Miss California Teen USA, Cassidy Marie Wolf is Diary of a Pageant Girl’s Queen of the Month! In the interview below, Cassidy’s personality just jumps off the page. She shares pageant advice, her excitement for the national pageant, and how she stays motivated.

Cassidy Marie Wolf was crowned Miss California Teen USA 2013 this past January, and she will compete for the Miss Teen USA title in August.

A highlight from the interview was the advice she offered to other beauty queen hopefuls:

Be prepared. Come to the pageant with everything organized and feeling 100% confident with your wardrobe. Other than that, everything else is up to the judges. Go into the pageant open minded and ready to give everything you have. You only get so much time on stage, so work it! The rest is up to the judges and the only thing you can do is be yourself, be prepared, and give them everything you got! Let them see the best version of YOU.

Great advice, Cassidy!

Check out the interview with the gorgeous teenage beauty queen below:

1. How did you get started in pageants? How many pageants have you competed in?

It all started with an early Saturday morning call from a friend encouraging me to audition to help choreograph the opening number dance for Miss California USA. I had danced since I was 2 years old. My love and passion was dance and modeling! I had never even been to a pageant before that weekend. By the end of that weekend I knew I wanted to compete for Miss California Teen USA the following year.

Since deciding to compete for California I have only competed in three pageants. The first was Miss Greater San Diego Teen USA preliminary and with blessings I won my first pageant. Then I competed in Miss California Teen USA 2012 as my second pageant. I represented Miss Riverside County and again with many blessings I won Most Photogenic and placed as the First Runner Up. Then I competed in my third pageant, again for Miss California Teen USA 2013, this time representing Miss Greater San Diego Teen USA. They say the third time is the charm and I won Most Photogenic for the second year in a row and then went on to win the beautiful crown for Miss California Teen USA 2013! For me pageants have been magical.

2. If you have competed in other pageants, what do you tell yourself when you don’t walk away with the title?

The first year I competed for Miss California Teen USA I did not walk away with the crown. I know from competing for a life time in dance, that truly it is a blessing just to be on the stage performing and competing and it is really all subjective and in the hands of the judges. I was incredibly honored to have placed as the first runner up. Like my mom says, Always Believe and never give up on the dream!

I have only competed in three pageants and with blessings I have walked away with the title twice. Although when I did not win, I walked away feeling incredible. I knew I was prepared and I tried my hardest and I will always count my blessings and say thank you. It is about the journey and the experience, not just winning. You can learn so much about yourself and grow as a person just by preparing for a pageant.

3. Do you have a pageant platform? If so, what is your platform? And what causes do you support?

I am so excited about this year and the amazing opportunities. I will be supporting Love Is Louder with Peter Young. I am working on starting a reading program with Children’s Hospital called Special Bear. Plus I have already attended events for Gentle Barn – Animal Rescue program, Creations in Chocolate – At Risk Youth, Steps4Paws – Pet Rescue and Date for the Cure – Susan G Koman Breast Cancer fund raiser. Also, I will be helping with The Champions for San Diego a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital. For me this is the best part of being a title holder and that is the “Giving Back”.

4. What was going through your mind when they called your name as the winner of Miss California Teen USA?

I felt like it was a dream that was coming true. I had been in the position, the year before, but I never planned for the actual moment of being called as the winner. I honestly don’t remember what was going through my head in that moment because after my name was called, it all felt like a dream and everything happened so fast! It really hit me when my “sister queen,” Mabelynn Capeluj Miss Greater San Diego, went on to also win! So it was unreal, we had a double win for Miss Greater San Diego! This had only happened one other time in the history of California USA and the previous double win was also for Miss Greater San Diego. As we say, Miss Greater San Diego is the pageant with heart under the amazing director Pam Wilson.

5. Did you secure sponsors before you competed in the Miss California Teen USA pageant to offset pageant costs? If so, how did you go about finding your sponsors?

I did secure sponsor’s I had to. My mom is a single parent and I was starting into my freshman year in college. I was very fortunate. My entry fees were covered by Miss Greater San Diego after winning. I put together a sponsor letter. I sent it out to my family, friends and companies that I had modeled and worked for previously. I was very blessed I had my walking lessons, gown, hair and swimsuit all sponsored. I worked very hard to try and earn the money myself to pay for most of the expenses so that I could compete in Miss California Teen USA.

