Nine short weeks from now, I will pick up my passport, pack my bags, and begin my annual trip into crazy-land.

Yes Junkies… It’s “prediction” time. 🙂

Every year, for the past 5 years, I’ve been researching all 52 state contestants, in hopes of predicting who the winner of that state will be.  I do it for every state – Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small – whether that state recently performed well at Miss America, or if they haven’t made the Top 10 in decades.

This year, we expect to research over 1500 different contestants as we name a top 5 for each state.  And when I do my research on those 1500+ ladies, I ask myself a significant question…

Who’s doing the work of a state titleholder, right now?

 
In my opinion, it’s the ladies who are doing the work of a state titleholder right now, that have a super strong chance at being named Miss Fill-in-the-Blank come April/May/June/July.

How do you know if you’re doing the work of a state titleholder?  I’m glad you asked… 🙂

Question #1 – WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP?

Ask any state titleholder if their sleep schedule is their favorite part of the job, and chances are, you’re going to get a great big – HA!  Sleep is a LUXURY when you’re a state titleholder – and ladies who are serious about becoming Miss State, understand the need to live the life of Miss State, as if you already were Miss State, EVERY DAY.

That means, waking up earlier than normal to go work out.  That means, ‘looking the part’ of Miss State, even when you want to put a hat on and call it good.  That means, having a well-organized day that requires you to stay on schedule.  Think about it… State titleholders don’t roll out of bed and go to class.  They don’t figure out what their day looks like at 10am.  They don’t scan the daily news for 3 minutes and say, “that’ll do”…

If you’re serious about being a state titleholder, get organized and figure out how to fit everything into your schedule.  Everyone has the same 24 hours in every day.  That means, you have the time to get everything done, if you really wanted to do so.  I can always tell when a contestant is serious about winning – because she becomes serious about her schedule.  Every Single Day.

Question #2 – HOW MANY APPEARANCES DO YOU MAKE EACH WEEK?

Doesn’t matter if you live in a state that has a lot of contacts, or a state where pageants aren’t super popular, being a state titleholder means making appearances.  Appearances that YOU get on your own.  Give speeches in schools, talk to rotary clubs, appear at civic events, local business events and parades, sign autographs for kids, attend stuff that’s a big deal in your community… You get the picture.

And don’t wait for people to come to you – You’ve got to go get these appearances on your own!  Yes, it’s a little scary if you’ve never done it before, but trust me – after about the 12th time you ask, it becomes a whole lot easier and the rejection factor begins to fade (Lol – Yes – that’s not a typo… You need to do A LOT of asking in order to get over any fear you might have about someone saying “no”).

If you’re not making appearances on a weekly basis right now, you’re not living the life of a state titleholder.  Plain and simple.  Make the calls.  Network.  Get in front of people.  THAT’S the kind of thing state titleholders do.

Question #3 – HOW EFFECTIVE ARE YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

I know, I know… Some of you are really reluctant to share too much of your life on social media.  After all, you’re the kind of person who knows the world doesn’t revolve around you and why would anyone care about what you did today anyway?

Here’s the deal… You need to shift your mindset.  You need to become effective on social media NOT in order to promote YOURSELF – but in order to promote the title (or the role) that you represent.

Honestly, if you’re not good at social media now, you’re going to fumble through it all year long as a state titleholder.  Your life NOW is a petrie dish.  You have small window of opportunity to figure out how to attract people to your social media profiles BEFORE the entire state is watching you.

If you don’t know what to do (or how to do it), commit to learn.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.  These next few months are the perfect set of circumstances to watch what your favorite state titleholder is posting about, and to “mimic” it, with your own slant.   Yes, it’s hard.  Yes, there’s a lot to learn.  Yes, it seems shallow at times.  But I’m telling you – if you lack sufficient social media skills, you will be utterly frustrated as a state titleholder.

Question #4 – WHAT’S YOUR BRAND?

