Confessions of a Pageant King – Details, episodes & analysis

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching to help you lead, speak, and leave a legacy. With 300+ interviews and coaching across Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, this isn’t theory—it’s what works.

https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe

About Mattie Grace

Mattie Grace Morris is a recent Ole Miss graduate and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism. She is now competing for the title of Miss Mississippi Volunteer. A classically trained ballerina since age 3, Mattie Grace is the founder of Mind Over Mirror, a movement focused on building confidence through movement, physical strength, and mental wellness. She was Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2021 and a semifinalist at Miss Teen USA. She's passionate about using her platform to empower women to lead with purpose and break barriers.https://www.instagram.com/mattie.grace/

Timestamps

* 5:53 – How Ballet Became a Lifelong Passion

* 6:27 – Overcoming Injury & Returning to Pointe for Miss Mississippi Volunteer

* 29:38 – Getting Into Pageantry & Overcoming Fear of Interview

* 35:39 – Grammar Pet Peeves & Life as a Perfectionist

* 37:54 – From Nursing to Broadcast Journalism: Finding Her Voice

* 46:00 – Introducing Her SERVE Initiative: "Mind Over Mirror"

* 47:38 – The Ballet Moment That Inspired Her Confidence Mission

* 51:30 – Pickleball Wipeouts & Being a Clumsy Ballerina

* 27:26 – Ballet Discipline and How It Carries Into Pageants & Life

* 56:52 – Final 10 Questions: Fun, Favorites & Honest Reflections

Want more than the episode?

If you're looking for personalised coaching, I offer a limited number of private sessions. It’s for women who want tailored strategy, mindset support, and real accountability—on stage and beyond.

https://thepageantproject.com/coaching

Pageantry is evolving—and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Join us if you're ready to go beyond the crown.

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching to help you lead, speak, and leave a legacy. With 300+ interviews and coaching across Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, this isn’t theory—it’s what works.

300 Conversations Later: What I’ve Learned

Earlier this week, I passed a milestone: my 300th interview for The Pageant Project. That’s hundreds of stories, insights, and introductions to some of the brightest (and boldest) women in pageantry. With that kind of volume, people often ask me, “Can you tell when someone’s going to win?”

The short answer? No.

Pageant judging is wildly unpredictable. You can tick all the boxes and still not be “it” for a given system, year, or panel. But what I can tell you—sometimes from the moment someone walks into the room—is whether they’re going to go far. Crown or no crown.

These women have something else. The elusive “it factor.” And while that can feel like trying to bottle lightning, I’ve noticed a pattern. So here it is. Five core traits that I see in the women who stand out—not just in pageants, but in life.

1. Presence: The Room Knows When You Walk In

You can’t fake presence. It’s not just about height, beauty, or a great outfit—though those don’t hurt. It’s about energy. That gravitational pull. The kind that makes heads turn when someone walks in, even if they haven’t said a word.

Think Marisa Page Butler (now Ford) walking into a Miss Earth USA room. A friend told me everyone just felt it. There was a shift. People noticed. That’s presence. And in a world full of noise, being memorable is everything.

You don’t need to be loud or dramatic. But if you walk into a room and no one even registers you were there? That’s a problem—whether you’re competing, networking, or just trying to make your mark.

2. Poise: Grace Under Pressure

Poise is one of those pageant buzzwords we throw around, but rarely define. For me, it’s this: grace under pressure. The ability to handle stress, chaos, or even criticism with calm, composure, and class.

Poise isn’t about being emotionless. It’s about knowing when to take a breath instead of firing off a reply. It’s not snapping back at trolls on social media. It’s being a calm presence when everyone else is spiraling.

And in the unpredictable, high-pressure world of pageants—and frankly, life—this is golden.

3. Self-Awareness: Know Thyself (and the Room)

Self-awareness is painfully underrated. It’s not just about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. It’s about reading a room. Understanding how you’re coming across. Adjusting your tone, your story, your presence depending on the context.

The advice to “just be yourself” is useless if you don’t know who that is. And none of us is the same person in every situation. We adapt. The trick is to do it consciously, not performatively.

In interviews especially, this matters. A rehearsed, robotic answer might be technically perfect, but if it doesn’t land with your audience, it misses the mark. Self-awareness lets you pivot. To connect. To lead.

4. Authenticity: The Courage to Be Real

Authenticity is scary. That’s why so many avoid it.

Posting a no-makeup selfie when you’re in the top 1% of genetically blessed humans isn’t authenticity. Real authenticity is saying something that scares you. Admitting a failure. Sharing a scar, not just a success.

The most powerful, resonant moments I’ve witnessed are when someone says something so real, so raw, that it makes the room go quiet. That’s brave. That’s memorable. And that’s what makes you magnetic.

It’s not about being a walking diary of trauma, but if everything you present is polished, perfect, and PR-approved? You’ll never truly connect.