6. How do you plan to utilize your new title as Miss California Teen USA?

I am so looking forward to all of the amazing opportunities that come with this title. I do want to further my modeling career and I aspire to land some wonderful opportunities throughout this year. I also really look forward to continuing to work with the charities listed above and start a Special Bear Reading Program at Children’s Hospital. I would love to do a road trip around California and visit several Children’s Hospitals.

7. How do you feel about competing at the Miss Teen USA pageant?

Beyond words I am excited. This is a once in a life time opportunity. I want to go into this competition with a dream in my heart. I truly want to enjoy every moment and appreciate this amazing opportunity. I will be competing with 51 girls from all over the United States, CRAZY! I can’t believe I will be one of the 52 girls and on top of that, I’ll be representing CALIFORNIA! Ahhh! I look forward to meeting everyone and hearing all of the wonderful stories that they will share. It really is like a “sisterhood” we are the Class of 2013 and I can’t wait to share this amazing experience with all of them. It is an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. I hope to make California very proud and I am honored to represent this amazing state.

8. What tips do you have for pageant ladies who are vying to be the next Miss or Teen?

Be prepared. Come to the pageant with everything organized and feeling 100% confident with your wardrobe. Other than that, everything else is up to the judges. Go into the pageant open minded and ready to give everything you have. You only get so much time on stage, so work it! The rest is up to the judges and the only thing you can do is be yourself, be prepared, and give them everything you got! Let them see the best version of YOU ☺

9. Other than confidence, what would you say is the most important quality for a pageant contestant hoping to capture her next crown?

The best advice I can give is to compete from the heart and the heart will always shine. Feel the moment and reach out and connect with the audience. I love performing and I love being on stage. And most of all… be yourself. The judges look for a girl that is real and relatable. In my interview for California, I was totally myself and the judges were so nice! I don’t remember what questions I got asked in my interview but I do remember being a total goofball by dancing and teaching the judges about certain dance moves that they were curious about. If you can make the judges laugh, then you are doing something right!

10. What is your favorite category (Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Interview, On-Stage Question), and why?

My favorite category is swimsuit, especially if they have a great song playing. I remember being backstage and saying “turn up the music” and when I came on stage they turned up the music! It was an awesome moment!

11. What is your least favorite category, and why?

I really enjoy every category but the hardest is the on stage question. I feel prepared, but you never know what they are going to ask and how they are going to phrase the question. The way the question is asked and worded can have such a dramatic impact on the content of the question. The first time I competed for California Teen USA I was asked a question that had a double meaning. I immediately heard the audience gasp and you could literally hear them all take a deep breath waiting to hear how I would answer it. I am very comfortable on stage and speaking in front of a crowd. So I just took a deep breath caught my thought and answered the question to the best of my ability. The key is to speak from your heart.

12. What would you say to someone who says that pageants are superficial and/or demeaning to women?

Honestly if you would have asked me three years ago, would you ever do a pageant I would have said no. I had always danced and competed in dance competitions and that was my passion. After I watched California USA in 2011 I just fell in love with this system. I learned so very much that weekend. These women have worked very hard training to compete in a pageant and they are brilliant and determined. I really look up to previous title holders. They are inspiring and wonderful, beautiful women! I would just tell them to attend a pageant or spend the day with a titleholder and then give their opinion on pageants. ☺

13. How do you stay motivated to eat healthy, exercise, and prepare for your upcoming pageant(s)?

Since I am a dancer I believe in self-discipline. I love training to music, for me it works the best. Working out and taking technique classes throughout the week are what keep me in shape. I had attended a 3 week summer dance intensive as part of my preparation for California 2013.

14. After Miss California Teen USA and the Miss Universe system, what is next for you? Will you compete in more pageants? Will you focus on your career goals?

After this reign I will take a few years off and focus on my college education. Getting my degree is very important to me. While focusing on school, I plan to audition for the Laker Girls and sign with an agency. I’m only 18 and I have a lot of life ahead of me still! I plan to take it one day at a time and see what God has in store for me. In a few years depending on where I am in my life, yes, I will compete!

Miss California USA 2013 Mabelynn Capeluj is Diary of a Pageant Girl’s Queen of the Month for March! In the interview below, Mabelynn shares how she got into pageantry, her pageant platform, her favorite pageant category (and least favorite), and so much more!

