What are Pageant Optional Competitions (and What to Wear)
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Get excited- your pageant is almost here! Now that you’ve finalized your wardrobe for all the required areas of competition, it’s time to shift your focus elsewhere. Although they don’t contribute to your overall score, pageants optional competitions still deserve your undivided attention! These fun “side competitions” are an exciting way to showcase your areas of expertise and expand your pageant experience. Some pageants even provide awards to the winners, like a cash prize or invitation to nationals. If you want to win big at your next pageant, then an optional competition might be your best bet!
Once you’ve decided to compete in one or more pageant optionals, the planning process can begin! Putting together the perfect wardrobe for your optional competitions doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, it can sometimes be easier than putting together your wardrobe for the required areas of competition! Let’s break down each pageant optional competition and share what you should wear for each one.
What to Wear for Fun Fashion
Modeling is an important aspect of most pageants and the fun fashion competition is just one optional competition that revolves around this skill! While some pageants include fun fashion as a required area of competition, many include it as an exciting optional competition that contestants can enter. The fun fashion competition involves modeling an eye-catching outfit like a jumpsuit, romper, or cocktail dress. To bring these outfits to the “fun fashion” level, many contestants add on an overskirt or cape. The most popular fun fashion outfit is a jumpsuit with an overskirt because it creates eye-catching movement on stage without being too difficult to maneuver.
What to Wear for Casual Wear
Let’s be honest, the casual wear competition is anything but casual! While you might not be wearing a glamorous evening gown or formal interview jumpsuit, don’t expect to wear jeans and a t-shirt up on stage. The casual wear competition is your chance to model a fashion-forward outfit that is considered “casually cute.” This is an outfit that you would wear to an upscale brunch or a fun day out with friends. Accessories are an important part of any casual wear outfit, so be sure to find some that help complete your look.
What to Wear for Photogenic
We know what you might be thinking…does it really matter what I wear for photogenic? The answer is: absolutely! Although the judges are looking at your facial beauty during the photogenic competition, what you wear can drastically impact how your photo comes across. Every part of our wardrobe has the power to influence the judges and this includes the top that you wear while taking headshots. When taking pageant headshots, you’ll want to wear a bold top that is eye-catching, but not distracting. For example, you can wear an asymmetrical neckline or a fully beaded top.
What to Wear for Runway
If you’ve ever wanted to be a fashion model, then the runway optional competition is the one for you! Pageants are a natural segway to modeling and the runway competition truly showcases this. Unlike most optional competition, you’ll actually wear casual clothes while walking the runway. Typically, contestants wear a black top, trendy jeans, and nude heels. This outfit is very similar to the outfits that models wear on go-sees, so you’ll be getting real life experience!
What to Wear for Spokesmodel
Are you a public speaker at heart? Then you should consider signing up for the spokesmodel competition! The spokesmodel competition is your opportunity to speak with the judges about a topic that you’re passionate about. While most pageants have a theme that you will need to incorporate into your speech, some pageants leave this open-ended so you can truly express yourself! This optional competition requires a professional wardrobe, similar to your interview outfit. In fact, many contestants choose to rewear their interview outfit since the optional competitions and required areas of competition have different judges. If you’d rather wear something new for spokesmodel, then consider wearing a formal jumpsuit, blazer dress, or two-piece suit!
What to Wear for Top Model
Let’s bring things back to modeling! The Top Model optional competition is another opportunity for you to practice your modeling skills. The only difference is, this time, you won’t be up on stage- you’ll be in front of the camera! The Top Model competition typically consists of a timed photoshoot with the official pageant photographer. During the photoshoot, you’ll be judged on your posing abilities, facial expressions, and comfort level in front of the camera. Unlike the photogenic competition, your pictures aren’t being judged. Instead, your score is based on how you acted during the photoshoot. One way to make your photoshoot stand out is by wearing a fashionable outfit with accessories. Accessories will give you the opportunity to try different poses and emotions. For example, you can pull out a pair of sunglasses to wear over your eyes or on top of your head. You could also wear a trendy two-piece suit so you can pose with your blazer on or off. What you do with your outfit and accessories is completely up to you!
What to Wear for Talent
Do you have a hidden talent that you’re dying to share with the judges? Then the talent competition is clearly for you! This is your time to showcase what makes you unique by performing your talent for the judges. You’d probably be surprised by how many different talents there are at a pageant! Your talent wardrobe will depend directly on the type of performance you are doing. Could you imagine trying to do a gymnastics routine in a ball gown? That would be nearly impossible! Once you’ve narrowed down the type of talent you’re doing, you can pick an outfit that allows you to perform it to the best of your abilities.
Shopping for your pageant optional outfits doesn’t have to be stressful! A queen like you deserves the royal treatment whether she’s buying a new prom dress online or shopping secondhand. At Queenly, we’ve committed ourselves to promoting sustainable fashion while making it affordable for everyone. Join our community of Queens who have listed outfits in their online closet. It’s as easy as signing up for a free account, snapping some pics, and uploading the details- that’s it!
FAQs How much does it cost to compete in a pageant optional competition? The cost of pageant optional competitions ranges from $50 to $250. The exact cost of your pageant optional will depend on the size of the pageant (local, state, national etc.) and the specific pageant system. What are pageant optional competitions? Pageant optionals are extra competitions that you can compete in during your pageant. These scores have no impact on the overall winner.
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