Every year women from around the country compete for the sought-after title of Miss USA! Millions of people tune-in to watch the competition, root on their favorite contestants, oogle at the gorgeous gowns and listen to the contestants express themselves during on-stage interview.

On-stage interview is usually the most intense part of pageant competition, and also provides countless viral moments on YouTube. Considering, millions of people are watching and dreams are on the line, it's understandable how anyone can get let their nerves get the best of them.

Here are a few on-stage pageant interview moments that will make you SMH! 


1. Miss South Carolina Teen USA, Caitlin Upton. One of the most popular pageant interview fail videos. Caitlin Upton was asked "Recent polls have shown a fifth of all American cant locate the US on a world map. Why do you think that is ? , it goes without saying she struggled with this answer.
   




2. Miss Utah USA, Marissa Powell.  Marissa was asked the following by celebrity judge Nene Leakes "A recent report shows that in 40% of American families with children, women are the primary providers yet they continue to earn less than men. What does that say about society ?"  She tried to save her answer by talking about improving education.





3. Miss Australia, Jesnita Campbell. Jesnita was a contestant at Miss Australia Universe and was asked a question about skincare health issues. She actually started off strong but stumbled over her words a few times. Although she did fumble through this answer, she still managed to win the crown.





4.  Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero.  During the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, Irene was asked the question "If you could make a new law, what would it be and why?"She chose to express her answer in English instead of Spanish, which many people have said might have been the reason for the confusion in her answer.




5. Miss America 2008, Kristin Haglund. Although Kristin already won the crown. This moment went viral for showing the world she could pop out her fake tooth on an episode of "Don't Forget The Lyrics".





This year's Miss USA pageant is May 21st Live on Fox at 8pm. Will you be watching to see who will take home the crown?

Considering competing in pageants in 2018? Here are 3 easy steps to help you get started:

1. Start looking up pageant systems that you may want to compete in :

Although the Miss Universe and Miss America organizations may be the most popular pageants that most people are familiar with, they are just two of  many pageant systems that exist. Depending on your age, talent, location and what you may be looking to get out of a pageant , the pageant systems may differ. RESEARCH!! It may take time to figure out what pageant system may be right for you. If you are someone that doesn't have a talent,  then the Miss America organization may not be the best fit. However, you may be surprised at how creative you can get with your talent. Miss Maryland 2013, Allyn Rose competed with an artistic roller skating routine and Miss Colorado 2015, Kelley Johnson performed a nurse monologue.

   2. Preparing physically:

A large part of pageant preparation is physical. If you want to compete in a pageant that is 6 months away starting a workout routine and having a better diet can be helpful. Do I have to be a certain size to compete ? NO, YOU DON’T!  It's not a requirement for any pageant to be a specific weight, and if there is then it’s a pageant you probably shouldn’t enter. Many pageants have swimsuit or fitness categories. Walking on a stage in a swimsuit in  front of strangers can be scary. Being physically ready, can help you feel and look your best, which is what we all want to show in a pageant. Everyones body is different and what may work for someone may not work for you. DONT STRESS OVER NUMBERS OR DO SOME EXTREME DANGEROUS DIET. Being healthy and confident is more important than “looking fit” or being on a strict diet that makes you miserable. It may take time to see the changes you want (if you want a change)  so be patient.

3. Start Saving:

Pageants are not cheap! As a matter of fact, it can be a pretty expensive hobby. If you are someone that competes every year or only wants to compete once, expenses can easily rack up. You shouldn’t start saving once you apply for a pageant. If you can start saving months or even a year in advance, saving will be a lot easier. Some possible pageant expenses may include: sponsorship fee, application fee, wardrobe, coaching, and gym expenses. These are just some of the many possible expenses that a contestant may  be responsible for. Sponsorship fees can range from $100 to over $1000! Sponsorship fees can be raised but, it can still be difficult to raise enough to cover all your expenses. Of course, if you are luckily enough to have your sponsorship fee and  other expenses covered then you are one of the lucky ones!  


Competing in pageants can be fun and exciting but, for new contestants it may also be overwhelming. These tips can be a great starting point , to help you get started on your pageant journey.


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