Mabelynn was crowned Miss California USA 2013 this past January, and she will compete for the Miss USA title this summer.

A highlight of the interview:

…the Miss USA and Miss Universe organization helps empower women. Miss USA is a role model who is involved in her community and donates a lot of her time to charity work. A lot of people don’t realize that a pageant isn’t a one night event, a pageant is a lifestyle. The girl who wins dedicates a whole year of her life to this organization; and not many people can get on a stage, strut down a runway, and speak in front of a large audience, so I believe that right there says a lot about women who compete in pageants. - Miss California USA 2013, Mabelynn Capeluj

Well said, Mabelynn!

You can read my interview with the 21 year old Argentinian American beauty below:

1. How did you get started in pageants? How many pageants have you competed in?

My mom signed me up for my first pageant through a casting call for models. We actually thought it was a fashion show until we showed up for the orientation and they informed me that I needed an interview outfit, swimsuit, and a gown. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but after I competed for the pageant I absolutely loved it because I met so many great girls and had a fun experience. I started at 18 so I haven’t done that many, just a few. I won the title Miss Greater San Diego USA 2012 then went on to compete at Miss California USA this year and succeed to capture the title for my home town.

2. If you have competed in other pageants, what do you tell yourself when you don’t walk away with the title?

Every time I go into a pageant, competition, or a job my goal is to do and be my very best. So no matter what happens I always tell myself; to be able to walk on a stage in a swimsuit in front of a huge crowd of strangers is an accomplishment for anyone, and to be able to speak and share who you are as a person can be terrifying for some people. So no matter what the outcome is, the fact that I’m able to share my story and be a role model to others is what I’m most proud of and thats something people can accomplish with or without the crown.

3. Do you have a pageant platform? If so, what is your platform? And what causes do you support?

Yes I do, but as a contestant it is not required to have a cause or platform to compete for Miss California USA, however Miss California USA has paired up to work with great causes, like the “Love is Louder” movement which helps promote and stop cyber bullying. This year I am focusing on working with the National Psoriasis Foundation to spread awareness about psoriasis which I was diagnosed with at the age of 16. I have recently became an ambassador for the NPF (National Psoriasis Foundation) and I am so thankful to be able to share my story to help others overcome their psoriasis.

4. What was going through your mind when they called your name as the winner of Miss California USA?

Well right before they announce the winner, theres two girls left, so its a big moment leading up to the announcement. I was in complete shock to be even in the final two. So when they announced the other girl as the first runner up my heart dropped, and I physically dropped to the floor. At that moment I knew everything I worked so hard for and dreamed of came true. Media and press rushed to me right after the crowning moment to capture images and the first thing I could say was “Oh my gosh! I’m going to Miss USA!!”

5. Did you secure sponsors before you competed in the Miss California USA pageant to offset pageant costs? If so, how did you go about finding your sponsors?

I won the title Miss Greater San Diego USA which is a preliminary pageant to Miss California USA and that paid for my entry fee. I actually wrote letters to sponsors and walked to local businesses in San Diego to see if they were interested in sponsoring me for the pageant. I had many people tell me no before one person told me yes. I was blessed to have Sauvage Swimwear sponsor my swimsuit that I wore for the Miss California USA pageant. The rest of my expenses I paid myself through booking modeling jobs and also with the support of my family.

6. How do you plan to utilize your new title as Miss California USA?

I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, that many girls dream of, and I want to do as much as I can as Miss California USA and because of this title I’m able to share my story with Psoriasis and help inspire people to feel comfortable in their own skin. It’s also preparing me for my career in the entertainment industry. I’m studying broadcast journalism in school and I want to pursue a career in entertainment news as a host or reporter. With all the public speaking, appearances, news interviews, and red carpet events it has giving me an insight of the entertainment industry and I have been loving every second of it! Overall I plan to make the most out of this year and enjoy all the wonderful things I will be able to do because of amazing opportunity.

7. How do you feel about competing at the national Miss USA pageant and possibly Miss Universe?

I feel like I’m in a dream! As a child I would watch Miss Universe with my grandma and we would always root for Miss Argentina and Miss USA because I am Argentinian and I was born here in California, and now its a possibility that it can be me on that stage. To go to Miss USA representing California has been a long time dream of mine and I never thought it would actually become a reality. Every time I think about it I get giddy and emotional. At home, before I won Miss California USA, I would practice how I would announce myself for the traditional introductions at Miss USA “Mabelynn Capeluj, 21, San Diego CALIFORNIA!” It now feels like I’m living in a dream! I am so excited to compete at Miss USA!