Do you know what makes you different and/or better than anyone else?  Do you have any idea why that’s important?  Are you counting on your stellar talent, or your sharp interview skills, or your killer body to carry you through the competition?

Your brand is what makes you unique.  It’s the one thing that causes a judge to say, “Huh…  She’s not just interested in going to Miss America – She really knows what she wants to do with this job.”

What are you known for?  What do you bring to the table that nobody else has?  What kinds of things make you “tick” and bring you joy?

Those things are the beginning of your pageant brand.  Without a solid brand, you’re just another contestant who has a “passion for your platform” and “a desire to help people.”  Those ladies are a dime a dozen.  And for the record, those ladies rarely get the state title they’ve been dreaming about.

Contestants who win state titles fervently pursue, and fully understand, their own personal pageant brand.  They know what makes them unique. They know who they are and what they stand for.  They know why the job of Miss State is important to them.  They’re not afraid to highlight something that may or may not “fit” into the typical pageant mold… They refuse to show up at their state pageant being anything less than fully themselves – because THAT’S the best way to do well.

And there you have it!  Take a look once again at these 4 things, see where you might be falling short… And commit to improving yourself before your state title.

Right now – it’s still anyone’s game.  You are not out of the fight – But believe me, you can’t wait much longer if you expect to finish well.  If you begin actively doing the work of a state titleholder right now, you’ll have a much better chance of becoming someone who might win… Plus, you might discover a thing or two beyond pageantry along the way. 🙂

Oh – And don’t forget – That trip to crazy-land takes place in just a few weeks!  Pack your bags and prepare for some serious levels of insanity!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

If you’d like to read more Thursday BlogDay posts like this one, just click here…

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

Much has been made over Cam Newton’s recent press conference appearance after the Carolina Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday night.  In case you missed it, Cam wore a hoodie, was on hand less than 2 minutes, and offered extremely short answers to the questions that were asked, before walking out of the room.

Since Sunday night, videos have circulated on social media, sports pundits have offered their 2 cents, and Cam has even answered questions about his behavior – essentially “doubling down” by saying things like, “I’ve been on record saying I’m a sore loser. Who likes to lose? You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser.”

I originally considered writing a blog about how to lose gracefully – offering examples of what we saw from Cam Newton and then suggesting what you might do differently.  However, the more I researched the situation, the more I came to realize something.

All this hubbub isn’t about losing.

Instead, it’s about Branding.

LET’S TALK ABOUT CAM’S BRAND…

In short – Cam Newton is a winner.  The guy won a National Title at Auburn.  He was the number one draft pick.  He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year.  He won the MVP award this season.  Heck – the guy wears #1 on his Jersey for Pete’s Sake!

In addition to being a winner – Cam is happy!  Like, smiling all the time – even after he gets crushed by a bunch of snarling 300 pound linemen – happy! He wears crazy shoes and bold suits.  He has a big personality showcased by his GQ wardrobe – And he isn’t ashamed of either one.

Finally, one of the best parts of Cam’s Brand, is what happens after he scores a touchdown.  Once Cam reaches the end zone, this undeniably happy guy celebrates with some crazy dance moves (and has been known to aggressively celebrate “in the face” of his opponents) – and then, once the celebration is over, Cam runs up to the stands and hands the football to a young child watching the game (insert high pitched ‘awwww’ right here).

THIS IS CAM’S BRAND

And it didn’t happen overnight… He’s spent YEARS perfecting it!

That’s why so many of us were so confused/disappointed when we saw Cam during his press conference (and during much of the game for that matter).  What happened?  Where’s the guy who bounces back and smiles regardless of the situation?  Why the heck did he wear a hoodie to the press conference?  What happened to Happy Cam?  Confident, Smiling Cam?  Awesome Clothing Cam?  Where’s that guy???

Although you may feel otherwise, I’m here to tell you – The majority of our frustration/disappointment in Cam Newton’s press conference is not because he’s a sore loser.

It’s because he didn’t live up to his brand.

