Zara Nortley, Miss Galaxy England 2016
Photographer: Stacey Clarke
Make-up: Sascha Martini
Category: International competitions
NOTEWORTHY: This is How You Do Pageant Photography
Alexandra Krijger, Miss Curaçao World 2015
Photographer: Niko da Costa Gomez, www.instagram.com/nikodacostagomez
NOTEWORTHY: Gowns with nude material
THIS IS HOW YOU ROCK A NUDE FABRIC GOWN:
AND THIS IS HOW YOU DO NOT:
WINNING (HAIR) STYLES
Miss Venezuela 2012, Irene Sofía Esser Quintero, poses in her evening gown at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She will spend the next few weeks touring, filming, rehearsing, and making new friends while she prepares to compete for the coveted Miss Universe Diamond Nexus Labs Crown. Tune in to the LIVE NBC Telecast from PH Live at 8:00 PM ET on December 19, 2012 to see who will win the title of MISS UNIVERSE® 2012.?HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP–LIGHT RETOUCHING–
Miss Switzerland 2012, Alina Buchschacher, poses in her evening gown at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She will spend the next few weeks touring, filming, rehearsing, and making new friends while she prepares to compete for the coveted Miss Universe Diamond Nexus Labs Crown. Tune in to the LIVE NBC Telecast from PH Live at 8:00 PM ET on December 19, 2012 to see who will win the title of MISS UNIVERSE® 2012.?HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP–LIGHT RETOUCHING–
FOR THE BEAUTY, THE SPLENDOR, THE WONDER OF MY…
BEING PHOTOGENIC
An important tool to have when competing in pageants is a photographic portfolio, basically a model portfolio with some pageant specific shots included.
Modelling work, both catwalk and commercial, is an important part of what is expected of the modern day beauty queen. This is why pageant management and, sometimes, judges, want to see what a contestant looks like in pictures.
It is very important that the pictures actually look like you, so the viewer can recognise the person standing in from of them in these.
One fantasy or glamour shot is OK, but the images should not be edited within an inch of your life. If you end up looking like Barbie, plastic skin and all, you are in trouble. As a photographer you learn that agents and advertising execs want to be able to see pores in facial pictures (unless you really have no visible pores).
Particularly swimsuit shots should be true to your figure, as people working the fashion industry do not like surprises. So, please stay away from photographic diets.
Important is not to only show different looks, from very casual to glam and everything in between, but also different expressions. Give evidence that you are a brilliant photographic actor.
Lastly, decide in advance if you want a colour or black+white portfolio. Having a mixed portfolio is not deemed professional. My advice though is to go with colour for your pageant portfolio.
VARIATIONS ON THE COLUMN DRESS
VARIATIONS ON THE FULL-SKIRTED BALL GOWN
A DRESS WORTH A YES!
For a young woman competing in a pageant, selecting the right evening gown is as important as choosing the perfect wedding dress.
A wedding dress is all about making your dreams come true. The perfect pageant gown is about creating the illusion of perfection in your allotted minute of competition. The evening gown should make you stand out in a positive way, emphasizing your strong points and hiding everything you want hidden.
First consideration is the colour of the gown. Instinctively you may go for your favourite colour. However, this may not be a colour that looks good on stage or good on you under strong stage lights. The perfect colour may be one that you dislike.
Next is the shape of the dress. If you are 5’8” or taller you can probably get away with any shape. If you are 5’5” or less the most advisable shape is one that turns you into an upward pointing arrow, i.e. a column shape with a halter top and in a solid colour. Stay away from any dress that creates horizontal lines across your body, but do look for vertical lines. If your height is in between, the determining factor is your body shape.
The siren or fishtail dress is an extremely popular shape. I do advise against this shape though. If the dress is too narrow around the thighs and knees it will interfere with your walk. If you have wide hips, particularly with a narrow waist, the fishtail dress will draw inordinate attention to your hips.
Avoid two-piece dresses. They create horizontal lines and lack the elegance required for an evening gown competition. Avoid also dresses with very long trains, or trains in general, as they are difficult to handle and accidents waiting to happen.
