Though pageants are dubbed often as “beauty pageants” far more than beauty is needed in order to capture the crown. The biggest one on the list is speaking. The majority of the girls who compete well in pageantry are in college majoring in communication however that is not to say that you who are not cannot win.

I Was Sc.sc…scared

Personally, speaking in front of people scared the crap out of me! Big deal you might be thinking…but I went to college to be a minister! I was so scared to speak in front of a group of individuals that I had to hold an elderly woman’s hand to stop from shaking…while I was on stage. Even then I could barely get the words out.

Then when I was in class at Bible College the professor called me up front to speak in to the college regarding a testimony of something God did in my life but no one could find me. They forgot to check the bathroom stall where I was hiding.

Since, I have conquered my fear of speaking though I have to admit that I still get the jitters just before I go on stage or stand in front of an audience. But here are 5 steps that I took to overcome my fear of public speaking

5 Steps to Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking

1. Read Books – Reading personal development and self-help books have done more for my confidence than any single activity. I suggest “The Secret,” “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and “The Alchemist.”
2. Stopped Being Selfish – When you are nervous to speak in front of a group you are really being selfish. All of your thoughts are on how you are going to sound, how you are going to look, what will the audience think about you. Think rather of what the audience needs to be encouraged to go to the next level.
3. Never Admitted My Nervousness – My mother always says, “Steven, what you think about you bring about.” If you say you are nervous you will be. Say that you are confident and you will be. Your words. Your choice.
4. Prepared – Nothing will melt away the fear of public speaking like preparation. If you know your subject matter then you will have no fear of forgetting your lines or not getting the point across.
5. Practiced – Above all practice. The more you speak the better you will get. Sign up for a local chapter in Toastmasters. It will help you learn the keys of speaking and will give you great practice with immediate feedback.

Speaking is the most important aspect in pageantry. Without a confident skill in communication the judges will never get to know the beauty behind the beautiful face.