BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Think of pageantry as a sport

By Hannah Kothari, age 17 | October 27, 2020

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BEHIND THE HEELS Hannah Kothari, a junior at Memorial High School, says training for pageants is good training for life.

Pageantry. It’s more than meets the eye. Behind the heels and the makeup, there are many wonderful and accomplished young women eager to share their stories with the world.

When I first began my journey in pageantry last May, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought that pageantry was easy, that it would require little effort. I soon came to find out that pageantry is a sport, a game of mental toughness. Each pageant consists of different competitions; between athletic wear, evening wear, interview, fun fashion and talent, there are a number of different categories that you could be judged on.

Each pageant’s main focus is the interview and getting to know each contestant better. Contrary to the many common misconceptions, the main point of pageantry is to see how confident each contestant is with themselves. It is about knowing that you are surrounded by many other beautiful and accomplished young women, but also knowing that you are just as wonderful and deserving of the crown as all of the other contestants.

This November, I will be competing in the Miss Texas High School America pageant, representing Memorial High School. In May, I will be competing in Miss Texas Teen USA. I have been preparing for both pageants since this May, and my training has consisted of numerous parts. The skills and lessons that I have learned during my training will last me forever. Not only are they useful come pageant day, but many are useful in all aspects of life.

Pageant training is life training. Not only have I learned so much about myself, but I have also learned a lot about others. Pageantry is truly a sisterhood, and I have already met so many other amazing and accomplished young women who want to share their mission and their story with the world. Each girl’s mission, or platform, is different. Between helping children with extended hospital stays or advocating for mental health, the main goal of a title holder is to make the world a better place.

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