The two dress shapes I recommend are two sides of the same coin, the column dress and the full-skirted ball gown. The column dress has no flares, whereas the full-skirted gown can have from a few to many flares. Both shapes work amazingly in a strapless style.
A classic example of the column dress was worn by Ariadne Gutierrez, Miss Colombia, in the 2015 Miss Universe Evening Gown competition.
The full-skirted gown is ideal for showcasing a narrow waist and an hourglass figure. If you have broad shoulders and narrow hips, this type of gown will balance out your figure and if you are bottom-heavy, this dress shape is ideal for drawing attention elsewhere.
The full-skirted gown even works for shorter girls, who should however wear platform shoes with this style. A great example is the gown styling of Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe 2012.
When selecting a gown, make sure you have at least one extra pair of critical eyes to look at you from every angle. Isn’t that how you would shop for your wedding dress?
THOWBACK (way, way back): The 1997 Miss Universe Pageant
In 1997, I wrote this review of the 1997 Miss Universe pageant. Rereading it this weak I was surprised by how spot on my evaluation of Donald Trump really was. I predicted that the Miss Universe pageant would die under his stewardship. It did not, but the Miss Universe pageant has lost its lustre and the US ratings of the Final Show are at their lowest in the competition’s long history. I also said that the show could have been one of the best ever; looking back now it really was.
The 1997 Miss Universe pageant has left a bitter aftertaste, for its general tackiness, the treatment of the media and the crass commercialism which dominated it. The tone was set by THE announcement and the blatant exploitation of what should have been a private drama. If the timing of THE announcement was ever in doubt, one need only follow the carefully rehearsed on stage banter about what was new in Marla Maples’ life.
Everything was basically cheap: from the trailer park offices, to the photocopied passes and Delegates’ Handbook. Everyday there was some ruckus involving the media and the very tight working conditions which were allowed to them. After the first week, the only events open to the media were the rehearsals for about a half hour every day. Everybody seemed confused and it would appear that everything could unravel at any moment. The security was a joke, as no pass had a photograph and nothing was checked.
The stage itself was really beautiful and the show could have been one of the best ever. It was marred however by its flattery of the Miss America Pageant (imitation is the sincerest form of?) . The double Judges’ Panels, the call-inn audience question, the lame attempt at squeezing a talent round out of what is not a talent-based competition and the outdated swimsuits, made one wonder if it was really May in Miami Beach and not September in Atlantic City.
Marla and George finally seem to have gotten the hang of it, although there is plenty room for improvement. Let’s bring back Bob Goen and a former Miss Universe as guest commentator.
The 10 semi-finalists were as predictable as ever. Besides the “Staple 4″ (USA, Venezuela, India and Sweden), Miss Italy was there to prove that Miss Universe is not racist, even if she was the most vulgar girl there.
Miss Curaçao, Miss Panama, Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Trinidad & Tobago were true beauty queens (the REAL semi-finalists) and Miss Estonia was her comic relief self.
Brook Mahealani Lee won deservedly based on her finals answer. Marena Bencomo was CORRUPTLY boosted by her compatriot Carolina Herrera (they are from Venezuela after all and remember the saying about old dogs?) and Margot Bourgeois was affected by her honest, but unpageantlike, answer to the final question.
In the hands of Donald Trump, the Miss Universe pageant is bound to die soon. How can this man head a pageant that requires its contestants to be a positive role model to their communities and the world, when he himself is an example of the basest human emotions?
Marla and THE Donald never seemed like a divorcing couple (am I the only one who saw the encouraging caress of Marla’s arm?). Donald Trump was besides himself at the Coronation Ball when he heard about the show’s exceptional rating and “jokingly” told those present that he was sure he had done nothing to affect those ratings (talk about blowing your own horn!).
Its very painful to see that Miss Universe has become the pageant that exploits the national pride and aspirations of most countries in the world for the financial benefit of one despicable human being!
A concerned (almost former) fan of and reporter at the 1997 Miss Universe pageant
The Pageant Consultancy 