8. What tips do you have for pageant ladies who are vying to be the next Miss or Mrs.?

My biggest piece of advice is to just be yourself. I know it’s a bit of a cliche but that is how I won Miss California USA. I was myself, I am comfortable with who I am and I was not trying to be something that I wasn’t. I wore my heart on my sleeve, stated my own opinions, and let the judges know who I am in my interviews. I believe that being true to yourself will take you a lot further in life!

9. Other than confidence, what would you say is the most important quality for a pageant contestant hoping to capture her next crown?

I think that being genuine is one of the most important qualities to have in order to capture the crown. In my opinion, when they’re looking for the next Miss California USA, they’re looking for a real girl. You don’t have to be perfect, the judges don’t like that! What the judges like is a girl who everyone can relate to and young girls can look up to.

10. What is your favorite category (Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Interview, On-Stage Question), and why?

That’s tough! If I had to pick one it would have to be the evening gown competition because I love to see what gowns the other girls are wearing. Back stage at Miss California USA there were so many beautiful gowns, and for me that was the most exciting part of the whole competition.

11. What is your least favorite category, and why?

Ooh! My least favorite category would have to be the final question. Its not because I fear it, but its because its one of those moments that anything can happen. I think we’ve all seen YouTube videos of those moments gone wrong and I would hate for that to happen, not only to me but to any girl. I think we all get a bit nervous when it comes down to the final question and answer.

12. What would you say to someone who says that pageants are superficial and/or demeaning to women?

I’ve actually had friends who will jokingly make comments about me competing in pageants. I try to explain to them that the Miss USA and Miss Universe organization helps empower women. Miss USA is a role model who is involved in her community and donates a lot of her time to charity work. A lot of people don’t realize that a pageant isn’t a one night event, a pageant is a life style. The girl who wins dedicates a whole year of her life to this organization; and not many people can get on a stage, strut down a runway, and speak in front of a large audience, so I believe that right there says a lot about women who compete in pageants. Every time I compete I conquer my fears and grow more as a person.

13. How do you stay motivated to eat healthy, exercise, and prepare for your upcoming pageant(s)?

It’s always tough for me to eat healthy because I love buffalo wings and pizza! What really motivates me to exercise and eat healthier for when I prepare for a pageant would have to be the swimsuit competition. Being on a stage in a bikini in front of a large audience, and in this case on national television, live, is the biggest motivator for me to have a healthy body. I also work as a swimsuit model so its important for me to maintain a healthy body in order to keep booking jobs.

14. What are your career goals?

My biggest career goal is to become an entertain correspondent for E! News. I love hosting and I have always wanted to become a news reporter. After being around the entertainment industry through modeling, it has helped me give me a clear perspective of what I want to do which is entertainment news!

15. After Miss California USA and the Miss Universe system, what is next for you? Will you compete in more pageants? Will you focus on your career goals?

After my reign as Miss California USA is over (if I don’t win Miss USA) then I would be completely retired from pageantry. I will be focusing on school and finishing my bachelors degree in broadcast journalism and hopefully interning or working at a news station.

UPDATE: The winner of the giveaway was announced on March 1, 2013. Shawna England from Massachusetts is the winner. Congrats, Shawna!

Kiki Kollection is giving away a $50 giftcard to anyone who “Likes” and/or shares their Facebook page. Entry is free! Just “Like” their Facebook page and/or share on your page for a chance to win.  The $50 giftcard can be used to purchase anything on their website. They offer evening gowns and an amazing selection of shoes.  I personally found at least 5 pairs of shoes that I fell in love with on their website already.

Opportunities like the Kiki’s Kollection $50 giftcard giveaway are a great way to keep down your pageant costs, especially if you have one coming up. ”LIKE” their Facebook page to enter today!

I am so excited that Olivia Culpo beat out 88 other beautiful ladies for the Miss Universe title tonight! Olivia Culpo is the 8th Miss USA to win the Miss Universe crown. Olivia Culpo is also the first Miss USA (and now Miss Universe) from the state of Rhode Island. The last Miss USA to win the Miss Universe title before Olivia was Brooke Lee in 1997.

