Every year across the world, thousands upon thousands of children enjoy competing in beauty
pageants, big and small, glitz and natural and somewhere in-between, but pageant
life is about more than just winning sparkly crowns and complementary titles.
Beauty pageants are about the whole life journey from new inexperienced novice
to confident, competent contestant in the art of pageantry. Pageants are about
the life skills learned, sportsmanship, the refinement of a talent, the fun and
camaraderie and the friendships made. Pageants are about the pageant people
too! The organizers and directors who make it all possible, the beauticians who
do the hair and makeup, the costume designers who create the amazing outfits, the
coaches who choreography and train, the judges who choose the winner, the
photographers who capture the moment, the proud pageant moms, dads and family members who
dedicate, love and support, and right at the heart of it all, at center stage in the
spotlight are the children themselves who are the sparkling pageant stars that
shine bright!
The children are always number one, yet their own experience of
competing in beauty pageants is so often overlooked and goes un-reordered, therefore
this page is devoted to them, the beautiful young contestants to tell all in
their own words of their own pageant life and what it means to be a Pageant Star. Our first contribution comes from Princess Demre Besharse.
PRINCESS DEMRE BESHARSE - age 11 from Arkansas.
 |
| Demre with her winning photo, trophy and sashes. |
Hello, I'm Demre! My name is pronounced as Dim-ree. I'm the current
reining Miss Preteen Lake Dardanelle Grand Supreme. It all started back in
October 2014. a lady approached my mother about entering me in a pageant and
that's when my pageant hobby began. We didn't know anything about pageants. I
didn't know what to wear or how to walk on stage. I wanted to take a chance and
I'm glad I did. I won first alternate. Not bad for my first time on stage!
 |
| Beautiful Demre on stage. |
After that day, I wanted to keep competing because I had so much fun and met so
many awesome people. I went on to win several local, state, and national titles
over the years. Year 2015, I competed for the title of Miss Epic Arkansas. It
was aired on cable television in the USA.
I won Queen! I was so excited! It was my first time to be on television. That
day was extra special because my oldest sister won queen for her division too! Later on, I went on to win Young Miss Arkansas Heritage, Miss Roll'n On The
River, Miss Steam Boat Days, Miss Pre-Teen Augusta Arkansas, Miss Pre-Teen
Current River, Miss Universal Royalty, Miss Elf'n On The Shelf Christmas
pageant, Young Miss Buffalo Island Central , Miss Pre-Teen Cinderella Charm
Girl Grand Supreme, and much more. Also, I won several supreme titles in the
glitz system. I've been featured in magazines and I won a spot in Pageant Stars
calendar. I'm Miss November 2018!!
When I'm not competing, you might see me
performing and playing piano at the local theatres, playing soccer at the
ballfields, and posting updates on my Instagram.
PRINCESS CARMEN BESHARSE - Age 17 from Arkansas
 |
| Beautiful Carmen on stage. |
Hey there! My name is Carmen Besharse. I’m a senior in high school and I love competing in pageants. I started competing in 2015, just a year after my sister started competing. A local pageant had came up and I wanted to enter. It was my first real pageant I had ever competed in and I was excited and nervous about it. I was unsure of what I was supposed to do. I didn’t know any walks or what to do at each X! I got on stage and did the best I could. When it came time for crowning, the emcee had announced me as the winner!! I had won the whole pageant. I was so excited. That’s when I decided I wanted to start competing a lot more.
I’ve won Miss Marmaduke, Miss Epic Arkansas 2015, Miss Blue Diamond, Miss Rollin’ On The River, SR. Miss Farm Fest, and many more. While competing, I have gotten to meet lots of people, such as Darryl Worley, who is a country singer, and Kristen Kelly, who is also a country singer in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve gotten to meet Eden Wood, who was on Toddlers and Tiaras a couple years ago, and she is really nice when you meet her. Just last year, I got to meet Savvy Shields, the 2017 Miss America.
 |
| Carmen in 2016 displaying her winning titles. |
Competing in pageants is not the only thing I do. I emcee and crown at pageants also. I started crowning for a pageant system, Delta Elite Royalty, owned by Tanekia Hodges back in 2016. I remember going to one of Tanekia’s pageants and she needed someone to emcee, and had asked me if I would like to do it. Of course I said yes! Since then, I’ve been crowning and emceeing for her and I love it!! I have always been a shy person, so getting up on stage and competing and crowning and emceeing was definitely a new experience for me. I had never thought I would be the type to get all dressed up and compete in a pageant in front of tons of people. I didn’t think I would ever get on stage and emcee either. The thought of me getting on stage in front of hundreds of people and emceeing or competing used to make me nervous, but not anymore. I love to emcee and compete in front of large crowds now. I’ve made many friends while competing and emceeing, and I hope to continue to make even more friends. I’ve competed in glitz systems, natural systems, and title pageants, but glitz systems are definitely my favorite. I love how upbeat they are and I love showing personality in them. I have also been featured in many magazines and have been on tv once before!
 |
| Pageant Princess Elle Grace. |
 |
| Elle Grace loves the stage. |
PRINCESS ELLE GRACE DOYLE - age 8 from Texas.
