Confessions of a Pageant King

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

In Tuesday’s email, I shared my plans for a free pageant interview training built from the nearly 400 interviews I’ve done over the past decade.If you haven’t already, take two minutes to help shape that training by completing this short survey:👉 pageantmock.comIntroducing Weekly Mock Interview Practice (Paid Members Only)The free training will cover interview fundamentals, but many of you have asked for more hands-on practice — a space to build confidence under real interview pressure.That’s why I’m launching weekly mock interview sessions for our paid members on a trial basis. If you find them valuable, we’ll keep going.You can:* Join live online and practice in real time, or* Send in a short 2–3-minute video answering a couple of interview questions to be reviewed during the call (you’ll see my feedback in the replay).During these sessions, you’ll also get to observe other contestants and analyze their answers from a judge’s point of view.Learning what stands out, what feels authentic, and how judges perceive confidence gives you insight most contestants never get — and it dramatically sharpens your own performance.First Session (Trial Run)* Thursday 13 November – 8 p.m. EST* 7 p.m. CST | 6 p.m. MST | 5 p.m. PST* Friday 14 November – 12 p.m. AEDT (Sydney)* Friday 14 November – 1 a.m. GMT (UK)If you’d like to attend live, reply to this email and I’ll send you the details.If the time doesn’t suit, send me your recorded answers before the session — you’ll still be part of the call replay and feedback.Join the Paid MembershipAccess to these sessions is included with your $19.99 USD/month membership (cancel anytime). That’s up to four or five live mocks each month for less than the cost of one private session ($197).👉 Click the link below to sign up:https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeWhy This MattersReal improvement happens when you practice under pressure. These weekly sessions are your chance to simulate the real interview room, learn what judges notice, and refine your answers until they feel effortless.See you at our first mock — let’s start building interview confidence before 2026 even begins.— Adrian 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---(TL:DR—visit pageantmock.com and tell me YOUR biggest frustrations with pageant interview).I got quite frustrated last week.I’ve been doing a lot of mock interviews.I’ve also been learning more about the differences in pageant interview between Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss Volunteer America, by interviewing contestants who have competed in all three (they’re COMPLETELY different by the way).Here’s what frustrated me—there’s a HUGE amount of information about pageant interview you need to know that simply isn’t available or easily accessible.It’s either gatekept, paywalled, or simply not talked about.And to me that’s completely unacceptable.I can’t tell you how many mock interview sessions I’ve had recently where a client will tell me that my feedback is the first REAL feedback they’ve been given in a session. Not a generic “that was good” or a cliched “just be yourself”, but ACTUAL constructive feedback that they can take away and work on.Also I don’t know what’s going on, but so many of you sound EXACTLY the same when answering mock interview questions. It’s actually uncanny. It’s like you’ve all been given the same formula for answering, but in my opinion, it’s a formula for DISASTER.Here’s what I decided:* Create a FREE training that will show you how to be WORLD-CLASS at pageant interview* It will be better than what other coaches are CHARGING for* It will cover not only WHAT to say, but HOW to say it* It will show you how to overcome nerves and how to interview with CONFIDENCE* How to prepare for those dreaded CONTROVERSIAL questions* How to sound AUTHENTIC, not rehearsed or robotic* How to avoid RAMBLING answers (especially if you have ADHD like me)* How to make your practice 10x more productive and take up NO EXTRA TIME in your scheduleBut first—I need your help.I need you to go to pageantmock.com and fill out a two-minute survey. Tell me about your biggest frustrations and your biggest obstacles so that I can help you deliver the interview of your life in 2026.As a bonus, you’ll be the first to know when the training goes live.Oh, and did I mention this training will be FREE? And better than what other coaches are CHARGING you for?It’s time to shake the industry up a little in 2026!Go to → pageantmock.com now.---I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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 ZoeZoe McGrady is an engineer, professional model, content creator and youth mentor based in New York City.Zoe attended Duke University and obtained her Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2019. Since then, she worked six years in Fintech, became a professional model working for brands like Under Armor and Sephora, and began pageantry where she placed 3 time top 3 at Miss New York USA.Both as a mentor and a content creator, Zoe now shares how she succeeded in many male-dominated fields and pivoted into the beauty space while facing multiple childhood adversities. The biggest was overcoming abuse and the challenges of a dysfunctional upbringing brought on by parental addiction.After embarking on her own self-healing journey, Zoe’s initiative “Thrive Beyond Survive” is focused on sharing her story and personal lessons to help others facing adversity get out of survival mode and be able to thrive in life. She recently competed at Miss Cosmo USA where she placed First Runner-Up.