Pageant Tips for Nationals #5: Interview


Interview is 40% of your score at Nationals. You must chose a platform that you are passionate about. The best way to choose a platform is to pick one that you feel some sort of personal connection with, that way your personal connection will create passion and drive to work on behalf of your platform and your love of it will shine through to your judges during interview.

I recommend not only being passionate about your platform, but also trying to align yourself with a national or international organization because as an International queen, you need to have a platform that is recognizable and promotable on a large scale.

Be clear on what you have done and what you plan to do if you become Miss Teen International. Make sure that you know what your paperwork says inside and out. Most importantly, be truthful about your accomplishments. Astute judges can see through “holes in your paperwork”.

If you make it into the top ten, you will recompete and 40% of your score will come from your on stage interview. Make sure that your interview suit or dress is age appropriate, fits you properly and is steamed or ironed. Make sure that your platform introduction speech is a maximum of 30 seconds as points will be deducted from your score if you go over time. Practice your introduction for your family and friends and in front of your mirror. The second question will have something that has to do with your platform, but it is nothing you can memorize. Listen carefully to the question that is asked, it will be repeated to you. Then answer the question. Yes, make sure that you answer the question that is asked and do it from the heart. You can never make a mistake if you speak from the heart.

If you feel that you need preparation for interview, I recommend Suzy Bootz, Mrs. International 2007. Although, I did not personally use her, I have heard from many winners that she is one of the best interview coaches out there.

Here are pictures of my interview group at Nationals. I wore the same Jennifer Roberts knit dress, from Joey Rutherford of the Competitive Image, for one-on-one interview both years that I competed- just another piece of evidence that it does not matter what you spend, but rather that you are well put together and well spoken- the “total package” in a sense.



By the way, I did win interview and I believe a lot of it was simply answering the question and speaking from the heart.

Juliana McKee

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