Score Higher in Casual Wear Modeling With These Tips

Ava Pizzuti, Miss Florida Jr. Preteen 2015

A popular optional competition at pageants such as MAC and NAM is casual wear modeling. It's fun. It's simple. But the ease of the competition can sometimes cause a contestant to slide down a slope of performing just....eh...while the top scorers really stand out and win. Here are strategies casual wear modeling winners use.


Routine. You've got approximately 30 seconds on stage, which doesn't seem like a lot, but you can pack a powerful routine in that amount of time. Don't waste it by simply walking back and forth from one end of the stage to the other. Insert pauses, turns, shifts, twirls, facials, and action into the walk. Create an actual routine, just like you would a dance. Practice it over and over to uptempo music. Remember at natural pageants, pro am is a no no, so don't do anything that you would see in a glitz pageant.

Theme. Come up with a creative, yet realistic theme. For example, a 6 year old might do First Day of School while an older teen may do Shopping Spree. I think the key here is to be age appropriate and natural. Think of a cute theme and then design an outfit around it, or the other way around.

Color. Stand out on stage with a splash of color. Patterns can work, but be bold with them. In a lot of cases, the stage curtains will be black and you don't want to blend in with them.

Accessorize. Use hats, sunglasses, bags, clutches, bows, headbands, scarves, jackets, even props to pull your theme together. Create a really pulled together look from head to toe. Don't over do it, either, Use accessories that you intend to actually model on stage.

Emery won the casual wear competition at her state pageant

Rethink Casual. Outside of pageantry, casual means jeans and a T-shirt. This is not the case in pageantry. Think a step above basic casual or dressy casual, but don't get too formal, either. If it has sequins or tulle, rethink the outfit. You want the outfit to be something you would actually wear. In public. But something that would draw a persons attention or something that would be a great conversation starter like "Where'd you get that? It's so cute!" So it should look like a normal person would be able to buy it off the rack in a department store or boutique.

Be creative, make a statement and most of all, make it fun! Winning casual wear can be a challenge, but putting a lot of thought into the process will pay off.


Envision your reign.