September 07 E-letter
I hope everyone has had a great summer and now is ready for back to school and an exciting Cinderella year.
As most of you know, California has not had a Cinderella Pageant in several years. It seems that most of Southern California pageant people are into the high Glitz type pageants. But natural systems are making strides here in California so I hope that we can get the word out about Cinderella. If you want to help, just let me know and I will send you out some brochures and for everyone contestant you refer that enters you will receive $25 off your State Fees! And the person referring the most contestants will win the Cinderella Hospitality Award and a large crown, full sash, gifts and a savings bond.
Here is the Cinderella Girl Pledge - we say it before each pageant! We also play the National Anthem and begin the competition with a prayer.
Cinderella Girl Pledge
On my honor I promise to do my best to live up to the high standards of the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant; to honor my God and country; to always conduct myself in a manner that is becoming to a young lady; to keep myself morally straight; to respect my mother and father; to recognize the rights of others; to keep the competitive spirit and be a good loser as well as a good winner; and dedicate myself to a world united in peace through love, mutual trust and understanding amongst the peoples of all nations, races and creeds.
What is Cinderella?
Cinderella is a Youth Development Program. We run it in a pageant format - but place no emphasis on physical beauty (or the cost of the clothes) - instead we concentrate on the development of poise and inner beauty. We do pageant workshops prior to all level of pageants. The workshops are free and we teach modeling, grooming, communication skills and discuss wardrobe, make-up, and hair.
How much does it cost?
The workshops are free and you are under no obligation to enter, however if you decide to enter, the cost is $100 for the preliminary which can be business sponsored (includes photogenic). The optionals are $5 each but they have no bearing on the overall title, just another opportunity for the child to be recognized. There are early bird incentives and family discounts available.
Are you an agency?
How can we get our child into commercials/magazines? I have 30 years experience as an agent but now I am a partner in a talent management company. We handle all ages and our Overall Winners are awarded one year contracts if they have an interest but should the winner have no interest, then they are under no obligation. Cindy Girls who have been in our program and have been successful were willing to move to LA or New York. Also lots of Cindy Girls go on to compete in the Miss/Teen USA and the Miss America and America's Outstand Teen Programs. We can, though, and do, offer the experience that is necessary if your daughter chooses to pursue either to get into show business or enter the "big girl" pageants.
What do they win?
On the preliminary level we award scholarships of entry fees to the State Finals - plus trophies, crowns, banners and special gifts. The state level awards over $5,000 in prizes and awards and the International Program awards over $80,000 - so you see it's quite a large program!
What kinds of clothes do they need?
First of all our wardrobe is very different than any other pageant system. Our party dress is not a "pageant" dress - it's more like you would really wear to church or a wedding and casual wear is just a nice little pants, skirt outfit, or sundress. We want to showcase your daughter, not the clothes. In the younger divisions (tot, mini miss, & miss) the girls wear a short dress but in the Teen division they wear a floor length formal. The International Woman wears a dress like a Miss America dress. Please note, that in the Local Preliminary we encourage girls to wear what they have in their closets, or what they can borrow, as they are not judged on their clothes. Casual wear is something the girls can really wear everyday, pants, sundress, skirt, etc.
What are the age divisions?
Baby Girls/Boys
0-12 mo.
12-24 mo
25- 36 mo
Prince Charming
3-4yr
5-7 yrs
18 - 25 yrs
(*note add'tl category if enough boys)
Boys & Girls can participate in our Baby Pageant which is just for fun and on the local level they just model one cute Sunday outfit and are escorted onstage by their chaperone. The Baby Pageant has a separate entry. On the State Level they have a close up appraisal, model casual wear, and model party wear. $100's of dollars to be won here.
3-6 years girls Tots They have an interview, model casual wear and party wear and have an onstage interview (tot personality) with the emcee.
7-9 years girls Mini-Misses They have an interview, model casual wear and party wear, and perform a talent.
10-12 yr. girls Misses They have an interview, model casual wear and party wear, and perform a talent.
13-17 yr. girls Teens They have an interview, model casual wear and party wear, and perform a talent.
18-26 yr. Cinderella Woman
(marriedor single ladies) They have an interview, model casual wear and party wear, perform a talent, and have an onstage question.
Cindy Mom
26+ years, married or single. They compete in evening gown only
Cindy Dad
26+ years, married or single. They compete in suit, tux or Sunday best
Next month I will go into detail about the Optional Competitions we will have at State!
I will be starting up our fee monthly modeling workshops in January. To attend you must be a city title holder or have pre-registered for the state as an Open Contestant. More on the City Titles to be in the Glass Slipper as I am working out the final details. These workshops will focus on basic Cinderella Modeling for competition, interview and onstage presentation and Cinderella attire. I hope to have a fashion show in March or April that will focus on Cindy approved attire! It should be a great fun event and great place to get acquainted with the Cinderella Pageant. Or perhaps get ideas for new competition attire.
If you have not sent me your address, please do so as soon as possible so you will receive the first issue of the Glass Slipper!
Now I want to introduce the 2007 California Cinderella State Overall Winners!
Mini Miss - Savannah Preuss
Miss - Londonn Winters
Teen - Denise Jenkins
You can read more about them in the Glass Slipper! They all did so great at Internationals - I am very proud of all of them.
Just so you can be thinking ahead about State, each issue I will talk in depth about one segment of competition. This month I want to talk about mandatory Party Wear (Beauty). So let's talk in general and then I will talk about each age division.
