We are all guilty of it. We have all placed stereotypes and generalisations on to people, groups, organisations and events. Living within the constraints that these stereotypes create is usually an innocent subconscious choice that is influenced by strong minded figureheads in society. The only problem is when these figureheads are presenting uneducated, poorly researched, and biased generalisations that often stem from their own insecurities rather than from a well-meaning place.
Beauty Pageants are one of the institutions that is constantly having to defend itself against the assumptions and stereotypes that society continues to place upon it with little or no understanding. Sure I may sound like a defensive pageant girl, but I am also a well-educated, ambitious woman with strong opinions, morals, values and beliefs and a variety of interests that do not solely include hair, makeup and spray tanning. That all may come as a shock to those of you that are bound by the aspersions that some like to cast over the industry, that yes most pageant girls do actually have a brain and deeper ambitions than just “looking pretty”. It may also come as a shock to you, that most beauty pageants are, in actual fact, events that encourage intellect, philanthropy, ambition, education, humanitarianism, and strongly promote a healthy approach to life. Most importantly, pageants encourage women to celebrate themselves for who they are as unique individuals.
Now, I don’t want to just be another person in the media blasting my opinion with no evidence or credentials to back it up. So, to ensure a lack of hypocrisy I have boldly gone where evidently not many journalists before me have gone, and sought the educated and well informed opinion of someone who is heavily involved in the industry. No I do not mean a contestant that has provided the stock standard ‘all of the girls are so smart and nice’ response (although as a side note, that is often true). I had the privilege of speaking with a man who personally knows the contestants, directors, sponsors and judges, and is not afraid to tell it like it is.
The Filipino born Peter Sereno is a world renowned pageant coach, mentor, pageant commentator and a self-described “pageant watchdog”. Members of the industry commonly refer to Peter as pageant royalty, and rightly so after a lifetime of working in the industry. This, combined with his background in public relations, Peter has worked with some of the most prominent pageants around the world to ensure their success. Peter is also the mastermind behind creating an online pageant platform that is solely dedicated to promoting various pageants and the vast array of entrants in Australia. This concept, now famously known as ‘Dear Pageant Girl’,
Dear Pageant Girl has since become a hub for all things pageant related and is a source for all pageant hopefuls, participants, and past winners to engage and interact as one supportive and encouraging network. Dear Pageant Girl was soon inundated with requests from entrants and directors alike, that wanted to utilise Peter’s expertise to ensure their success, and as a result Peter now has representatives around the world. The DPG team are known for producing winners or at the very least top five finalists in various pageants after providing them with intensive training.
“The Filipinos celebrate the beauty of our women, and it is an idealised beauty – not just how she looks, but the way she carries herself, the way she speaks, the standard of education and the study and career choices that she has made. So as you can imagine, I have very high standards and equally high expectations when working with my girls.”
It is these expectations that saw Peter produce one of the most well-known Beauty Queens in Australian history. Peter’s high quality training and mentoring. , Peter has worked closely with the current Miss World Australia, Erin Holland. It was his advice and training that transformed Erin into the most successful Miss World Australia to date.
“Erin came to me in 2012 as a promo girl and in many ways her image was the anti-pageant girl. She was everything a pageant girl was not. But she was determined to come back and do better. After hunting me down, I agreed to coach her on the condition that she would do everything I had asked her to do. We had to do a complete makeover and change – from the way she looked, the way she communicated and even with her social media activities.”
And listen she did! Thanks to Peter’s training Erin Holland excelled over the other finalists at the national finals and was crowned Miss World Australia 2013. Peter’s support did not stop after Erin was crowned as Australia’s representative, but travelled with her to the international competition in Bali which saw Erin place seventh in the world and deservingly granted the title of Miss World Oceania. Erin is a true testament not only to the ambition, determination and dedication that it takes to be successful in the pageant industry, but also to the undeniable results that Peter constantly achieves with his trainees.
“The work that Erin has done, not only for the Miss World and Miss World Australia brand but for raising funds for the causes Miss World represents surpasses that of any other beauty queen, including Jennifer Hawkins who actually won the crown. So to date, Erin would be my greatest achievement!”
Peter adamantly makes clear that whilst he can successfully guide and coach girls towards success in the industry, there comes a point that it must come from within the girl and says that the judges are looking for that special something on stage, and many pageants award the highest points to those contestants that show true commitment to their philanthropy and charity endeavours. Peter does admit, however, that not all beauty pageants hold deeper beauty as a high priority when it comes to selecting the winners. It is pageants like this that are presenting a distorted view of the industry as a whole to the public. However, what society needs to understand is that although these pageants do hold physical beauty as a prevailing factor, this in no way is a reflection of the types of women that enter and do well. Pageants do ultimately attract confident, driven and ambitious women. They are still an opportunity for strong, and often well educated women to gain exposure and use the platform to make their difference in the world.