5. Relatability: Close the Distance

Presence puts you on a pedestal. Relatability brings you back down just enough for people to see themselves in you.

Too much presence without relatability? You become unreachable. Too much relatability without presence? You blend into the crowd.

The goal is balance. Think Taylor Swift. A global icon who sells out stadiums, yet still somehow makes millions of fans feel like she gets them. That’s the sweet spot.

Relatability doesn’t mean airing all your dirty laundry. But it does mean showing people that you don’t have it all figured out. That you struggle too. That you’re human.

So What Now?

If you’re prepping for a pageant—or just trying to stand out more in life—think about these five traits. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to tick every box. But start noticing them. In others. In yourself.

Pick three. Work on those. And remember: the “it factor” isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being you—with presence, poise, self-awareness, authenticity, and relatability. That’s what sets the best apart.

Not just in pageants. But in life.

Timestamps

* 0:00 Intro and milestone reflection

* 3:00 Introduction of the five factors

* 3:32 Factor 1: Presence

* 7:30 Factor 2: Poise

* 9:47 Factor 3: Self-awareness

* 14:39 Factor 4: Authenticity

* 20:11 Factor 5: Relatability

* 23:43 Conclusion and final thoughts

If you're looking for personalised coaching, I offer a limited number of private sessions. It’s for women who want tailored strategy, mindset support, and real accountability—on stage and beyond.

Pageantry is evolving—and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Join us if you're ready to go beyond the crown.

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching to help you lead, speak, and leave a legacy. With 300+ interviews and coaching across Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, this isn’t theory—it’s what works. Free subs get tips, interviews, and ad-free access. Paid subs unlock mini-courses, priority Q&As, and direct support.

https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Timestamps

* 0:00 Why we need to talk about this pageant drama

* 4:12 What directors say privately vs. publicly

* 8:25 When a queen steps down and backlash follows

* 12:36 Hosting a pageant in a UK travel warning zone

* 16:47 Owning mistakes in how you respond

* 21:01 Leadership tone and accountability

* 25:10 Save your receipts – document everything

* 29:24 Knowing when not to react

* 33:35 Final message: stay professional, not petty

A Grand Debacle

Miss Grand’s slogan is “The One and Only,” and I’m not sure they realise just how ironically accurate that is — especially after the way they handled the resignation (or “firing,” depending who you ask) of international titleholder Rachel Gupta.

We’ll probably never know what really went on behind the scenes, and if this were a one-off incident, I wouldn’t dwell on it. But when a system keeps landing in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, you have to ask why. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

That said, this video isn’t about spilling tea. I’m not here for gossip or views. I am here to talk about the kinds of situations I’ve seen play out — some I’ve handled well, some... not so much — and how you can avoid being caught off guard when the system doesn’t play fair.

Want more than the episode?

If you’re ready to go deeper, consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to mini-courses on everything from interviews to sponsorship, priority answers to your questions, and the chance to ask me anything directly in the comments:

https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe

If you're looking for personalised coaching, I offer a limited number of private sessions. It’s for women who want tailored strategy, mindset support, and real accountability—on stage and beyond:

https://thepageantproject.com/coaching

Pageantry is evolving—and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Join us if you're ready to go beyond the crown.

Presly Pedigo is a twenty-one year old from Nashville, Tennessee.

She is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee where she will graduate in May with honors in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her goal is to become a Physician Associate in women’s health to provide a safe and empowering space for young women.

In 2019, Presly was crowned Teen Universe USA and her pageant journey has now led to being a state titleholder for the USA National Miss system. She will compete at nationals in July 2023 representing Tennessee as Miss Rocky Top (go vols!).

In her free time she loves to do freelance makeup artistry and attend spin classes.

Pageantry has allowed Presly to grow into a confident young woman who never gives up on her dreams. 

Follow Presly:

https://www.instagram.com/preslypedigo/

https://www.tiktok.com/@preslypedigo

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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Maelia Salcines is an award winning children’s book author of @youcandoitbooks, co-founder of Mental Health non-profit @mentalmonarchs, a part-time model and a certified Team Flawless makeup artist (@maesglam).

She placed 3rd runner up at Miss Texas USA 2021, was awarded people’s choice at Miss Universe Paraguay and will be representing the Community of Paraguayans in the USA at Miss Grand Paraguay 2023.

Follow Maelia:

https://instagram.com/maeliasalcines

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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Nicolette Radparvar is a twenty-one year-old author, Broadcast Journalism student, and the reigning Miss Florida Collegiate America from Tampa, Florida.

She is a senior at the University of Tampa, graduating with honors in Communications and Public Relations and aims to become an influential news anchor.

As Miss Florida Collegiate America, her mission is to empower and instill confidence in students of all ages whilst spreading awareness about Miss High School America’s national platform B.R.A.V.E. - Building Respect and Values for Everyone.

