| p>You've sent in the entry forms, paid the entry fee, | | | | sipping your juice or morning coffee. Or, maybe you |
| and shopped for your pageant wardrobe. Now it's time | | | | can find time for a little reading during the week on the |
| to start thinking about preparing for "The Pageant | | | | bus or while riding in the carpool. You could keep |
| Interview". The interview competition makes you pace | | | | reading material in your backpack or tote bag and |
| the hall, gives you sweaty palms, and can give even | | | | squeeze in a few minutes here and there. If something |
| the most experienced pageant contestant a | | | | on the first page of the paper interests you or is |
| headache. But how will you ever find time to prepare? | | | | relevant to your platform read any follow-up articles |
| Where do you start? Just take a deep breath and | | | | on the following pages. |
| follow these 4 easy steps to prepare for a top | | | | 3. Practice your interview questions standing or sitting |
| pageant interview: | | | | in your "interview" position. Will you be sitting during the |
| 1. Watch the morning and/or evening news. This is a | | | | interview competition? Or will you be standing in a |
| great way to get some "free training time" while you're | | | | panel-style interview? Find out what the interview |
| doing something else. Watch your favorite news | | | | format is and practice your questions a few times |
| channel while getting dressed in the morning, or turn on | | | | prior to the pageant standing or sitting the same way |
| the morning news while eating breakfast. If you're an | | | | you will be in the interview. Once you're at the |
| early riser I recommend CNN's American Morning. It | | | | competition you'll feel more at ease and be able to |
| has complete news coverage without a lot of fluff. | | | | focus on the questions instead of worrying about how |
| Later in the morning try NBC's The Today Show, or | | | | you're standing or sitting. |
| ABC's Good Morning, America. Both programs have | | | | 4. Schedule time on your calendar to practice interview |
| complete currents events coverage as well as | | | | questions at least twice a week. If you have time |
| entertainment and pop culture news. (If you're a teen | | | | specifically set aside to practice you're more likely to |
| contestant you may find CNN a little dry, stick to The | | | | actually do it. Good intentions are just that, good |
| Today Show or Good Morning America.) In the | | | | intentions, but going over those questions requires time |
| evening, try watching TV while you're changing clothes | | | | set aside just for practice. Maybe you decide to |
| after school or while you're preparing dinner. And I | | | | practice five questions each night right before bed. Or |
| know you're working out; kill two birds with one stone | | | | perhaps you practice questions while you're working |
| and switch on the news while you're sweating and | | | | out or driving in the car (I know one contestant who |
| dreaming of thinner thighs. Make certain you are | | | | puts on her cell phone headset so she doesn't look like |
| watching a national news broadcast (ABC, CBS, NBC, | | | | she's talking to herself!). Maybe you and a friend get |
| CNN, Fox) as well as a local station. If you're really | | | | together over lunch to practice questions. Keep copies |
| stuck for time, try listening to news radio while you're in | | | | of practice questions in your backpack and take them |
| the car. News radio regularly gives a full update on the | | | | out while you're waiting for your ride after gymnastics |
| hour and at 30 minutes past the hour. | | | | or voice class. Just make certain you actually have |
| 2. Read the first page of your local Sunday | | | | time scheduled for practicing those questions; you'll feel |
| newspaper. If your hometown newspaper is anything | | | | more prepared and score higher on your interview. |
| like mine, you could spend half the day reading the | | | | Just follow these four easy steps and you'll be on your |
| paper. Try just reading the first page while you're | | | | way to a solid pageant interview score! |