There are beauty pageants for all types, all shapes, all ages, and genders but don’t let the word ‘beauty’ fool you. I’m not talking Toddlers in Tiaras™ where children don wigs, lipstick and look like miniaturized women gyrating on a stage during a talent performance, but instead natural beauty pageants that give your child experience, confidence and speaking skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Give to A Good Cause

Forget the beauty part because pageants are more than what meets the eye. The majority of pageant contestants must have a platform that ties them to a charitable cause they work on and volunteer a good portion of their time. Teens who volunteer and work with others not only develop a sense of empathy and caring but they learn to speak to others and be a voice for that campaign. There is no better way to experience a sense of self-worth and value than to help another person. Find a cause and start volunteering with your teen or at least support them 100 percent.

Charm Judges

Nothing will prepare you for life more than sitting in front of a panel of judges who are asking you difficult questions during an interview for a pageant. Here you need the speaking skills and charm of a charismatic politician. You often only have a few minutes to make your point and to land the interview. After practicing and winning-over judges, your teen will be able to succeed at any job or college interview out there.

Perfect Your Stage Presence

If your child has practiced well, they will one day find themselves as a pageant finalist and be asked an infamous on-stage question. Poise and grace can only get you so far on-stage. Here you must show your intelligence and an instant recall of what is happening in the world. This is where your opinion, voice, and passion matters. This is the time that your teen’s motivational speaking skills must shine.

Meet Important People

Most beauty pageants require or look highly upon delegates who do a lot of community service, appearances and photo ops with important people such as a mayor, other politicians, officials, and celebrities. Pageant contestants get perks. Public relations people know that when a pageant contestant shows up to an event, the press is attracted to the person wearing the crown and sash. This gives your teen the opportunity to receive informal media training with the press and develops their courage and confidence when talking to celebrities and politicians. In addition, when it is time to apply for a job, your teen has already made all of these contacts with people in high places (through collecting business cards and initiating conversations) and these people remember the delegate’s title, even if they can’t remember your teen’s name.

Be A Role Model

When your teen proudly wears a sash and crown in public other teens and small children look up to them. They instantly become a role model. Small children think they are a prince or princess and are mesmerized when they see a teen in their regalia. When others see you as someone to look up to, it’s amazing how teens adapt to the role with pride.

Get Scholarships

Many of these pageants offer cash prizes and scholarship money for the winners. This can be one way of stashing money away for your child’s education while they develop competitive skills.