Why Enter the American Miss Pageant
The Legacy Carries On ...
In 1986, the American Miss Pageant was founded by Theresa Pelletier, a woman who never had the opportunity to participate in a pageant. She saw pageants as a way to perform on stage, make connections with others, and believed that the true idea of beauty, comes from within. The program grew and was recognized as a platform that enabled girls and women to empower themselves and others. Theresa went on to help hundreds of girls in the Northeast, gain confidence and build important life skills.
Theresa Pelletier is my Mom, and before she passed away, I promised to carry on her amazing legacy. Celebrating girls and women for intelligence, ambition, and kindness became our organization's mission. When women possess these traits, they can accomplish great things.
Here's what positive pageantry can help delegates develop:
Communication & Interpersonal Skills.
The skills needed to work with other people, particularly to convey and receive messages either in writing or verbally. The onstage Introduction, Judges' Interviews, and interactions with fellow delegates and AMP staff help develop these skills. Former contestants have shared with me they nailed their job or college interview because of the skills acquired through pageantry.
Self-awareness & Empathy, are two key parts of Emotional Intelligence.
They describe understanding yourself and being able to feel for other people. The AMP backstage dressing rooms are full of smiles and delegates helping their fellow delegates is common. AMP also promotes the importance of giving back and is helping raise awareness and funds year-round, for Shriners Children's Hospital in Boston, the official American Miss Pageant charity.
Decision-making & Problem-solving.
This describes the skills required to understand problems, find solutions to them, alone or with others, and then take action to address them. The overwhelming support shown by all contestants in the system is unparalleled. As pageants, pageant wardrobes and hair and make-up go during the competition, you learn to adapt and solve any problem that may arise before you hit the runway.
Creative Thinking & Critical Thinking.
This describes the ability to think in different and unusual ways about problems, find new solutions, or generate new ideas, coupled with the ability to assess information carefully and understand its relevance. There was a delegate competing in Fashion Runway and her long train detached in the middle of her routine. She didn't panic. She gracefully picked it up, flung it over her shoulder and continued with her routine, using the detached fabric as a prop.
Resilience and the Ability to Cope with Disappointment.
In life, the ability to recover from setbacks, and treat them as opportunities to learn, or simply as life experiences, is invaluable. You can achieve anything you want in this world ... you just have to be willing to work hard to accomplish it.
It takes personal commitment & courage to participate in pageants.
At American Miss Pageant, we acknowledge, praise, and celebrate each of our AMP delegates.
Apply Today and claim your AMP State Title and the opportunity to join us this November for AMP Nationals.