I have been in 11 pageants since my sophomore year of high school. Throughout those 11 pageants, I have had two crowns and been first, second, third and fourth runner up. I have been Miss Congeniality and have won the formal wear/beauty portion of the on-stage performance. You may be thinking “well that’s fine and dandy that you’re good at that, but I still don’t like pageants.” Okay, sure. I get that. But since you’re already a paragraph into this article, stick with me a little bit longer.

None of the pageants I have participated in have had a swimsuit portion and they are all very professional programs. Pageants aren’t all about how you can “flaunt what you’ve got.” Most people don’t realize all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a pageant weeks before and even the day of the program. The last pageant I did had six weeks of prep and workshops. We worked on our business modeling walks, beauty (the one in the formal dress) walks, interview skills, on-stage speaking skills and interview makeup. Most workshops were two to three hours in length and, on average, we had two a week.

For interviews, a pageant contestant needs to be up on the most recent news—not just in The States, either. Staying up on local politics and world-wide events is important. Having community service under your belt and knowing the ins-and-outs of the organization is also important. Judges want a young woman who is involved in her community and has a heart that truly wants to make a change. Sadly some contestants have learned how to fake this, but most of us really want to leave our mark on this world and make a difference. For some pageants, a prerequisite for the pageant is to raise X amounts of money for specific organizations that oftentimes are for children in need.

Pageants have made a huge impact on my life in more than one way. When I started doing pageants as a high schooler, I wasn’t the most confident person; I didn’t like my smile, wasn’t comfortable speaking on stage and I had never done a professional interview. During that first pageant, I had a lot of help to start out (shout out to all the ladies who helped me when I was absolutely clueless about what I was doing). I didn’t place in that first one, but I walked away with something way more important than a sash or a crown: I walked away believing in myself.

After that first pageant, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to do better this time, too. I had just finished my junior year of high school by the time I signed up for my second time to run for the fair queen title in my county. That year, I wanted to really make an impression. I knew what I needed to do to help improve my interview and my mom went through numerous lists of pageant interview questions with me. I stepped out of my comfort zone for a gown and did something much more sparkly and stage worthy. I practiced my stage walks in my heels until I could do it in my sleep and I even started practicing smiling with my teeth showing (which was a huge deal for me). Turns out, this all made a difference—I got fourth runner up! I was beyond excited to have placed. This was only my second pageant and I had improved enough to be in the running for Queen. This taste of victory only made the Pageant Bug even stronger and I knew I wanted to keep going. That fall, I signed up for a second pageant and received second runner up!

Pageants not only helped me with my confidence and public speaking skills, but they also taught me how to have a very professional interview. At this point, I was starting to look for scholarships for college since I was in my senior year of high school. For many scholarships, an application and essay isn’t all that goes into being awarded one. For a few of the ones I applied for, I had to go through an interview. Because of pageants, I had the confidence to walk in there with poise and rock that interview, which I did. I was awarded all the scholarships that I applied and interviewed for! Because of those scholarships, I am able to attend the college that I wanted to without worrying about the cost and study to be a special needs teacher.

In six months, I will be competing in my first state-wide pageant and I am beyond excited for it. There are some large scholarships available in it for the queen and runners-up. In a year and three months, I will be competing for the title of Miss Indiana. Pageants have given me the confidence to run for the position of Student Body President at my college (and win that election), confidently mingle with some very prominent people in my college’s town, work with the Board of Trustees at my school, and even have a conversation with the governor of my state while visiting the Statehouse.

Pageants have made me believe in myself in ways that I never thought I could, but they have also shown me that I am not perfect and never will be. Strangely, that is a very comforting feeling because I know no one else is, either. Even the girls who look 100% flawless on stage and seem to have it all together really don’t. Making this realization has shown me that I don’t have to be perfect to achieve my dreams and reach for my highest goals. I am always reminded to hold my head high, because somewhere, my journey is inspiring some young girl to reach for her dreams and to believe in herself. Just like you should, too.