enTITLEment Issue 7 | Page 8

Pageantology

"Only if you are

serious about

winning!"

Friends & former Miss USAs,

Shandi Finnessey & Susie Castillo, are empowering young women in the

pageant industry through their

unique workshop and blog.

1. What do you believe in 2014 make pageants relevant? Pageants, especially the MUO system (Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA), are proving to be a huge stepping stone into the entertainment industry. We see so many girls move to Los Angeles after passing on their title and purse a career in acting, hosting and modeling. Many young women seek their titles for just that reason -- a career in the entertainment industry later in life. The team at MUO does a great job of securing the best agents and managers in the world for their national titleholders and seeing that they use their title to fulfill their dreams. We find that the best titleholders don't end their dream with the crown... it's what they use the crown for after their reign.

2. How do you feel main stream fashion and pageantry complement each other? The line that separates fashion and pageantry has become blurred in recent years. No longer are they two separate worlds. More and more often, we see girls getting crowned that look like they just stepped off the runway. They are fashion forward and modern women of today. They way they dress and style themselves looks more 'red carpet' than what pageantry has been stereotyped for in the past.

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