I love how Olivia Culpo wore this messy yet elegant updo for preliminaries and the chic high bun for finals.

The crowning moment!

I’ve seen a lot of tweets and Facebook posts about Olivia Culpo giving shorter girls hope when they compete in the Miss Universe system. Olivia is a great example of how confidence personality, confidence, and a smile are more important than arbitrary numbers like height.

Whenever there are televised national or international pageants, you expect the contestants to be beautiful. The 2012 Miss Universe, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada did not disappoint! All the ladies were amazingly gorgeous, but Miss Philippines and Miss USA were my top two favorites from the beginning. I was excited that the ladies ended up first-runner up and the winner.

During the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, Olivia Culpo looked great in her swimsuit. Her body demonstrates that hard work at the gym and healthy eating can definitely pay off.

Moving on, I was so nervous when she lost her balance during evening gown! However, Olivia Culpo had an excellent recovery. She continued on gracefully despite stumbling, and obviously it didn’t hurt her score too badly if at all. (Pageant Tip: Regardless of what happens on pageant, keep your composure at all times.) I’m sure it also helped that Olivia Culpo looked stunning in her long-sleeved red evening gown that was bold yet elegant, classic, and vintage. Notice that Olivia Culpo’s dress was balanced. She covered everything else up because she was showing cleavage. Please keep balance in mind when you choose your evening gowns, ladies!

The new Miss Universe answered what I thought was a tough question. She was asked, what is something she had done in the past that she would never do again. She stated that every experience in life is a learning experience, and she would not have picked on her siblings, but she doesn’t regret it. That’s kind of an awkward question to ask someone on international television if you ask me. But, Olivia Culpo handled it pretty well. It’s always hard to talk about yourself in front of millions of viewers!

I’m also excited That Miss Maryland USA 2012, Nana Merriwether will now have the opportunity to accept the Miss USA crown since she was first runner-up at this year’s Miss USA pageant. She was my favorite contestant during the Miss USA 2012 pageant this past June.

You can check out the 2012 Miss Universe results:

Top 5 2012 Miss Universe Contestants:

• Miss USA (Winner)
• Miss Philippines (1st Runner-Up)
• Miss Venezuela (2nd Runner-Up)
• Miss Australia (3rd Runner-Up)
• Miss Brazil (4th Runner-Up)

Top 10 2012 Miss Universe Contestants:

• Miss Australia
• Miss Russia
• Miss Brazil
• Miss France
• Miss Venezuela
• Miss USA
• Miss Hungary
• Miss South Africa
• Miss Mexico
• Miss Philippines

Top 16 2012 Miss Universe Contestants:

• Miss Australia – Renae Ayris
• Miss Brazil – Gabriela Markus
• Miss Croatia – Elizabeta Burg
• Miss France – Marie Payet
• Miss Hungary – Agnes Konkoly
• Miss India – Shilpa Singh
• Miss Kosovo – Diana Avdiu
• Miss Mexico – Karina Gonzalez
• Miss Peru – Nicole Faveron
• Miss Phillipines – Janine Tugonon
• Miss Poland – Marcelina Zawadzka
• Miss Russia – Elizabeth Golovanova
• Miss Turkey – Cagil Ozge Ozkul
• Miss South Africa – Melinda Bam
• Venezuela – Irene Sofía Esser Quintero
• Miss USA – Olivia Culpo

Other Awards

• Miss China, Diana Xu (Best National Costume)
• Miss Kosovo, Diana Avdiu (Miss Photogenic)

You can also watch the full preliminary 2012 Miss Universe pageant below. I will update this post with the video when the finals are posted.

Who was your favorite in the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant? Did she make the top 16? Let us know in the comments!

I receive a lot of e-mails, and evening gown has been a popular subject lately. So, I decided to share a few evening gown tips based on personal experience and research. Are you one of the many prospective beauty queens who wonders how to choose a pageant evening gown? If so, keep reading!

1. Look at the Top 5′s dresses from last year’s pageant, and get inspired!

You’re not looking at their dresses to choose your favorite one so you can launch a vicious dress hunt to find one of their exact dresses. You are just looking to get an idea of what is appropriate for that particular pageant. While you are researching the pageant and looking at the top contestants’ dresses, consider these questions:

Do all of these dresses have anything in common? Are they all bright colors or are most of the dresses neutral colors? Are the dresses form fitting? Or are the dresses flowy? Are their pageant dresses on the sexier side or more classic?