👉 Follow Zoe:https://www.instagram.com/zoe.mcgrady/⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and bio; platform overview: Thrive Beyond Survive* 12:00 Adoption, STEM, and wrestling: early identity & Duke* 14:33 The Instagram ad that led to Miss New York USA* 15:47 From résumé to story: interviews that land* 18:00 Year one results: why the judges connected despite imperfections* 19:27 Mentoring focus: from intention to speaking to kids and panels* 20:59 Feedback, boundaries, and controlling what she can (skin, weight, no surgery)* 24:35 Pressing pause on Miss USA amid controversy and ‘silenced’ titleholders* 26:59 Prelim self-critique: “I think I screwed up bikini”* 28:18 Saying yes to Miss Cosmo USA with two weeks’ prep* 30:04 Judges, scorecards, and subconscious bias in pageantry* 32:18 Backstage optics as an introvert: focus over photos* 1:01:20 Anxiety on the journey and regulating through competition* 1:17:39 Modeling craft: reviewing every frame, angles, and pose auditingI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe---When Did Mature Become a Bad Thing?I was working with a new pageant interview client today. She had just aged out of Teen and was about to compete in her second-ever Miss competition. Her mother had originally sent me a DM on Instagram saying that her daughter had always scored well in interview but that there would almost always be at least one comment about how she needed to show more “personality” or that she sounded too rehearsed.One even went as far as to say they felt she was just telling them what they wanted to hear.There’s no doubt that feedback like that can be confusing (as well as frustrating). This young woman turned out to be super sharp and articulate, which some judges (especially in Teen competitions) can see as being too “mature.” I’ve worked with multiple Teen contestants who received similar feedback—all of it along the lines of them almost interviewing too well, or that they interviewed like a Miss rather than a Teen.I personally think this is bogus advice. I was extremely mature growing up, and if you were to tell me that the reason I didn’t win a competition was because I sounded too “mature,” then my conclusion would automatically be that this clearly wasn’t a competition for me.That being said, pageant judges sometimes don’t say what they mean. I’m not saying that they’re not telling you the truth (although that can be a distinct possibility at times). What I am saying is that sometimes they struggle to articulate their thoughts just as much as you might during an interview.What Does the Feedback Actually Mean?By now, most of you know that my coaching runs deep. I focus on mindset and root causes, not surface-level band-aid solutions. In this case, I needed to determine what the judge actually meant when they said my client hadn’t shown enough “personality.”After all, unless you decode what the feedback actually means, how can you get to work on it?Here was the conclusion we ended up with:* Showing “personality” actually means needing to appear relatable.* In order to be relatable, you need to share your struggles.* This makes you imperfect, human, and ultimately relatable.* Sharing struggles gave my client the ick (“Why would anyone want to hear about my problems?”).* On top of that, she was intelligent, and some of her friends had called her “intimidating.”When you add this all up, the judge’s comment begins to make more sense. It wasn’t really about personality at all; it was about the need to be relatable by showing people that you weren’t perfect and that you had struggles like everybody else.And when you couple this with a sharp intellect and an impressive résumé, some judges are going to view that as showing off and will immediately mark you down. But here’s the moral of the story:They won’t write that.Ninety-nine percent of the time, they’ll phrase it in a more palatable way such as “needs to show personality,” which leaves you feeling confused because it’s such a vague concept.The next time you get vague, confusing, or frustrating feedback in your pageant, decode what it really means before getting to work. Otherwise, you might spend a year fixing the wrong thing—or polishing a flaw that never existed in the first place.⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 – Special Offer: Become Adrian’s “guinea pig” for new AI-based mock interview testing* 2:34 – The Client Story: Teen contestant moving into Miss division and confusing judge feedback* 5:49 – “Too Rehearsed” Confusion: When you get feedback that doesn’t fit your actual prep* 7:35 – What Judges Really Mean: “Show more personality” = “Be more relatable”* 13:18 – Why You Must Record Yourself: The danger of never watching your own interview back* 16:04 – The Limits of Coaching Alone: It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it* 20:27 – The Hard Work of Self-Discovery: Doing the personal work that builds authenticity and confidence* 26:16 – Final Thoughts & Call to Action: Do the work, record yourself, and reach out if you want to be the test client---I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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 NicoleNicole Taylor, Miss Illinois Volunteer 2026, is a conservation major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Assistant Director of Gardner Camp, a nonprofit youth outdoor education center. Her S.E.R.V.E initiative, Exploring Inclusion, promotes equal access to the outdoors by breaking down barriers for everyone.Nicole believes no matter someone’s age, gender, background, or identity, there is a place in the outdoors for all. With a social media reach of over 100,000 followers she uses her platform digitally and in person volunteering to inspire others to discover that everyone belongs in nature.