Welcome to Pageant to PhD


Looking to win the crown and shine your brightest in life?

Click the book cover to check out a series of kindle books (or a collection of them in paperback) which will help you do just that.

Here we will explore various aspects of pageantry, but with an emphasis on interviewing. Why? While all the components of a beauty pageant, or related scholarship competitions, can help you become a more confident and successful person, it is the interview that has the most potential.

The interview components show our BRAINS, not just our beauty. Though beauty shows there too, through the words you choose, the thoughts you express, the tone of your voice, and the look on your face. Interview deserves as much thought and practice—or more—than the other contest components. But it isn’t just about winning the pageant and taking home the title.

All pageant skills can be “transferable” to other domains of your life if you prepare thoughtfully and with intention. We’ll discuss that and more. But the pageant components where you speak are where you can build extra skills that will set you apart from the rest. All contestants are lovely—what you say and how you say it makes all the difference.

Appreciating how to think about your audience (whether pageant judges, pageant sponsors, the public, family, current or future employers, etc.) and how to speak differently to help folks hear what you truly mean is important. Knowing yourself, your pageant, and some larger issues well enough to see choices in what you say, etc., is important.

And that’s why this site is called “Pageant to PhD”…because all I’ve experienced—including pageants—has helped me go from being a pageant queen to earning a PhD. A PhD that gives me more insights and skills that I can share to help you in your pageant experience, and to the world beyond as we all can benefit from knowing ourselves and our audiences better.

After all, pageant contestants aren’t just pretty faces. My hope is that everyone who reads this site has a dream that transcends pageants and scholarship competitions and that they’ll use whatever experiences they have in pageants to become better people and citizens. If you aren’t sure about your dream, we just might be able to help with that too. :-)

So even if you are new to pageants–maybe you haven’t even entered one yet–that’s okay!  Or if your pageant interests haven’t yet taken you into one where interview or on-stage questions factor in heavily yet, read on anyway! There’ll be some non-interview insights and conversations too…and reading about the interview-related conversations will help you be more ready for those when the time comes. One step at a time.

All together, you can help the judge see that you are the right fit for the opportunity—in this case as titleholder—and, along the way, you can keep growing into an ever more effective communicator in your life. :-)

Books


 

About The Books

Watch the short video on the left to learn more about the books on pageant interviewing listed below.

Pageant Interview Queen Blog

 
 

Health

Health and wellness are foundational to both inner and outer beauty. Without good health, little else matters, so take good care of yourself…and, when you can, take care of others too!

Fashion

While fashions can change, there are also “classics” that never really go out of style—find what reflects you, even as you have some fun trying what’s new.

Beauty

Our skin and hair each are a canvas for self-expression! Building awareness and skill at self-care and adornment are helpful for health and beauty.

Pageant

Pageants are opportunities for self-growth at the same time they are, essentially, elaborate job interviews. Thinking of them as more than glamour will change the value you gain from participating and enhance your likelihood of success.

Inner Beauty

Outer beauty is lovely, but inner beauty is essential. Animate your outer “layer” with your kindness, grace, wisdom, and a healthy sense of humor. Keep things in perspective and focus on what matters and your outer beauty will shine even more.

Special Occasions

Certain events and times of year give us a moment to pause and reflect, as well as celebrate. Take a moment to appreciate something about everything that comes into your life, whatever the reason or season!

 

Endorsements

 

When you are asked a question by a pageant MC or a judge in an interview, your answer often holds the key to your winning the competition. This book will help you present your best self, with knowledge and confidence. As you will read, there are a lot of things that can contribute to your 'spontaneous' answers.

— Vonda Van Dyke, Miss America 1965

 
 

Dr. Stephanie’s book is not just for beauty pageant contestants – it’s for anybody looking to sharpen their interview skills. The book helped prepare me not only for pageants, but also for internships, jobs, and law school. I felt really lucky to have had this insightful advice. Thank you, Dr. Stephanie!

— Jasmina Cerimagic, Former Miss Teen Arizona

 

Every pageant contestant, no matter how beautiful, can always improve her interview skills. Dr. Stephanie Raye will help you boost your brains and streamline your answers in Pageant Interviewing Success: The Collected Series. Her interviewing advice applies both on and off the stage. By the time you're done reading this book, you'll be able to shine like the queen you are!

— Allison Stavrakis, Teen & Mrs. Minnesota International State Director & 1988 Mrs. Queen

 
 
 


I read this comprehensive series of books on interviewing skills just to improve my interview skills in general as I wasn’t sure I wanted to participate in a pageant at the time. Now I’ve learned more than I expected about interviewing, and now I’m more seriously considering entering a pageant for my personal and professional development.

— Samantha Perry, National Merit Scholarship Finalist

 


The book is fabulous! It is highly informative, well organized, and very detailed. It would have been especially nice to have when I was new to the pageant interview world. (I could have avoided so many mistakes!)

— Audrey Powell, Finalist in Miss Idaho-America