than done and I can certainly empathize with that, but the alternative is that you end up in what is basically indentured servitude for the rest of your life (or at least the rest of your pageant career).Until next time,Adrian.Our next mock interview for 2026 is on Thursday 15th January at 8pm EST. Sign up at pageantmock.com (5 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe-👑 About JessicaJessica is 26 years old and was born and raised in southern New Jersey. She currently works as a full-time paramedic and volunteers with her local fire department. Her S.E.R.V.E. initiative, Let’s Talk Diabetes, was inspired by her own experiences after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 11 years old and focuses on raising awareness about diabetes and advocating for those affected by the disease. She works with many volunteer organizations throughout the state of New Jersey and believes that giving back to her community is not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility.👉 Follow Jessica:https://www.instagram.com/jessiwriggins/https://www.instagram.com/missnjvol/-Looking to win your next pageant interview? We hold weekly mock interview sessions on Thursday evenings at 8pm EST. Sign up at pageantmock.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Our first mock interview for 2026 is on Thursday 8th January at 8pm EST. Sign up at: pageantmock.com (3 spots left).Am I the only one that got whiplash from pageantry in 2025?Here were my highlights:* Attending Miss Volunteer America in June in Tennessee* Publishing “The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry” and having it hit the Top Ten on Amazon* Beginning the recording of a new pageant podcast “Pageants & Tangents”On the flipside, I felt that 2025 was the year I became quite disillusioned with the pageant coaching industry and some of the weirdly upside-down power structures that exist within the pageant industry in general:* Miss Universe was a debacle from start to finish* I encountered multiple cases of nepotism and conflicts of interest being swept under the carpet* Far too many coaches indulging in unethical business practices and abusing their positions of powerDespite all that, I actually remain quite hopeful about the state of pageantry in 2026 and beyond (at least in the USA). You can watch or listen to this week’s episode to get my thoughts on international pageantry (spoiler alert: they’re not positive).But if you’re someone who’s thinking of entering their first pageant, or re-entering after a long sabattical, maybe 2026 is the year to do it?How was your 2025? Hit REPLY and let me know!BestAdrianPS Happy New Year!I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Book yours at:https://www.thepageantproject.com/p/coachingPageantry is evolving—and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About JesseI am a small town girl from Provencal, Louisiana, for I represented Natchitoches, Louisiana at the Miss Louisiana Pageant. I competed in pageants from a very early age, in hopes to gain confidence and a passion. I achieved more than that.I have over 200+ volunteer hours just within this year. Our community calls, I answer. I am the founder of the Jesse Foshee Scholarship at Renee’s Dance Studio, raising money for girls who need the financial help to do what they love: dance. I have written a confidence building journal, Simply Me, for the City of Natchitoches and NSU. You may have seen me at every Northwestern State event, Special Olympics, our Lieutenant Governor’s office, and in every Louisiana Parish. I can’t wait to devote my time and efforts to Louisiana.Now preparing for Miss Volunteer America, I think of those who doubted me. I think of those from my hometown village who deserves better. I think of the young girls who have socioeconomic limitations. I wear the crown to teach women that they CAN.👉 Follow Jesse:https://www.instagram.com/misslavol/https://www.instagram.com/thejessefoshee/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 – Intro, pronunciation chaos, and becoming Miss Louisiana Volunteer* 04:30 – Louisiana identity: Katrina, unity, hospitality, and culture* 09:00 – Music, dance vs violin, and Louisiana creative roots* 13:30 – Food, holidays, pageant prep, and Natchitoches traditions* 19:00 – Changing majors, faith, bucket trucks, and reading “signs”* 26:30 – Entering pageants young, confidence building, early lessons* 33:30 – Volunteering, Salvation Army work, and service beyond the crown* 41:30 – Family sacrifice, paying for her own gown, crowning night emotions* 52:00 – What makes her tick: resilience, faith, hope, and humility* 1:07:00 – Perspective after winning, advice for young girls, closing reflectionsOur last mock interview for 2025 is on Thursday 18th December at 8pm EST. Click the button below to sign up or visit pageantmock.com (4 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About GiaGia Soleil Espinoza is Miss Texas Earth, a third-generation business owner, Criminal Justice major, and dedicated animal advocate. As the co-founder of Cars & Canines, she champions adoption, sustainability, and community connection.Recently accepted into the El Paso Police Academy, Gia is pursuing her goal of becoming a domestic violence advocate driven by purpose, compassion, and the legacy of her late friend and Cars & Canines co-founder, Mia Molina.A proud cat mom and lifelong Texan, she leads with heart, resilience, and a mission to make her community safer and more sustainable.