👉 Follow Nicole:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleataylor2004/https://www.tiktok.com/@nicoleataylor2004⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and bio: Miss Illinois Volunteer 2026, conservation major, and founder of Exploring Inclusion* 7:45 Camo meets crown: balancing college, nonprofit work, hunting, and pageantry* 13:20 Handling judgment and staying authentic online* 17:40 The bow-shop encounter that launched her pageant journey* 25:10 Conservation 101: how hunters fund environmental protection* 31:50 The viral owl call and what it taught her about confidence* 39:45 Traveling across 21 states: modeling, hunting, and TSA stories* 48:10 Building a 100K platform to promote inclusion in the outdoors* 1:05:30 Landing her dream job as Assistant Director at Gardner Camp* 1:16:50 Faith, gratitude, and preparing for Miss Volunteer America 2026I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeIf you ever want to guarantee chaos, try filming a serious video with a cat in the room.Mine decided the exact moment I hit record was the perfect time to make his grand entrance. Fur everywhere. Meowing like he’d just discovered he had vocal cords.Anyway.This week I offered free mock interviews to Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants. It was just something I wanted to do for the girls heading to Reno. I figured maybe one person would book. Ten did.And that’s when things got interesting.I thought I’d be running interview drills. Asking tough questions. Testing composure. But that’s not what happened.One contestant, a front-runner I’ve known for years, wanted me to throw every hard question I could think of at her. She handled them all with ease. After a few minutes I stopped and said, “You don’t need this. You’re ready.” She paused, exhaled, and said quietly, “Yeah... I guess I am.”That’s what she actually needed to hear. Not another question. Permission to stop overworking and start believing it was enough.Another contestant told me she doesn’t hit her stride until question four or five. Which, in a Miss USA interview, is about two minutes too late. So I suggested she warm up before she even walks into the room. Two minutes of out-loud practice, maybe using ChatGPT’s voice mode, just to get into rhythm. Same skill, better timing.Then there was the eighteen-year-old who said she felt like an imposter. She’s brilliant, confident, and prepared, but she couldn’t remember the last time she felt proud of herself. We reframed that. Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw, it’s fuel. Her homework was to look in the mirror and say, “I’m proud of you.” It made her squirm, which meant she needed it.And finally, one of my Miss USA contestants had sent a perfect but painfully stiff video. On our call, though, she was hilarious, magnetic, totally herself. I told her, “Walk into the room as your TikTok self, not your LinkedIn self.”By the end of those ten sessions, I realized something. None of these were really mock interviews.They were something else entirely.Each one ended the same way: with someone seeing themselves clearly for the first time.* Clarity that they’d already done enough.* Clarity that perfectionism can be useful when it’s understood.* Clarity that their real self is more powerful than any polished version.That’s when it hit me. This is what I actually do.Sure, I can run mock interviews or review social media strategy. But the real transformation happens when you finally understand yourself. When you stop trying to become someone new and start seeing who you already are.If you’d like to have a Clarity Conversation of your own, I’m giving away one free session in the next 24 hours.It’s a half-hour chat to help you get clear on what’s keeping you stuck, what feedback really means, or whether you’re heading in the right direction.The only catch is that it’ll be recorded, since I’ll be sharing the session in Thursday’s video.If that sounds like you, and you have a specific area you want clarity on (pageant, business, social media, whatever it is), reply to this email or message me on Instagram.You don’t need more coaching.You need clarity.Timestamps* 1:40 Why I offered free Miss USA mock interviews* 4:10 When “mock interviews” turn into something else* 6:45 The front-runner who just needed to hear she was ready* 10:30 The warm-up problem (and how to fix it in two minutes)* 14:20 The perfectionist teen and the mirror assignment* 19:10 Bringing your TikTok self into the interview room* 24:45 What every contestant actually needed* 28:30 The truth behind my coaching sessions* 32:00 Why clarity beats more preparation* 35:10 What I’m offering next* 41:50 How to get your free clarity conversationI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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 ChristellPageant queen turned entrepreneur, you may know Christell Foote as 3rd runner up to Miss USA or 1st runner up to Miss US International, she has now taken her skills to entrepreneurship! Footewear, her brand she formed this past year started from her passion for shoes and not ever being able to find one that fit her.Fast forward she has now created the Glass Slipper™️: a shoe that doesn’t ask a girl to compromise, a symbol of authenticity and identity.