I don’t think Cam’s press conference would’ve had the attention it received, had this not been his brand in the first place.  After the loss, we weren’t expecting dance moves in the locker room, but we also didn’t think we’d see him being so short.  So dejected.   So… normal.

By contrast – you know who’s brand went UP during the Super Bowl?

LADY GAGA.

Yup!  Even people who weren’t necessarily fans (and wouldn’t know her if they saw her in the parking lot), were completely taken with Lady Gaga’s performance.  By most people’s standards, she gave the best performance since Whitney Houston in 1991!  She powered through – gave texture and intrigue to a song we’ve heard a thousand times – and absolutely slayed it.

So – Why did her “branding stock” go up so high?  I’m guessing it’s because Lady Gaga’s brand is about being over-the-top.  She’s known for being outrageous and unpredictable… And therefore, most people assumed she would offer a terrible rendition of the National Anthem!  I like her music, but I’ll admit – my expectations were low.

But Lady Gaga fully lived up to her brand.  She proved (once again) that her brand isn’t just about being “over the top”… She was also completely UNPREDICTABLE in the sense that – She sang the heck out of the National Anthem – When I thought she would fail (or at least fail to produce something memorable).

I never saw it coming – In fact, I don’t know many people who did!  Only in hindsight were we able to say, “That was awesome” – and fully recognize that her performance, 100% supported her personal brand.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR BRAND IS?

Your pageant brand is a representation of who you are and what you stand for.  People think it’s crazy – but your pageant brand is what I use to determine if you are capable of winning your state title.  It’s how ‘I see you’ through the lens of social media and the internet.

Ladies who have a strong brand, with a singular focus, tend to stand out.  Ladies who don’t have a strong brand, and try to offer too many things at one time, tend to fade into the background.

If you’re not sure what your brand is right now, ask yourself these questions…

What stands out about me?  What makes me who I am?  What am I known for?  How am I different than everybody else competing?

If you can determine the answers to those questions, you’re in the beginning stages of building your brand.

BRANDING MATTERS

When you purposefully solidify your brand for the sake of pageantry – You’re essentially telling the judges WHY they should choose you.  Think about it – You’re telling them that you’re not just “in it” for a trip to Miss America… Instead, you want to win because you have a plan to better serve your community – or to promote the Children’s Miracle Network – or to reach people with a message that’s important to you.

And when a judge understands who you are, based on your brand, you’ll get noticed – Guaranteed.

Just do yourself a favor and like Lady Gaga, make sure your brand is consistent with your performance.  If not, you may find yourself with the label of “sore loser” – which interestingly enough, seems to be a brand Cam Newton is comfortable wearing.

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she leads an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

Well – Here’s a hum-dinger of a topic for you!

Given the significant political influence being exerted on our news cycle during this year’s Presidential election, I thought I’d write this week’s Thursday Blog Day post about Pageants and Politics…

I’ve always thought Pageantry and Politics were one in the same… They’re pretty much about making appearances, differentiating yourself from everyone else competing, getting people to “cast their vote” in favor of you, and having a great wave. 🙂

So – what can we learn from politics that parallels pageantry?  Here’s 4 things off the top of my head…

HAVE A PLAN:

Politics and Pageantry are both about convincing people that you are able to do the job.  Not only that – but that you can do the job BETTER than anyone else.  That’s why politicians have paragraph after paragraph of different economic/health care/foreign policy plans on their website.  It’s as if they’re saying, “This is what I would do, if you vote for me”.

When was the last time you really dove head-first into a full plan of “what you would do,” if the judges gave you the crown?  Do you even have a plan for your year as Miss Fill-in-the-Blank?  Have you outlined it on paper?  Have you made the connections necessary to get you the visibility you need?  Are you expecting the judges to take you seriously even though you’ve done nothing to support your “plan” as Miss State?

If you’re serious about being a state titleholder, you need to have a plan.  A plan that’s different from everyone else.  A plan that makes sense.  A plan that causes people to say, “Wow… She’s really thought this through…” and “You know what?  That makes sense to me… I think she can do it and she’s ready to make an impact on a lot of people.”

