Helen Nanjira Mazuva-Gregory

 

 

Must Have Beauty Pageant Tips

BACK

 

EVENING WEAR-LAST IMPRESSION

What Judges look for in Evening wear Competition

When judging evening wear, judges generally rate the following: overall appearance, poise, and projection. As you approach the judges in this type of competition, most of them start by watching your carriage. They look to see how you hold your neck in relation to your shoulders. Do you walk with your chin way out, or your head completely back, or do you have that nice even look between ears and shoulder line? Judges look for proper carriage, good posture, and for a contestant who seems to glide or float across the stage, rather than walk. If the competition requires an on-stage question, judges look for consistency between the personal interview they may have had with you and your on-stage answer.

 In evening wear competition, judges will look for many of the following specifics:

  • How does your Personality, Poise and Grace compare to the other contestants?
  • Is your back swayed?
  • Does your head tilt forward?
  • Are your hands at the side seam of your evening wear?
  • Is your chin parallel to the floor? (Your bust should balance with your posterior)
  • Do you catch their eye?
  • Do you seem to glide or float when you walk?
  • Is your hair shining, your complexion good - do your teeth, eyes and body appear healthy?
  • Are you comfortable on stage?
  • Do your hands fidget?
  • Are you nervous at the microphone; do you express yourself well?
  • If you draw a mental blank, how well do you recover?
  • Is what you say interesting, are you sincere, and can you answer with a 15 to 20 second sound bite?
  • What is the quality of your speaking voice?
  • Is your on-stage personality consistent with your personal interview?

 

Evening wear competition is generally done under lights, so lighting should be considered when picking materials and colors for your evening wear (gown). The best materials are: silk - its natural fibers pick up light evenly; fully beaded silk chiffon and crepe; sequined materials; taffeta; organza; and finally, velvet (recommended only for winter). As a note of caution, do not buy any sequined material where the sequins are sewn in a string rather than put on individually. The reason is that if a thread breaks you lose a whole string of sequins rather than just one. Stay away from all polyesters. The best colors for evening wear are black, white, royal blue, red and clear (not muted) medium pastels. Use a good competition high heel shoe, which is dyed to the color of your evening wear.

Last, but certainly not least, keep your evening wear simple. Many of your competitors will go overboard . . . but, simple elegance always stands out!