👉 Follow Christell:https://www.instagram.com/footewearbychristell/https://footewear.store/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and seven-year journey* 03:20 Owning her height and confidence* 07:45 Birth of Footewear and first prototypes* 12:05 Family support and startup grind* 18:40 Competing in her own heels* 20:10 The “no blisters” Miss U.S. International moment* 26:00 Expanding sizes and future plans* 32:30 Not done with pageantry yet* 45:50 Shoutouts and secret launch* 47:10 Final 10 questions and closingI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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 KelseyKelsey Craft is a board-certified Physician Assistant with a passion for aesthetics and wellness, currently serving as Miss Alaska USA 2025. She has dedicated her career to helping others feel confident both inside and out, blending medical expertise with a heart for service.After a life-altering accident in 2022, Kelsey realized that true beauty is not defined by titles, appearances, or outside recognition, but by resilience, authenticity, and purpose. This experience inspired her to create Craft Your Beauty, a movement that empowers others to embrace their inner strength and self-worth. Through the Craft Your Beauty Scholarship, she supports high school graduates who share how they plan to make the world a more beautiful place, ensuring her platform has a lasting impact.Beyond the stage and clinic, Kelsey is a certified yoga instructor who volunteers her time teaching restorative classes to educators, underserved communities, and trauma-affected groups. Having traveled to all 50 states as a national spokesperson for nonprofits, she has seen firsthand the power of connection and service. Whether teaching on the mat, speaking on stage, or representing Alaska at Miss USA, she embodies her core belief: true beauty is crafted not by appearances, but by how we love, serve, and uplift others.👉 Follow Kelsey on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kelseycraft/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and bio* 01:35 Nashville check in* 02:00 Day in the life, coffee culture* 06:25 The 2022 accident* 12:00 Crafting the 90 second intro* 18:50 Crow pose breakthrough* 26:10 Perfectionism and self worth* 33:00 Identity and showing up* 35:16 Craft Your Beauty and scholarship* 55:50 Miss USA prep logistics* 56:30 Final 10 questions* 01:04:00 Closing and outroI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeThere’s no disputing the fact that social media and pageantry have become intricately intertwined over the last twenty years. Being able to build and foster an engaged audience on social media is one of the most important skill sets a titleholder can have, not only for her pageant career but also for the one beyond that.It’s also a crucial factor in helping a Director grow the pageant by getting more girls to compete year after year.The difficulty lies in balancing the need to become proficient in social media with not allowing it to become an all-consuming full-time occupation unto itself. You need to build a healthy relationship with your phone and social media so that you can use it, rather than have it use you, where you’re doom-scrolling until the early hours of the morning (or until you drop your phone on your face).Julia DeSerio: Owner of Four Points Media and MarketingI wanted to bring Julia in for a couple of reasons.Firstly, with the launch of The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry, I’m starting to build our Resources section out in earnest. Many of our test readers, including more than a few of you, were keen on having a central place where I could recommend people I trust. I don’t take that responsibility lightly, which means I’m only recommending people I know personally, and even then, I’m still interviewing them so you can get a feel for who they are.Julia first appeared on my radar because of the video work she’s been doing with Miss Georgia Volunteer Peyton Christen. It wasn’t just a touching video, it was a stellar piece of social media content that told a story and stood out in a sea of pageant posts that often look identical.I think it would serve many of you well to consider spending a meaningful portion of your pageant budget on bringing in people like Julia who can make your life easier, amplify your advocacy, and help shape your legacy. Having someone who can expertly document your journey takes pressure off you, and the final product will always be far more engaging and professional than a selfie or a phone propped up on a stack of books.For Our VIPsFor this Thursday’s VIP Deep Dive, I thought it would be a great idea to offer one of our VIPs a social media audit, along with ideas and strategies for future content creation aimed at magnifying your message and growing your platform.If you’re a VIP and would like me to cast an eye over your socials, reply to this email or send me a DM in the Substack app.Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and Make A Wish Story* 03:12 Julia’s Background* 05:40 What Four Points Offers* 08:30 Getting Started with Clients* 11:40 Working with Miss Georgia Volunteer* 16:15 Authenticity Over Cookie Cutter Content* 20:00 The Make A Wish Video Behind the Scenes* 22:20 Being Present vs Capturing Content* 31:37 Transform Your Brand Reign and Legacy* 35:10 Pageantry as Professional DevelopmentI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/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