It’s not your state or you local organization’s job to get the gigs for you.  It’s your job.  And when you have a plan that works, that’s how you win.

HAVE A PERSONALITY

BOY HOWDY!  Do we have some “personality” within this year’s field of political candidates, or what???  And you know what?  I LOVE IT!  It’s so interesting to me because, for the most part, our culture tends to gravitate towards people who like themselves… And politicians who like themselves, tend to embrace the fullness of themselves with gravitas and bravado. 🙂

It’s the same thing in pageantry.  WE LIKE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEMSELVES… People who can laugh at themselves, people who can admit their faults, people who are genuine, authentic, and know their strengths and weaknesses.

On the flip side – If you’re someone who’s trying to hide something… It’s a bad thing to try to hide it on a pageant stage.

Oh – You may not talk about it in your interview, and it may go unnoticed by everyone around you, but the contestant who is the most comfortable with themselves – and the most ‘at ease’ with who she has become as a person, will win every time.  Not because she does anything different – she just IS different!  She radiates!  She’s happy!  She’s not faking it!  And the judges know it.

If you’re serious about becoming a state titleholder, you need to get honest with yourself.  What are you holding back?  What are you hoping the judges DON’T see?  What are you wishing was different about you?  Figure it out – talk about it – and get comfy with it.  And once you begin to embrace the fullness of yourself with gravitas and bravado, that’s when you’re ready to win.

HAVE A PURPOSE

Trust me, politicians may be pressing the flesh and kissing babies for the ‘here and now’ – But they’re not short sighted.  They’re purposefully thinking about life in the LONG TERM – and you should be too.

You should leave the job of Miss Local or Miss State, better than when you found it.  You should gain more sponsors, do more networking, and purposefully set up your successor for a better year than you just had!  Yes, you should enjoy your year and treasure every opportunity – but don’t be fooled.  The title of Miss Whatchamacallit existed before you took the crown, and if you do your job correctly, it will still be around long after you’re gone.

Ask yourself, are you spending all your time working on you? Are you single-mindedly focused on your own preparations for the big competition?  Or are you making the most of your year by serving your local organization and leaving things a little bit better than how you found it?  Those are the kinds of skills that live way beyond pageantry – and have a way of producing winners in every walk of life.

HAVE THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE PASSION

Even in politics, it’s not about you.  It’s about something bigger than yourself.  That’s why you hear phrases like, “Let’s Make America Great Again” and “Of the people, By the people and For the people”.  Politicians know they need to tap into something that resonates with a majority of people if they’re going to get elected.  People need to believe in the vision that politician presents in order to cast their ballot for him/her.  When you touch people on that level, you get momentum – and a real movement begins.  A movement where other people start to “caucus” and “become a delegate” specifically for you.

When was the last time your words or your actions inspired someone else to “caucus” for you?  Have you changed someone else’s life in a way that makes them an ambassador for who you are?

Here’s what I mean… When you truly make a difference in someone’s life (by your words or your actions), people notice.  And when people notice, they tell other people about what you’ve done for them.  And when they tell others, you no longer have to do all the work yourself – OTHER PEOPLE are actually “caucusing” on your behalf!  They’re energized because of the impact you’ve had on their lives – and they’re more than happy to spread the word!

Do you have anyone “caucusing” on your behalf?  Do you have a strong enough reputation, that when someone says your name, people automatically have a positive response?  It’s your reputation.  And if it’s not positive, it’s up to you to change your reputation through your words and your actions.  Winners know how to impact people in a positive, passionate way (quick hint – it’s through service to others!).

And there you have it – 4 Ways Politics Parallels Pageantry!  Good Luck to everyone in the upcoming New Hampshire Primary – and All the Best to each and every contestant out there trying to win your dream title!

What do you think about politics and pageantry?  I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Until Next Week –

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she leads an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.