👉 Follow Gia:https://www.instagram.com/giasoleil/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 – Intro, Wi-Fi setup, and Gia’s “second house” flex* 06:00 – Hispanic “don’t get sick” rules: socks, chanclas, layers, rain, AC whiplash* 11:11 – Soup obsession, UK food tangent, and “I’m adventurous with soup… and that’s it”* 15:20 – “Last meal” question: chicken tortilla soup, cucumber lemonade, chips vs fries* 19:35 – Immigration and border reality: family history, poverty, women and children advocacy* 25:36 – Entering pageantry with severe social anxiety and a 504 plan* 29:01 – Business upbringing, failure, and confidence building* 33:35 – Career pivot to policing after personal loss* 45:20 – Cars & Canines, community work, and using cars to draw crowds* 59:02 – Rapid fire questions and closing reflectionsOur last mock interview for 2025 is on Thursday 18th December at 8pm EST. Sign up at pageantmock.com (4 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and more, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWe’ve begun recording episodes of our new pageant podcast “Pageants & Tangents” featuring myself, personal trainer Morgan Morgan, Miss Georgia Volunteer 2026 Peyton Christen, and Miss Earth USA 2025 Haley Poe.Our first episode will be published in early 2026, so I thought it would be a great time to talk all things pageant fitness. Regardless of whether or not your pageant has a swimsuit component, or even if you’re not planning on competing in the immediate future, it’s always a great idea to be in great shape.BUT… I’m not talking about starving yourself. And I’m not talking about “losing weight” either.I’m talking about FITNESS: becoming fitter, faster, stronger, more vibrantly energetic, and all that jazz.And the two are NOT the same! But here’s the kicker.I truly believe you can look great AND feel great at the same time. It doesn’t have to be a mutually exclusive choice.And that’s why I wanted Morgan to answer all your pageant fitness, health, and nutrition questions in our inaugural episode.By the way, Morgan wrote the Foreword for my book “The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry”, plus she’s a self-confessed ‘perma nerd’ with her head constantly buried in PubMed articles, so I both trust her and know that she knows what she’s talking about.Got a question for Morgan? Hit reply to this email, or drop a comment below, and we’ll get as many answered as possible!BestAdrianOur last mock interview for 2025 is on Thursday 18th December at 8pm EST. Sign up at pageantmock.com (4 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and more, this isn’t theory. It’s what works:https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeMost people think they have a strong platform. In reality, many are just accidentally creating the same hollow, awareness-only advocacy that judges ignore and contestants secretly roll their eyes at.This week’s episode breaks down exactly how to avoid that trap and build a platform that feels real, grounded, and impossible to accuse of being performative.Here’s the simple checklist I use:* Share information that is actually useful, practical, and relevant right now.* Give action steps that someone can implement today (not just more talk).* Tie everything back to your own story so it has substance, not slogans.We also dig into the real difference between a heartfelt advocacy and a well-executed one. They are not the same, and mixing them up is why many contestants with great intentions end up with ineffective platforms.If you want a platform that judges remember for the right reasons, watch the episode.Until next week,AdrianOur next mock interview is on Thursday 11th December at 8pm EST. Click the button below to sign up or visit pageantmock.com (3 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Have you heard of cross-pollination? Not the bee kind, the kind where you take an idea from one field and use it to level up something completely different.Think of people like Leonardo da Vinci or Steve Jobs. They were masters at it. Da Vinci blended art with anatomy. Jobs fused engineering with storytelling and taste. Their biggest breakthroughs came from mixing disciplines, not staying in their lane.In the same way, we’re going to take something I learned from a communications expert, and apply it to our pageant interview practice.You already know (I hope) how useful it is to watch your answers back, but if you want to truly turbocharge your progress, try analyzing your answers in these three ways:* Watch your answer back without sound.* Listen to your answer back without video.* Read a transcript of your answer.Want to know why and how this framework is so effective?Then watch the video 😉See you next weekAdrianOur next mock interview is on Thursday 4th December at 8pm EST. Click the button below to sign up or visit pageantmock.com (3 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Next mock interview is on Thursday 27th November at 8pm EST. Sign up at pageantmock.com (4 spots left).I don’t know about you, but for the past couple of weeks, every time I opened my phone, there seemed to be a fresh Miss Universe drama waiting for me.And whilst the pageant fans and “experts” are still critiquing and breaking down what happened, I’m more interested in the practical lessons we can all take away from the chaos.Lesson One: Know What You’re Getting Yourself IntoDo your research. It doesn’t have to take long, and with AI tools such as perplexity (which is specifically built to search the internet and fact find), you can get a great overview of any pageant system in just a few minutes.Ignorance might be bliss, but naivety equals pain in pageantry.Lesson Two: Don’t Listen to What People Say. Look at What They Do.This is a great life lesson in general, but specifically in pageantry—where there can be a tendency to gloss over things and not discuss issues publicly—it’s hugely important that you become adept at studying people’s behavior, especially over an extended period of time.It’s like they say: trust but verify.Lesson Three: Have a Plan That Doesn’t Involve WinningHere’s a thought experiment. If you poured your entire budget, time, and energy into a pageant and still placed dead last, would you still feel it was worth it?No? Then we need to set some different goals.---What were your takeaways from this year’s pageant? And what do you think it means for the future of Miss Universe?Hit reply and let me know.AdrianPS Want my hot take on where pageantry is heading and a potential new trend? It’s at the end of this week’s episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