Hi My Name is Elle Grace Doyle. I will be telling you about
my life in pageants! It was the best experience of my life! The best part was
making new friends. I have a sweet friend named 'Summer'. She's my best friend
from pageants! I also have a super nice hairdresser, Toni Overby, and Carmen. I
think every girl should do pageants and the magic feeling of being on stage.
There might be a long ride there but, it pays off getting a beautiful crown!
Even if no crown the joy of doing it with friends and family. Maybe getting
ready hurts, but beauty hurts! It pays off in the end!
That's all I have to say
about pageants! Thank's for reading!
 |
| Beautiful Pageant Ambassador Amelia. |
PRINCESS AMELIA HIGGINSON age 7 from UK
I'm a seven year old from Anglesey in Wales, UK
and the current World Imperial Beauties Goodwill Ambassador Junior Miss which I
won this summer (2018) in Orlando, Florida I have been doing pageants since I was five
years old, my very first pageant was raising funds for wildlife conservation in
Africa. I was so excited when I was announced as the winner of the pageant and
one of my prizes was a photoshoot with an awesome photographer. It took a while
to convince my Mum to allow me to compete again as she had always thought of
pageants as just being about glitz, big hair and lots of makeup which she
wasn't keen about! I eventually got her to agree and then my love of pageants
began, my next pageant was a regional that I really enjoyed followed by another
with a prize at stake to go to Disneyland Paris. This was a big thing for me
that I could have fun, meet new friends and potentially win huge prizes doing
what I enjoyed. My next journey in pageantry had me competing in a national
pageant called Royal UK Miss, it was only my fourth pageant and second big one.
It was amazing, huge stage and tough competition with the prize package being an
opportunity to compete in Orlando, Florida at Royal International Miss.
 |
| Pretty Feet Amelia walking over hot embers. |
I never
dreamed that my name would be called as the winner of Royal UK Miss 2016... I
was going to Florida! Being the United Kingdom Princess was a huge
responsibility and I enjoyed every minute of my journey raising funds for
different charities and volunteering for many organisations. I went to
internationals in 2017 and came back with lots of trophies including the
International Royal Top Model, Volunteer Service award and Academic Achievement
award along with placing top 15. I was invited to return the following year
representing Europe and I continued working hard with my title and helping in
the community. I have made over 6,000 paracord bracelets to thank first
responders and armed forces as part of Operation Gratitude and even walked on fire to raise money for my chosen charity Blind Veterans UK. At
internationals 2018 I placed top 15 and retained the volunteer Service award
for my age group and was 3rd runner up In the role model competition. From
there I went on to compete at the World Imperial Beauties pageant also in
Orlando Florida this time representing the United Kingdom as a Junior Miss.
Third time lucky competing internationally I captured the title of Goodwill Ambassador
Junior Miss.
 |
| Amelia competing in Florida. |
To me pageants are all about getting to meet new people, make new
friends and help our communities in the best way we can. Competing in
scholarship type pageants helps me do this and allows me to meet amazing girls
from all across the world. Being a Goodwill Ambassador has allowed me to have a
platform to launch my own project Blankets of Hope making blankets for those in
need. Not all of being a pageant girl is about the stage time although I do
love being on stage and wearing gorgeous outfits. My favourites are usually my
fashion wear outfits as they allow me to have lots of fun onstage. I love gown
round too so I can look elegant.
I've learnt so much through pageantry
especially when it comes to public speaking, I used to be so quiet but now I
want to be heard to get what I have to say across! Pageants have helped me gain
so much confidence and I can't wait to see how much I will learn as I continue
competing in the future. Best of all I have made life long friends from all
over the globe, it might be a competition but nothing beats your pageant
family!
 |
| Beautiful Olivia working the stage. |
PRINCESS OLIVIA KENNEDY - age 12 from Tennessee
 |
Olivia in her sparkling
Western Wear. |
Hi, I am Olivia Kennedy and I am 12 years old. I live in the
USA
in the state of Tennessee. I have been competing in pageants since I was three-years-old.
My first national pageant was when I was four and its name was AUE (
America’s
Ultimate Extravaganza) National Pageant. Ever since then I have been hooked. My favorite part about pageants are all the friends I make. I have friends all
over the
United States
even one from
Australia.
I call my friends from pageants my pageant sisters as we are all family. With
every pageant I make new friends and see my old ones and we always have a great
time and cheer each other on. My second favorite thing is that I get to spend
time with my Maw (my grandmother), my mom and my sister.
Since I started pageants I have had a few favorite routines
and outfits. When I was younger my favorite was a show girl outfit that had a
long feather tail and my song was shake a tail feather. Now my favorite is my
Western wear that I do my routine to Trouble. I love that outfit because it’s
my favorite color of blue and it really sparkles. I also love my 70’s routine
and outfit.
Doing pageants has given me a lot of confidence. I regularly
have interviews in pageants and when I was young I was shy and wouldn’t look
them in the eye. Now I walk in with a smile and have no problem talking to the
judges. I love pageants so much I never want to stop.
DO YOU WANT TO BE FEATURED HERE!
If you are a pageant girl aged under 18 years and would like to be featured on this page with your own written Pageant Life review then get your mom to send a Facebook friend request and once accepted please ask for details! (Pageant Stars USA Facebook button located on the right in the pink column)
