Joelle R. Goodwin, Mrs. Oregon 2009 discussed why and how she got involved in pageants, what she has learned from them and why she remains involved with the pageant community.

Highlights from Mrs. Oregon’s presentation:

  • Joelle grew up watching Miss America pageants.
  • Joelle’s dad was always her biggest supporter and hated it when she didn’t win.
  • Her first pageant was initiated by her dad in 4th grade: the Junior Miss Black Oregon Pageant. He connected Joelle to dresses, lessons, and all kinds of resources.
  • Joelle aged out of the Miss pageants (17-24) and so she started looking toward the Mrs. pageants.
  • In the meantime, Joelle became a second lieutenant in the US Army.
  • The Ms. Nernberg Pageant was put on by the Army where she was stationed and she won that title.
  • Joelle spent her Mrs. Oregon money on a smile makeover. 🙂
  • Pageants are like a sport, a very expensive sport. There is a lot of training that goes in to it. Costs include a personal trainer, pageant coach, hair & makeup, entry fees, spray tans, manicures and pedicures.
  • Wardrobes are expensive. Gowns run $500-1000. Interview suits, swimsuits, shoes, etc.
  • There’s a lot more than just winning. Community service is a requirement in most pageants and contestants should be very involved in their communities.
  • Joelle’s personal platform has been HIV & AIDS advocacy and prevention.
  • The winner of the Miss Oregon pageant wins a $10,000 scholarship. Most pageants have scholarships.
  • Pageant contestants become good public speakers.
  • Pageant contestants get to travel and experience different cities and cultures.
  • Most pageants are for-profit operations but don’t make any money.
  • The winner of Mrs. America go on to Mrs. World. It’s the longest running Mrs. pageant.
  • When Joelle competed in the Mrs. United States pageant as Mrs. Idaho in 2007 because she wanted the experience of the big national stage.
  • Some pageants are non-profit like Miss America and Miss USA. Each year, the Miss America organization makes available over $45 million in scholarships.
  • With Miss America, when a young woman wins a scholarship, it goes in to a foundation and is sent to her school.
  • During the Miss America competition, there is an interview, swimsuit/fitness, evening gown, talent, and on stage questions.
  • There are still a lot of pageants including pageants that focus specifically on race and culture – but these are going away as our country progresses.
  • Miss USA is owned by Donald Trump. There is no talent or stage question portion of this contest.
  • There are quite a lot of famous actors and entertainers who have won pageants.
  • Joelle tried her hand at directing the Miss Lane County program and it wasn’t for her.
  • Joelle didn’t think she would enter pageants anymore but on May 31, she will be competing in the Ms. Veteran America preliminaries. This competition was created to showcase the woman behind the uniform. The preliminary contest is May 31. Proceeds provide housing to homeless veteran women.
  • Joelle does coach sometimes.
  • Joelle hates the Toddlers in Tiaras type competitions.
  • There isn’t any training offered on handling rejection.
  • A lot of fasting and working out goes in to the preparation and a lot of binging happens after.
  • The Ms. Veteran America contest is open to all sizes, colors, and ages and that is a different spin on a pageant that gets away from the stigma.
  • There are a lot of stigmas and pressures for pageants. Joelle’s approach is to try to help others build their confidence so as not to rely on so much of the “purchased” enhancements.