A very well known and well respected US pageant titleholder once gave me the title of “The Pageant Shrink” after a long and emotional conversation about a deeply disappointing episode she’d experienced in the pageant industry.Conversations like this aren’t rare for me. I’ve been called on to act as everything from legal counsel to pageant confidante and everything in between. Part of that is my experience, but it’s also because of the unique position I occupy in the industry.I’m oddly well connected, known, and respected for someone who is as close to truly objective as is humanly possible.But I can’t have a conversation with everyone. And I know many of you will go through your share of pageant disappointments, and some of them will be deeply unfair or unjust. I have just one piece of advice:Know your worth.And then add tax (ok, that’s two pieces of advice).But seriously, know what YOU bring to the table, not in vague self help manifestation terms, but in real skills, experience, knowledge, work ethic, and sheer hunger. There’s a different type of confidence that comes from knowing you’ve outworked your competition at every turn.When someone tries to take advantage of you, or tries to put one over on you, know your worth.Even if you’re fortunate enough to have an amazing team behind you, they can’t be with you every minute of every day.There are entire industries that exist purely because women such as you don’t know their worth.Time to buck the trend.Adrian.PS: Next mock interview is on Thursday 20th November at 8pm EST. Click the button below to sign up or go to pageantmock.com (4 spots left). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

To join our next mock interview or view upcoming dates, click the button below or go to pageantmock.com:Welcome to the replay of our first ever pageant mock interview session.In Tuesday’s email I mentioned that we would be experimenting with weekly mock interview sessions. You can join in two ways:* Pay $19.99 for a single session* Become a monthly subscriber for $19.99 and attend every weekly session at no additional costMy goal was to create the most realistic and impactful setting possible:* You practice under real pressure: answering questions from fellow contestants instead of rehearsing in your head or talking to the mirror. This helps you get used to the same nerves you feel in the interview room.* You get an instant playback of your answer: right after you finish responding, we replay that exact answer on the call. This lets you see how you look, hear how you sound, and identify specific habits to refine immediately.* You learn from the judges’ perspective: because you ask questions as well as answer them, you gain a clearer understanding of what judges listen for and how they evaluate contestants.If there’s one thing I’ve learned from interviewing over 350 contestants around the world over the last decade, it’s that the camera does not lie. I look back at my earliest interviews now and they make me cringe. But being forced to watch them while editing is exactly what helped me improve so quickly. When you’re confronted with the truth, progress becomes inevitable.Enjoy the replay.AdrianIf you want weekly practice, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It costs $19.99 per month and gives you access to every weekly mock interview. Cancel any time. Click the button below to subscribe or go to thepageantproject.com: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

If you’re a paid member, you should have already received early access to our new weekly live mock interviews (together with your complimentary spot and coupon code).If you’re one of our regular readers, good news — you can now join too.Each live session gives you the chance to:* Practice real interview questions under pressure* Watch other contestants’ answers in real time* Learn exactly what judges respond toNext session:📅 Thursday 13 September (Friday 14 for Aussies)🕗 8pm EST / 7pm CST / 6pm MST / 5pm PST (12 noon for Aussies)🎟 Reserve your spot → https://tpp.as.me/mockpageantinterview$19.99 USD for non-members.Can’t make it live? You can still take part — record a short video of yourself answering two interview questions and send it to info@thepageantproject.com. I’ll review it during the session and include your full feedback in the replay, which everyone receives.Now, a quick story from today’s video…One of my clients just won her Miss America local — and what helped her nail her interview wasn’t another tip or script. It was energy. She blasted her pump-up playlist and paced back and forth before stepping into the room.Athletes never compete cold. They warm up. Pageant contestants should too.You can’t think your way out of nerves — you need to move your way out.And the final topic for today’s video — the Miss Universe situation.When I see things like this, I’m reminded that red flags in this industry aren’t hard to spot — they’re just easy to excuse. Power without respect isn’t leadership, it’s ego.Empowerment starts when you stop tolerating the wrong energy.See you at the mock,Coach AdrianPaid members get complimentary access to weekly mock interviews. Join for just $19.99 per month by hitting the subscribe button below. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe