There are a lot of things that go into capturing a title in any system.  You have to be willing to contribute of your time, stay well versed in current events, provide community service, and whip your body into shape. Although the list goes on, it will not go too far with financial backing. You simple need a little money, honey.  Not as much as you think though.  In this article, I will give you some pointers on how to raise money for a pageant.

Know the Dough

One of my favorite scriptures in the bible say, “You have not because you ask not.” Before you go knocking on doors (just kidding!), you need to know exactly what is that you want. The best way to go about this is to actually choose the items you will need. What dress would you like to wear? Is there a great nude shoe that goes with everything? Do you have a swimsuit in mind? Make your list and total the cost. This will give you a target to hit instead of just hitting up everyone you know aimlessly. Don’t forget to shop in your own closet! Geez! You want to be a Queen, but let’s not start with the Queen of England! Judges want real girls and that is what you are. Pull items out of your closet that you already love and while you are at it check in your sister’s closet too.  You might be surprised at how little you might actually need to purchase, which will reduce the amount of money that you need to raise for a pageant.

People You Know

Your Friends and Family love you dearly and what to see you do well in whatever endeavor you pursue. Now that you have a handy dandy notebook of items you need, it will be easier for Great Grandma Berdia to understand how purchasing butt glue will help you your pageant crown. Some members of your family will have no problem just giving you a fist full of cash for whatever, however you need to be prepared to show them what items their money will be helping to buy.

When gathering a list of people you know don’t forget to use all of your resources. Let Mom, Aunt, Brother, and Cousin make their own list too of people that are close to them that would be more than happy to donate money or items from your list. By having your family and friends find just one person to match their donation, they have already doubled their impact.

Places You Go

As life long shoppers, we all have our favorites. Armed with a one page Donation Letter, start talking to businesses that you visit frequently. Your favorite little shot, your nail lady, your local church, or bank are all good places to find supporters.  Just keep in mind that their money is truly an investment in your future. Approach each meet and greet session with a professional and friendly manner. This is great practice for securing  everything that you need including speaking engagements and ad pages. Each business has contacts that might also have the resources to boost you to your goal.

When you’re out finding support, remember that it can be a numbers game so roll with the punches. Be open to people or businesses supporting you in more creative ways as well.  Sometimes life closes doors, but that doesn’t mean they are locked. Jiggle the knob a bit and see what opportunities are there.

This article was written by Kristen Darden a pageant coach out of Tennessee. To contact Kristen email, kristendarden@gmail.com