In 2021, she created "Confidence 2 Be Kind" - a program aimed at promoting kindness in schools through hands-on activities that also boost students' confidence.

Nicolette recently published her third book as part of her anti-bullying series titled “Bella the Brave.”

She is excited to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Collegiate America this summer in Little Rock, Arkansas!

Confidence 2 Be Kind website:

https://confidence2bekind.wixsite.com/confidence2bekind

Follow Nicolette throughout her reign:

https://www.instagram.com/missflcollegiateamerica/

https://www.instagram.com/confidence2bekind/

https://www.instagram.com/nradparvar/

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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Machaela Kozlowski is the reigning USA National Miss New York and will be competing for the USA National Miss title in July 2023, representing the state of New York.

She is a driven 20-year-old animal lover from central New York who is pursuing a degree in biology. She balances her studies with her jobs as a veterinary assistant and bridal consultant.

Machaela's platform, P.A.W.S. (Providing Animals With Safety), has been a personal mission of hers for the past three years. Through pageantry and sponsorships, she has raised over $3,000 to provide medical attention for animals in need. Machaela is dedicated to spreading awareness and making a difference, by speaking at schools and selling products that benefit homeless animals.

In her free time, Machaela enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, ATV riding, and snowmobiling, as well as her unexpected passion for drag racing cars.

Pageantry has been a transformative experience for Machaela, enhancing her self-esteem, confidence, and outlook on life.

Follow Machaela:

https://instagram.com/newyork_usanationalmiss

https://www.facebook.com/rose.kozlowski.10

https://www.tiktok.com/@machaela_koz

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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http://thepageantsorority.com/

Meet Helena Hawke, an ambitious 18-year-old from Caerleon and a Miss Wales 2023 finalist. Helena is a budding humanitarian, with a strong passion for sociology and psychology which she is currently pursuing through her A level studies.

With a family rich in military heritage, it comes as no surprise that Helena aspires to join the forces. She comes from a lineage of military personnel, including her father, mother, uncle, and grandfather, and is deeply inspired by their service and the impact it has had on her life.

To fulfill her goal, Helena joined the Royal Air Force Air Cadets at the age of 14 and has been volunteering there twice a week, working her way up the ranks. She noticed a lack of female cadets and decided to use her platform to empower young women to pursue careers in male-dominated environments.

When not studying or volunteering, Helena indulges in her love for photography and serves as the official photographer for her local football team, The Birdwatchers.

As a Miss Wales finalist, Helena is determined to raise public awareness about the significance of the RAF. She intends to host charity events in her squadron to educate women across Wales about the opportunities and skills that can be gained from being part of the RAF community.

With her drive and passion, Helena Hawke is a young woman to watch in the coming years.

Follow Helena:

https://instagram.com/helenahawke

RAF Air Cadets homepage:

https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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A former Pageant Queen (Miss Nebraska 2014 & Miss Nebraska USA 2020), turned The “Sales Queen™,” Megan (Swanson) Rhodes is the CEO and Founder of SalesQueen.com, which helps high achieving experts build a simple, scalable business around what’s already in their brain while finally making the level of impact they’ve known they’re called to.

After coaching thousands of the most prevalent, intelligent and high-achieving female communicators in the world to personally achieve their highest goals in pageantry at an international level, and sustaining a 75% closing rate for her first global consulting company Powerhouse Pageantry for the last decade, Megan now relays those high-performance skill sets to the thought-leaders of today. 

Everyone has a story to share with the world, but oftentimes, no idea how to quickly and effectively tell it in a way that serves authentically, scales profitably, and impacts globally. The creator of the Unique Impact Message™, Megan will help you turn what’s in your head into a profitable legacy with the proper money-mindset frameworks, extemporaneous speaking skills, and million-dollar coaching formulas.

Follow Megan:

https://instagram.com/meganswansonrhodes

https://instagram.com/powerhousepageantry

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

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http://thepageantsorority.com/

Kristen Wright is dynamic young woman who balances her role as the reigning Miss World Australia with her passion for ocean conservation and scuba diving.

At only 18, she became a certified SSI speciality scuba diving instructor and has since explored some of the world's most beautiful dive spots.

Along with her love for the ocean, Kristen is also studying Biomedical Science with the goal of becoming a Paediatric Speech Pathologist. Her dedication to helping others communicate effectively stems from her volunteer work with multiple charitable organisations.

Through her Miss World Australia platform, Kristen is using her Beauty with a Purpose project "Educate Resuscitate" to raise awareness about the importance of first aid, CPR training, and water safety.

Join us as we sit down with Kristen to learn more about her journey, her passions, and her ambitions. 

Follow Kristen:

https://instagram.com/kristenawright

https://kristenawright.com/

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Be more than just a queen. Make an IMPACT. Join our sorority:⠀

⬇️⬇️⬇️⠀

http://thepageantsorority.com/