To return to the initial point raised in this article, Peter has provided answers to some gritty questions about the pageant industry in a hope to clarify and dismiss any propaganda once and for all. DPG is known for their honesty, and I think you will find that Peter has presented a true and unbiased view of all things pageants in his answers.
There are so many different pageants in Australia, what are the differences between them?
You obviously have the top tier pageants which includes Miss World. These are then followed by secondary pageants such as Miss International, Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International. Then you have many many other pageants which are set up to raise awareness for various issues and charities. The main difference with each is what they stand for and the charities they represent. Some pageants focus more on the physical side of things. Miss World is all about the holistic woman. The winner must be able to do well in various competitions such as talent, social media, fundraising (also known as Beauty with a Purpose), swimwear, evening gown and interview. It’s a tougher competition to be in, as you are judged not just on looks, but merit. And the focus is on raising funds for Variety The Children’s Charity.
What is the most important segment in a pageant?
Again, that depends on the pageant. Miss World, it’s the Beauty with a Purpose segment. Miss World needs to know that whoever they select is capable of raising funds for Variety. Pageants such as Miss Humanity Australia is purely on charity also.
Do you think entry requirements and judging criteria that determine a pageant winner are too narrow? Does it exclude some women who could be amazing representatives for our country?
Yes it does. Then again, this applies across many different circumstances and industries. One of the major requirements to be successful in a beauty pageant is to be physically beautiful. This is in order to meet the requirements as dictated by sponsors looking for a brand ambassador. If you are referring to the amazing women who may not meet the physical qualifications of a beauty queen, my question to them would be – do you really have to join a pageant to facilitate the change you want in the world? If you want to do good, you can do it in many other ways. Not everyone can be a doctor, just like not everyone can be a beauty queen.
The issue that has sparked many of the derogatory articles, and as a reaction this one also, was the controversy surrounding the recent crowning one of the top tier pageants
A lot of people have said this accusation was a case of sour grapes…?
It’s important to listen to everyone. Everyone has a story and a claim. Every problem must be addressed – especially in this day and age when one message can reach the masses via social media, every situation must be handled and quickly.
Social media played a big part in this issue gaining exposure. How do you think the rise in social media has impacted pageants and the contestants?
Other than exposure, I think the most important contribution Social Media has played is how it has made pageants more accessible and in a way, the organisers more accountable for their actions. They have to be more vigilant now in running a proper operation because the moment something major happens, someone from the inside can leak it out and is instantly accessible to the masses.
Preceding the current controversy, there are constantly articles that appear in the media shaming pageants as archaic and anti-feminist, do you think that this is a reflection of pageants or of society?
Some minor pageants perpetuate this archaic image but I find that the loudest and most vocal critics are those who know the least about the subject. Controversy sells stories and makes headlines and sadly, many editors will favour numbers drawn in by sensationalism rather than reporting the facts and presenting a balanced story.
There are often negative stereotypes attached to the girls that compete in these events, are there any truth to these stereotypes?
But of course! Stereotypes come from somewhere and depending on what we are talking about here, it’s safe to say that certain ones are alive and well and are in no danger of dying anytime soon.
There is a quote: “There is no such thing as an ugly woman, only a lazy woman.” What I get from this quote is that being beautiful is being the best version of yourself. What do you think about this quote?
I absolutely agree. Your looks can only take you so far. Beauty is so subjective but I also believe that appearance plays an important role in how people perceive you and can determine the way they interact with you. Like everything in life, you have to work for it. There’s no excuse for stepping out of your front door to face the rest of the world looking less than fabulous. One of the best lines I have heard is “dress like you’ve made it, even if you haven’t”. If people are going to look at you, you might as well give them something worthwhile to look at. Work on it, AND WERKKK IT.
Do you think that beauty pageants encourage women to be the best versions of themselves?
That’s the ideal yes. And that’s what I hope for. Beauty pageants are tough environments to be in but it’s also fantastic at getting to know yourself better.
If you could change anything about the pageant process what would it be?
In Australia I think we have to work harder to educate the public on the way things are run in pageants. I would encourage more transparency and would encourage the pageant brands to get in touch with the people and be seen in the community. Work harder and embody the charitable ideals that you talk about. I think there’s far too much emphasis on the glamour and glitz that many young women enter these pageants underestimating the work that comes with the responsibility
What is it really like backstage at pageants?
Chaotic, but generally there’s a sense of camaraderie among the girls – it’s during these stressful moments where you see the real women, the ones who exemplify sisterhood – the girls who jump in to help the competition when they see one is floundering or flustered. In fact, I coined the term Sisters of the Sash – this special bond shared by pageant girls all over the world.
What does a winner look like, physically, mentally and emotionally?