These are just a few things to consider when you choose your dress. You want to stand out and be unique, but you also want to make sure you have a good idea what the standard is for that particular pageant. I say it all the time, but every pageant and pageant system is different. Do your research on the pageant beforehand, so nothing catches you by surprise.

2. The dress should be age appropriate.

If you are 17 and competing for the Miss Teen ____ title, you may not want to choose a tight form fitting dress that has your back out and a high split in the dress. Something flowy, beautiful, and elegant that doesn’t expose any cleavage is usually a safe choice for pageant hopefuls under 18.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Miss and Mrs. pageant contestants should choose an evening gown that shows a ton of skin. It’s all about balance. There is a fashion rule that you should always keep in mind. If you are showing cleavage, cover everything else up. If you have a high split in your dress and are showing off your legs, keep everything else modest. In other words, a little sexy is good. Too much sexy should be avoided!

3. Your dress should flatter your body type.

I found an awesome article about dressing for your body type on Sheknows.com. In a nutshell, minimize your larger parts and maximize the narrower parts of your figure. Choose a dress that helps you create a balanced look for your body type.

If you’re “wedge shaped” and you have broad shoulders, larger chests, and a narrow waist, you should choose a dress that will accentuate your lower body and draw attention to your waist and hips. Curvier ladies? Minimize your hips and emphasize your upper body and arms. A-lines tend to look amazing on you! Apple shaped ladies (most of your weight is above the hips), accentuate your waist and legs. Consider something with a ruched waist and maybe a split to emphasize your legs. Rectangle (athletic) body types should opt to show off their arms and accentuate their legs. If you have an hourglass figure, tastefully emphasize your curves.

You should pay attention to what is appropriate for the pageant you’re competing in, but it’s even more important to choose an evening gown that fits you and your personality. Your dress is important, but how you wear the dress is what will help you win the crown.

It is extremely important to find the perfect evening gown, the right swimsuit, and that opening number dress that makes you stand out. But, it is also important to remember that the small things can make all the difference. Having those perfect chandelier earrings that catch the light just right when you’re in your evening gown is an example of this. That’s part of the reason I agreed to feature the Blitz Pageant Jewelry Cleaner Essentials Kit on Diary of a Pageant Girl.

I was sent the Blitz Pageant Essentials Kit to review. The kit includes 1) one Foamz™ Foaming Jewelry Cleaner (a non-toxic solution), 2) an anti-tarnish organizer for you to store your jewelry in, 3) a Jewelry Care Cloth that restores sparkle to your pieces, and 4) a super cute 100% Cotton Flannel Drawstring Bag with a custom design on it. My drawstring bag says “Princess Essentials”.

I also requested the Fashion Jewelry Cleaner. I figured many of my readers, like me, are likely to wear fashion jewelry for pageants. It is important to note that the kit only comes with one jewelry cleaner solution, not both. You have the option to choose the Foamz Jewelry Cleaner for Fine jewelry or the Foamz Jewelry Cleaner for Fashion jewelry.

Now, let’s jump into the review!

Portability: The Blitz Pageant Essentials Kit is fairly small, so it will not take up a lot of precious room in your suitcase when you are traveling to and from your pageant. It comes with a super cute pink “Princess Essentials” bag, so that you can easily keep all of the items together. The kit can easily fit in the front pocket of your suitcase. Also, since the foam cleansers have pump dispensers and secure plastic tops instead of an open top, you won’t have to worry about the formula spilling.

The Foamz Cleanser comes in 2.5 ounce (100ml) containers, so it should be okay to take on a plane in a carry-on bag. This is great news for all of my pageant divas who are flying to national pageants and want to have their jewelry freshly cleaned and shiny before they go on stage. Overall, the product is very travel friendly. Portability rating: 5 Crowns

Durability: The Foamz cleanser containers are made of durable plastic. The pump feels secure, yet it is still easy to dispense the solution. The pretty pink travel organizer seems durable too. It appears to be made of leather (or it could be man-made). However, the zipper on the pink travel organizer seems a bit thin as it is made of plastic. I would have liked to have seen a thicker, metal zipper on the travel bag as this would seem more durable. Durability rating: 4 Crowns

