Interview Prep

Hello Ladies! I hope everyone is having a safe and happy week! I just wanted to take a moment and give some quick interview tips! As most of you are aware, you will not be asked political or religious questions by any of the judges, unless your platform involves them. I've noticed when girls hear that, they think it means they can go into interview without preparing because they will only get asked personal questions. This is a HUGE mistake.

You should absolutely know about The Go Red For Women movement, and how it pertains to the International pageant system. You should also take a moment to research ways that you can get involved with The American Heart Association before you get to nationals! Next, you need to know the history of the Miss International Pageant and its past titleholders. I can almost guarantee you will be asked about your favorite “Miss International” and her platform… and while I would love for everyone to choose me, you should really choose a former one, so it shows you have knowledge of the system!

For your own platform you should be able to explain how it started, why it’s important and what you are doing that is different than what anyone else is doing. You should also have a clear plan on what you would do with the crown. As wonderful and fun as using “Social Media” or going “into schools” is, you should have ideas with more substance that will help you stand out. Always think bigger, but realistic! You should also know the name of the owner/ CEO of your platform, along with a role model at your organization that you look up to.

For onstage question, I cannot stress enough how important it is to actually answer the question. You will get 30 seconds to deliver you memorized speech about your platform where you can say ANYTHING you want, so please use the 2nd 30 seconds to really focus on answering the question for the judges. 

It is always heartbreaking to see a beautiful girl blow her onstage question by reciting a memorized answer that has nothing to do with the topic asked. This pageant can be won or lost in the onstage question portion because it is 40% of your score on finals night!

One of the biggest tips I can give is to be memorable and different. Think about all of the girls the judges have to interview back to back. If everyone is giving the same answers, then no one will stand out. One of my pet peeves is the word “Passionate” While it’s great to be passionate about your platform, and you certainly should be, don’t tell the judges that you deserve the crown because of how passionate you are. The judges will hear that all day long, think of something unique and special to you that will make them remember you!

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions! Good Luck in your prep ladies!

Ignite your spark,

Samantha Riddle
Miss International 2014