A winner is someone who after doing their research, knows their limitations and can make an educated decision on the kind of pageant they should be competing in. A winner is someone who has fire in their belly – who knows that if they don’t possess what the brand is looking for, will work to transform themselves to become that brand’s ideal without having to compromise their true essence. A winner is someone who also gives back to the community and to the industry that has supported
You are known for selecting the crème de la crème when it comes to pageant girls, what do you look for?
If we are talking top tier pageants then I am looking for a young woman with strong pictures. A girl who can work the runway like a panther. Someone with confidence and self belief but is willing to transform, change and will trust the experts. Historically pageant girls are meant to be “the ideal”. So I don’t subscribe to the ‘Girl Next Door’ strategy or look. We used this strategy on Jennifer because in a sea of manufactured and plastic women, she stood out. So some directors these days have actually misunderstood our ‘Girl Next Door’ strategy. That in fact wasn’t the essence of our campaign – it’s about being different and standing out while exemplifying what it means to be Australian. I look for a woman who can not only compete nationally, but one who has the beauty, the strength and intelligence to compete internationally against the glamazons generated by South America and Asia. I’m not looking for The Girl Next Door. I’m looking for The Girl You Wish Lived Next Door
What are the different motivations for girls who participate in pageants?
Most girls participate in pageants hoping to get a break in the fashion and entertainment industries. It’s a way of being noticed and to be able to rub shoulders and network with key figures in the industry who could present a possible career opportunity. Others, to raise awareness for a cause, and others, to make a statement.
Do some girls have positive motivations when entering pageants whilst others have negative motivations?
Yes. There’s a strange phenomenon within pageant circles which I have named Tiara Chasers. The goal of these young women is to win as many crowns and titles as they can. For them it becomes an addiction – they get so addicted to “the rush” that they find every possible pageant that would take them on board and compete.
Have you ever turned away training a girl who had negative motivations for participating in a pageant? If so, how did you handle this?
I will always give time to everyone. My courses apply to anyone wanting to better themselves – it’s about self-development and conquering the runway that is life. I can’t say I have “turned away” a potential client, but if I think someone doesn’t have the look or isn’t built for pageants, I usually steer them in a different direction. It’s about having them look at the bigger picture, that there are opportunities other than being a pageant girl. I have former clients who I have turned into pageant stylists, photographers, makeup artists, hair dressers and media officers. You can still work in the pageant industry and you don’t have to be a contestant!
What is true beauty to you?
It sounds corny and cliché but I have to say, true beauty is internal. I’ve seen it in times of great joy, love, and sometimes sorrow. When I’m at the airport and I see loved ones reunited, that’s beautiful. The excitement, happiness and love you see – that’s true beauty. The way a mother looks at her sleeping child – that’s true beauty. The way someone speaks of a loved one at their passing, the words delivered – that’s true beauty. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, rawness…vulnerability…when someone drops their guard – that’s true beauty. There’s an honesty in that that is truly beautiful. I know it goes against my every day existence with pageants, but what I’m saying is, true beauty does exists. It goes beyond the physical and it’s the kind of force that can move people. If you can make a positive difference in someone, or move someone’s emotions and facilitate a change in their psyche for the better, that’s true beauty. And it’s something I strive for and work towards every day.
It is thanks to Peter Sereno that despite the generalisations and negative connotations associated with pageants, the industry in Australia continues to grow. More and more young women are entering pageants each year with new hopes and dreams. Some with hopes of discovering fame, others with hopes of making a difference in the world and others with hopes of building their confidence by trying something new. My advice to any girl, no matter what your motivation is, seek out Dear Pageant Girl because you will not find better training or guidance but more importantly you will not find a better support system who will encourage you when you start to wonder if you can go another day without chocolate, provide you with honest feedback when you aren’t sure what went wrong, get excited for you when, despite your friends and families advice, you decide to enter one last pageant, and are there to share in your tears, happy or sad.
It takes a huge amount of courage to get up on stage in front of judges that are awarding you with points in a variety of areas to ensure they select a representative that encapsulates everything the pageant stands for, but it takes even more to present yourself to people and society that are judging you not on who you are, what you do, how hard you have worked, how much you have raised for charity, but solely on your choice to participate in a pageant. To all of you who have been swayed by the negative stereotypes geared toward the pageant industry, I hope that this article along with Peter’s informed wisdom, has provided you with the information you needed to now make your own opinion. To all the lawyers, who are not arrogant, boring and aggressive, to the tradesmen who are not uneducated, crass and sexist, to the stay at home mothers who are not lazy, ignorant and lack drive, and to everyone that has had to defend themselves against uneducated and unjust prejudices attached to them, may you think twice before deeming a woman unintelligent, uneducated, self-obsessed, and not worthy of an opinion because she is a pageant girl. To all my fellow pageant girls who are in it to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others, may we embrace the hairspray, rigorous exercise, spray tans and sugar deprivation with pride and comfort, knowing that we are using our beauty for a purpose and our contributions to society are of beautiful intents.
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