How to Answer Pageant Interview Questions You Didn't Prepare For

We all know someone who has frozen on stage when asked a question for the interview portion of a pageant. This situation can be very embarrassing, though it is very real. It can happen after countless hours of pageant interview preparation and it can happen to anyone. The judges will every now and then throw a curve ball question that is totally unexpected, and can catch even the top or most well-prepared competitor off guard. Here is how to deal with these curve ball questions that you were not prepared for in interview.

4 Steps to Answer Pageant Interview Questions You Didn't Prepare For

1. Think Fast The first and foremost thing to do is to think. Process the question being asked and don’t pause too long before answering. The first thing that pops into your head is usually your best bet to go with. Another important thing to remember is to not speak too quickly or slowly. If you speak too quickly, you can easily get caught up in your words and risk not being understood or repeating yourself.

You also risk using the word “like” more often if you speak at a too-quick pace. If you speak too slowly, you risk making too many pauses or using the word “uhhh” a large amount of times in your answer. The word “uhhh” is NEVER good to use during the pageant interview. If the President of the United States used the word “uhhh” while giving public speeches, it would not reflect well in America. The same goes for pageantry. If the titleholder uses “uhhh” while giving public speeches, it does not reflect well on whatever it is they are representing.

2. Don’t Panic

It is important to remember not to panic when you are met with a question you were not prepared for. If you look panicky and get flustered, you lose all the confidence you normally radiate. Remain cool and collected, and answer with the first thing that comes to mind. If it is a question that involves current issues or events in which you are not up-to-date on, you can somewhat work around it by answering in an opinionated manner (i.e. not naming any statistics or facts that you could be totally butchering), and say how you feel about the issue being questioned about.

Usually, the current issue/event questions used are ones that are very big and are on the news frequently, so you will likely have some idea of what it is about. If you have absolutely NO idea whatsoever, just simply state that you aren’t familiar with the topic, that you are sorry, and if they will allow to ask another question, that would be great. However, that is your ABSOLUTE last resort. Either way, whether you panic or freeze or if you ask for another question, you will definitely lose points off your pageant interview score.

3. Keep Your Head Up

Remember to keep your head up even if you falter. Stay confident even if you make a mistake during the pageant interview. The judges know that not everyone is perfect and they can’t expect the “perfect girl/woman.” Someone who has confidence and personality, even after totally butchering the pageant interview portion, will undoubtedly have more total points than someone who nailed the interview but appears to be timid and shy. ALWAYS stay confident during pageants and ALWAYS smile.

4. Remember: You Are a Spokeswoman

You must keep in mind that being a titleholder means you are a spokeswoman for whatever it is you’re in the running for, whether is be your state, your city, or the universe! You have to be a good public speaker in order to represent your organization in a positive and influential manner. Preparation is a must; you can’t just go in there expecting to know how to answer the question without preparing.

Practice, practice, practice! Make sure you read up on current issues and events and know how to answer the typical questions asking about yourself, your accomplishments, your goals, your morals, etc. The old saying is definitely true when it comes to the interview portion of a pageant: Practice makes perfect.