Ease of Use: Using Blitz Jewelry Cleaner is super easy. What a difference the pump makes! This makes using the product a lot less messy. You simply pump the solution onto the jewelry to be cleaned, let it sit for a few minutes if needed, and wipe it off with cloths provided. All this was pretty obvious by looking at the products. I read the directions just to make sure my assumptions about how to use the products were right. Ease of use rating: 5 Crowns

Cost: The Blitz Pageant Essentials Kit is priced at a modest $29.95. This isn’t bad considering that the kit comes with the Princess Essentials Bag, a foam cleanser, an anti-tarnish organizer, and cleaning cloths. But, I would have liked to see it priced at around $20 for it to really be affordable. However, it doesn’t take a lot of formula for each cleaning so I anticipate it lasting a while. Cost rating: 4 Crowns

Effectiveness: I tested the effectiveness of two foam cleansers. One of the cleansers was the Gem and Jewelry Cleaner (for precious metals) and the other was the Fashion Jewelry Cleaner (for fashion jewelry). First up, the Gem and jewelry cleaner worked very well. I haven’t had my wedding rings cleaned since March, and I held my breath and used the Foamz Cleaner on it. It gave my rings a great sparkle, and I could see all the dirt on the cloth after cleaning my rings with the cleaning solution and the polishing cloth. I was surprised how much dirt the cleaner removed (and of course, how much dirt was on my rings)! Effectiveness Rating for Gem and jewelry Cleaner: 5 Crowns

I used the Fashion jewelry Cleaner on a bracelet that I found in my jewelry box from high school. The bracelet was embarrassingly dirty to say the least. I thought, “If this jewelry cleaner can clean this bracelet, it can clean anything.” Now, the Fashion Jewelry Cleaner didn’t make my bracelet look brand new, but it did take a significant amount of grime and dirt off of the bracelet. The cool thing about the Blitz cleaners is that you can literally see them working. As the foam sits on the jewelry, the dirt and grunge appears to slide off. I also used the Fashion jewelry Cleaner on my favorite pair of Forever21 earrings. It did not remove the tarnish on my Forever21 earrings, but it gave it a reasonable shine. Effectiveness Rating for Fashion Jewelry Cleaner: 4 Crowns

Note: The Fashion jewelry Cleaner and the Gem and jewelry Cleaner are not designed to remove tarnish. Tarnish can only be removed with the polishing cloth. A polishing cloth is included in the Pageant Essentials Kit, but it is not recommend to use it on fashion jewelry, as it could damage the coating.

Overall Rating: Blitz Pageant Essentials Kit with Gem and Jewelry Cleaner (for precious metals): 4.6 Crowns | Blitz Pageant Essentials Kit with Fashion jewelry Cleaner (for costume/fashion jewelry): 4.4 Crowns

The Bottom Line: I would recommend these products. Although the Gem and Precious Metals Cleaner yielded better results for me than the Fashion jewelry Cleaner, both get the job done pretty well. An added bonus was that these cleaners do not have the typical harsh chemical smells like a lot of similar products out there. The solution has a very mild odor and does not require you to crack a window when you use it.

These products will be great to clean your pageant crown, evening gown jewelry, pageant weekend fashion jewelry, your swimsuit stud earrings, your photoshoot jewelry, and much more! Just be sure to use the correct cleaner on each piece. For example, only use the Gem and Precious Metals Cleaner on gold, platinum, gem, and diamonds, and only use Fashion jewelry Cleaner on costume jewelry.

I also did a short video review for the products:

I was not financially or otherwise compensated for writing this review. All opinions are my honest opinions of the product. I was, however, sent these complimentary products in hopes that I would review them on Diary of a Pageant Girl. You can read my full disclosure here.

All product reviews on Diary of a Pageant Girl will be based on a new, easy-to-follow, criteria! This will help to ensure that a fair and thorough review will be given to all products featured on this blog. The highest rating possible for all products is 5 Crowns. Each product will be given a 1-5 rating in the following categories:

Portability: This category evaluates how easy  it is to carry/travel with an item. Pageant girls are always on the go. Whether you’re using an item during pageant weekend, backstage, or both, pageant girls need items that can be easily carried around. Other areas of consideration: Will this item take up a lot of space? Can it be taken on a plane?

