A Pageant Queen’s Guide to Social Media
Written by guest blogger:Nya Brooks
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| IG @tiaraobsessionsmag |
It is 2016, which means social
media is everywhere! When used correctly, social media can be a great tool
for A pageant queen. Here are some do’s
and don’ts for having social media:
DO:
Have social media
specifically for your pageant reign
If you look up Mac Cosmetics, Michael Kors, or any major business on
Instagram, do you see pictures of their employees eating salads for lunch and
their neighbor’s new puppy? Or do you see professional pictures of their
merchandise and others posts to make their brand look good? Just like any
business, have A social media account specifically and only for pageant related topics. Such as your appearances,
your sponsors, awareness about your platform, leadership awards and
recognitions, etc. Your personal social media is the space for your
personal life, the silly selfies with Snapchat
filters, pictures of your newborn niece/nephew, beach days with your friends,
etc.
If you do not have any social media accounts , create some. As a pageant queen, you are a celebrity.
Think about how excited you get when your favorite singer, actress, model, etc.
posts new videos on Snapchat or replies to your comment on Instagram. You owe
it to your followers and audience to show them what you are doing during your reign.
Build your professional portfolio
What I love most about pageantry is the professional skills one can gain from being a pageant queen. A
reign usually ends after a year or you may not win the pageant you are
competing in, it is important to gain something beyond a shiny crown. When I
apply for internships or jobs, I include links to my pageant social media on my
resume and talk about my social media skills during interviews. If you are in
the writing or journalism field,
create a blog about your pageant appearances. If you want to become an educator or motivational speaker, live
stream videos on Periscope or host conference calls with a live Twitter Chat. Pageantry is all about the transferrable
skills and your reign could be a major stepping stone for your long-term career
goals.
Use Hashtags
Hashtags are cool because they make it easier for people to connect. I
have found clients for pageant coaching by searching pageant titles, such as #missblackandgold and direct messaged
the contestants to see if they needed additional help for their pageant.
Whether you are looking for events, sponsors, or nonprofits, search hashtags to find new social media
pages. Not only will you find people by clicking on hashtags, but people
will be able to find you when you use hashtags in your posts.
Active Pictures
vs. Selfies
You are a pageant queen, not a mannequin. Your job is to show how you
are a leader and role model, not just a pretty face with sparkly earrings. Post pictures of you having conversations
with people, exercising, playing with children, volunteering, etc. When you
post pictures of you being active, it makes you look more personable and down
to Earth. Who knows, your pictures could
even motivate people to compete in your pageant in the future.
*side note:
Have someone take
pictures on your phone. When the
pictures are on your phone, you can easily upload them on social media in a
timely manner. I made the mistake of not taking pictures on my phone while
attending an event and the person sent my picture a month later. If you cannot
take pictures on your phone, ask someone to text you the pictures immediately
after they are taken.
DON’T:
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| major No, No No ! |
Post pictures
that will negatively reflect you
No pictures of you drinking alcohol (especially in your crown and
sash), no party/club pictures, nothing about your sex life etc... If your pageant
is like mine, you will have judges viewing your social media. Plus, as I had
mentioned earlier, being a pageant queen means you are a role model. It’s
imperative that you have a positive
image. I am not saying you cannot have fun, but you have personal social
media for a reason.
Compare yourself
to your sister queens
It is extremely easy to become
jealous of other people based on their social media posts. You will see
your fellow sister queens posting pictures of them exercising, volunteering, wearing beautiful dresses, etc. There are
two things to keep in mind. One, social media is only a glimpse of reality. (I
know this from personal experience.) The sister queen who posts pictures of
herself at the gym may have grew up with body image issues or is distressing from family/relationship drama. Two, you are unrealistic and naive if you think
you are going to be the only one in the competition who is doing great things.
If anything you should celebrate another queen’s success because it will make
the pageant more interesting. Do not
worry about what other people are doing; you are only in competition with
yourself. What is meant for you will be for you.
While it is good to have a presence on social media, you cannot be so
focused on social media that you forget to live life. There were moments where
I would spend too much time scrolling through Instagram looking for new
followers or be so concerned with posting “good pictures” for the judges’
approval. Being a pageant queen is hard
work, but your reign is suppose to be fun too. Set aside time each day or a
few days during the week to update your social media. Use the rest of your time
to live in the moment and enjoy your
reign.
Bio:
Nya Brooks is the reigning Miss Black Illinois US Ambassador 2016. Her
platform focuses on empowering Black girls through education and building
sisterhood amongst adolescent girls. In 2014, she graduated from DePaul
University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Gender Studies.
Outside of the world of pageantry, she enjoys salsa dancing and reading.
To contact Nya
for event appearances, guest blogging, or donations, please email missblackilusam@gmail.com
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