What to know before joining a beauty pageant in Uganda
Girls naturally tend to gravitate towards beauty, all the way from childhood seen in how they often mirror their mothers' style and play with their accessories. With the rise and reoccurrence of beauty contests, many of them are encouraged to join, but it's crucial to understand the implications beforehand;
The Limitless Possibilities: The moment one walks in for the audition of a pageant, one becomes susceptible to several things including a wide range of possibilities—many positive, some orchestrated, and others unforeseen. Flexibility and quick adaptation to change are crucial to thrive in the pageant.
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You are going to be on TV: Yes, most of these pageants are televised, and that means you are most likely going to be seen by a wide audience of media, that sounds exciting but also can stir up mixed emotions. You must make peace with that.
Big Brother: Yes yes and yes. Big Brother is going to be watching you, figuratively and literally. From the onset of auditions to the boot camp where the transformation into swans happens, you are going to be scrutinized and watched, how you behave, walk, talk, relate with others, and everything therein.
This means you have to be mindful of how you conduct yourself but yet free enough to be yourself. A lot of the outcome is a factor in the results of such evaluations.
Competition is real: Honey, the competition too starts from day one. The pageant is most times looking out for the best candidate who will advance the said cause. This comes with the pressure for the beauty queens to perform and please, the stress therein, always having to be at best and be visible can be a lot. Join the pageant ready for the showdown.
Cold feet: There will be moments when you question why you ever decided to participate. The projects, training, tension, and uncertainty surrounding the finale may overwhelm you to the point of wanting to quit. When that time comes, pause, remind yourself of your initial motivation, and forge ahead. There's no turning back. No retreat.
Meanies: Women in their nature tend to be very competitive, especially in the presence of fellow women both overtly and subtly.
With a pageant at hand, that sense is heightened, for some, this competition causes them to be mean and unkind to their fellow contestants.
Some resort to unkindness out of insecurity, attempting to undermine perceived threats, while others simply exhibit a natural inclination toward cruelty.
In all this; don't allow yourself to be dragged down by such behaviour. Always strive to take the higher road, staying true to yourself.
Celebrity status: As a beauty queen, you inevitably become a public figure, whether you win or not. Your presence on TV, interviews, and participation in the pageant elevate your profile, making you a celebrated individual least for a while.
With this newfound celebrity status comes the temptation to adopt the lifestyles of high-profile celebrities: heightened security, wardrobe privileges, and private transportation.
However, once the pageant concludes and you return to everyday life, you may find it challenging to adjust. Things that you earlier did with ease such as using a boda boda or interacting with your clique friends may feel different. You might even feel too important for mundane chores or errands. Lol! My advice? Stay grounded.
Once a beauty Queen: The mantra remains steadfast—once a beauty queen, always a beauty queen, irrespective of winning the title or not. This signifies that you will forever carry the title, such as Miss Uganda. Moreover, there's an inherent expectation to maintain the standards of a beauty queen: looking impeccable, speaking eloquently, and conducting oneself with poise and grace, embodying the virtues instilled during the pageant era
Embrace the journey with resilience, staying true to yourself. Ultimately, whether crowned or not, the experience shapes a commitment to grace and excellence and is for a lifetime.