Durability: This category will determine if the item will last long and maintain it’s quality for an extended amount of time.

Ease of Use: Pretty self-explanatory, but this category will evaluate how easy it is to use a product. Do you need to read directions before using the product? Are the directions straight forward and easy to understand?

Cost: This category will evaluate the price and consider: how long the item will last before it will have to be replaced. Is the price too high for the quality or portion of the product?

Effectiveness: This category evaluates the bottom line. Does the product work? How well does it work?

Overall Rating: The overall rating will be based on the average of all categories. The overall rating will range from 1 – 5 crowns.

Happy Friday, ladies! For the first edition of Fabulously Frugal Friday, I wanted to share a product with you that has been a staple in my makeup bag for the past 5 months. I picked up my first tube of L.A. Colors Liquid Eyeliner at my local Dollar Tree back in March. I was amazed with the results! This $1 eyeliner lasted longer and went on smoother than some of the $8 eyeliners I have used in the past. This eyeliner can easily last all day. The more money you save on smaller items like eyeliner, the more money you have to put toward larger purchases like your evening gown, interview suit, and pageant travel.

You should wear some type of eyeliner during your pageant. I prefer liquid eyeliner because it’s more convenient than eye pencils and twist-up eyeliner. It’s wonderful that there is no sharpening to worry about. The last thing you want to have to do 5 minutes before showtime on pageant night is:  A) dump out your makeup bag to find your sharpener to sharpen your eye pencil, or B) ask one of your busy pageant girls to borrow her eyeliner. Plan ahead so your time backstage will be less stressful. Believe me, the little things like not having to sharpen eye pencils will work wonders for your pre-stage nerves.

A decent eyeliner for a third of the price of your Starbucks coffee? You can’t beat that. Check out your local dollar store to get your hands on this fabulously frugal beauty steal.

Answering an on-stage question looks deceptively easy. I mean, how hard can in it be to answer a question, right? Wrong. One minute you’re super excited because you have just been named as one of the top contestants. Literally the next moment, you are given about 30 seconds to answer a question that you could easily write a 5 page essay on if you had the time. Until you have done one, do not judge anyone’s on-stage question response. I learned this the hard way.

I had my first opportunity to answer an impromptu on-stage question last year when I competed for the title of Miss National US 2011. While I have certainly heard worse on-stage question responses than my own, mine was not as great as I would have hoped. I made the classic mistake of over-thinking the question, and I let my nerves get the best of me. The question was: “How have the roles of women changed throughout history?”

Photo Credit | Modifications by Shanice

I answered the question pretty well within the first 20 seconds. Then, I panicked and thought : “OMG! I haven’t answered the question thoroughly enough!”As a result, I tragically rambled on for at least another 20 seconds. It was painfully embarrassing to say the least. But, I took it as a learning experience. I analyzed where I went wrong with this on-stage question, and I will do better in my next pageant. While you can’t prepare for a specific on-stage question ahead of time, here are a few tips that can help you answer an on-stage question successfully:

1. Have a friend or family member randomly throw on-stage questions at you. While you’re washing the dishes, have your roommate ask you about childhood obesity. While you are curling your hair in the morning, have your husband quiz you about homosexual marriage. The only way to get used to thinking well on your feet is to practice. The first time you answer a question unscripted should not be when you are on stage as a finalist at your pageant. It should be well before then. You should practice answering on-stage questions to address problem areas with your speech and the content of your responses.

2. Turn the question into a statement. Anytime you are practicing, turn the question into a statement. This gives you a few extra seconds to process what is being asked to ensure that you understand the question. It also helps you set up a smooth and clear response. For example, if you are asked: What is the biggest problem in the world today? Start your response with: “The biggest problem in the world today is…”.

3. Remember less is more with your on-stage question. Remember, you have at most 45 seconds to answer the question. Do not try to make an hour long speech. Learn from my mistake. It is better to have a 20 second clear response than a 45 second unclear response.

4. Breathe, breathe, breathe! Don’t panic. On-stage questions are given to finalists in a pageant. So, if you are given the opportunity to answer an on-stage question, the judges must already like you or you wouldn’t have made it this far. Take comfort in this fact, and be confident. Look at your on-stage question as one more opportunity to shine, not as the judges’ way of trying to give you a difficult question. They just want to determine how well you think on your feet.