What’s it like competing in a pageant? Contestants take us behind the scenes

From an outsider’s perspective, competing in a pageant looks intimidating and complicated. There are rules for what to wear, and how to walk. You have to demonstrate a talent and answer complex questions on current events in laughably short time limits.

Current and former pageant queens told Nashville Public Radio’s daily show This is Nashville that pageants are even more demanding than they seem, especially if you win. Contestants are expected to advocate for a cause, and winners keep up a rigorous schedule of travel, public appearances and media availabilities for a full year after receiving their crowns.

But these contestants say pageants are also deeply rewarding. They say they’ve built sisterhoods with competitors backstage, and that performing feels deeply empowering.

Here are some highlights from This is Nashville’s conversation.

Host Khalil Ekulona: Some critics of pageants would say that they’re sexist, say that they’re superficial, in a way. But it sounds like you have got not only wonderful relationships that you’ve established with the people — with the women you competed with — but a sense of self determination was given to you through this experience. Really?

Christell Foote, Miss Tennessee USA 2024: Yeah, 100%. Sometimes when I’m speaking with people that don’t know a lot about pageants and they think it is just, you know, superficial, like you said, I like to think of it as a women empowerment organization. I don’t even call it a pageant to some people because I feel personally, it’s exactly that I feel so empowered when I’m up on that stage in my swimsuit and my evening gown in the interview room with the judges, because I’m being an advocate for my corner, my community. And I hope to share that message that. All women in pageants are empowering their parts of the world.

Ekulona: Who is eligible to compete in your competitions?

Foote: Actually this past year was the first year the Miss Universe organization changed (its age limit). Any woman can compete. So, I competed actually against a 62-year-old.

Ekulona: What was that like? Did you take advice from the 62-year-old woman you competed against?

Foote: So the 62-year-old actually, funny enough, was literally like everyone’s mom backstage. She was so kind and so helping and giving. And I think it was great just to think about the fact that every woman that was there (who the judges were) interviewing, the interviews must’ve been so different for everyone, you know, I’m, I myself am 24 and to think, “What my interview sounded like versus the woman behind me that was in her 30s and serving in the military?” I mean, it’s just so inspiring to think of all these people from different walks of life.

Ekulona: When you win, things change for you. With the travel … it’s a job, right?

Brandee Mills, Miss Tennessee 2023: Absolutely. I mean, some girls will go on sabbatical from their jobs and their full time careers. And I think, you know, in the last couple of years, a lot of girls did that. At the beginning of my reign, I was working full time. I was an organic chemist at Vanderbilt. And it is really difficult to balance both because, you know, you might be in the lab the first eight hours of your day and then turn around and have an appearance that night. And it’s hard. It’s draining. It is. But I love it, and you have to love it. Otherwise, you know, you’ll be tired by the end of your year.

Ekulona: What do you love most about doing appearances? Because I imagine you’re going to towns where they’re super excited to see you.

Jada Cooke, Miss Black Tennessee USA 2024: My (cause) is based on the social and health equity for special education students. And my reason behind my platform is because of my older brother Benjamin, he’s deaf and hard of hearing. And my cousin, he has the autism spectrum disorder.

My favorite appearance has been me to read with the help of an interpreter for (an) elementary school for deaf and hard of hearing children. When I walked into the classroom, their faces just lit up. They were so excited. They were screaming. They were so happy. And I was able to be with them, be able to build connections with them with the help of my mom.

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. Listen to the full conversation here.