First and most important we use at every level the official Cinderella Modeling music which is timed so that every contestant has the same time in front of the judges on stage. The music starts with a harp sweep which is the time that the contestant takes her place at the first "X" on stage. This will always be upstage left. After a short musical interlude you will hear a beep, this is your cue to move to center stage. At this point, many contestants will do a double half turn, others will just stand in a model's stance until the next beep. At this beep you will move to end of the runway or front of the stage, in a model's stance pause until you hear the next beep. Here again, some girls will do a double half turn immediately upon arriving at this mark, others will wait until the beep to turn and then move to the final mark upstage right. There are several ways to approach this mark. Some prefer to hit the mark straight on and then do a half turn and wait for harp sweep, beep and exit. Others chose to do the Miss America swimsuit half circle. We do not want robots at Cinderella so you need to find whatever style you prefer. We do not allow props, or any kind of fancy modeling however. Your arms must be kept down at your side. Do not put your hands on your waist or hips. Also - keep your head up and have perfect posture. When it is your turn to exit, do so as gracefully as you entered with your head up and looking at the judges (as long as you can without running into a wall). DO NOT tilt your head and nod (a Southern Pageant thing). After each 10 contestants in the division have completed their Beauty, it will be time for group lineup. You will come out (with your group) and first be in a model's stance and quickly move into heel together to the music (it is addictive to hear that tick tick ticking) and then do a quarter turn to your right, Then at the cue, another quarter turn to the right (you now have your back to the judges so relax that smile), then one more quarter turn on cue and you will be profile to the judges, then one last quarter turn and back into your model's stance until the beep. Yes, we love those beeps at Cinderella!
Now, if you are NEW you might be thinking that this sounds too complicated or too difficult - but trust me it is so easy. And since everyone has to do the same thing in the same time frame, it is the fairest way to be judged as it does not matter if you have been doing Cinderella for years or if this is your first time - no one can have more time than you and no one can do routines or special entrances or exits. This allows the judges to score you on your confidence, poise, attire, and beauty without being distracted by what you are doing onstage. Even if you cannot attend the modeling workshops, we will have a one hour practice time (with instruction) prior to each preliminary and several practice times at the State. We will also have available to purchase the Cindy modeling music and modeling book very soon. And the video will be done by January I hope.
Now let's talk about attire by age division. I will start with Tot and Mini Miss this month!
Tot - this division wears short or tea length dresses, These dresses should be what you would wear to church/synagogue, a flower girl dress (t must NOT be floor length), or a special event. White and pastel colors are always popular but if you do not look good in white - then pick a color that you look great in! There should be little to no "glitter". few pearls or rhinestones in the bodice area is ok but don't to a full rhinestoned bodice as it might be too much for the Cinderella judges. Remember our motto - "Real kids in real clothes". This does not mean that you cannot get custom clothes if that is what you want to do. Some children are between sizes and off the rack clothes are either too long or too short, too tight or too baggy. We at Cinderella have nothing against "custom" clothes but unless you have a fitting problem, I am sure you can find tons of dresses anywhere from $20-$50 range that would be lovely. And this is a great opportunity to wear that special occasion dress hanging in the closet that you only wore once. This is just a personal thought - holiday type dresses (red velvet, black velvet, plaids) are ok for prelims but I would not suggest them for State or Internationals.
Shoes should match the hemline of your dress or you can't go wrong with a basic white Mary Jane. The socks should match the shoe and again on a personal note - don't do large bows or ruffles on the socks. It takes the judges eyes down from the face of to the feet!
Hair should be natural looking without a lot of hairspray. You can have it up or down (but down is usually the best in this age group). We discourage hair pieces or extensions. Now we don't go around and feel your head to see if you have in a fall or hair piece, but if it is obvious we will ask! Also be very careful about hair accessories in Beauty. Keep it minimum.
We do not allow makeup on this age group. If you want to put a little loose powder on the nose area and Vaseline or Chapstick on lips that is OK but no color, no mascara, no eye shadow, no foundation and no blush. If a judge sees makeup, points will be deducted.
I can not tell you now many people try to get around this rule and they apply eye makeup or lip color - please don"t. No one will wipe your face or embarrass you by asking but if the judges see it (and they will) it could keep you from winning.
No nail polish or acrylic nails! Clear polish is ok but no color.
Earrings should be studs only and no bracelets, rings, or necklaces unless they are something that you always wear and never take off.
Mini Miss
The Mini Miss attire is very similar to the Tot except that you will want to avoid mid calf length dresses as sometimes this look on a Mini Miss just looks "too big". White and pastels are great choices but on this group feel free to add a little color perhaps in a sash or color. Shoes and socks should match hemline. Stay away from short above the knee more than 3 fingers type dresses as when you make the mark in front of the judges they will be looking right up the skirt!!! Any decoration should be minimal. I find that pearls on a collar or up by the neck area, add warmth to just about anyone but make sure they are not over the top! Short sleeves with a tailored inset or a puff looks good. The type of sleeve should be chosen with your arm type in mind. If you have skinny upper arms avoid sleevess (which is not a good choice for anyone) and the puff sleeve, A tailored set in or slightly pleated sleeve looks best. If your upper arms are a heavy or muscular then a sleeve that is fuller will be more flattering.
Also be careful of what style waist you select. Some girls look best in low waisted dresses or empire waist, some in boxed pleats others in full gathered. We will talk about all the different styles and what looks best of what body type in a later newsletter.
Ankle socks are still seen in this division but you can also wear white hose (not tights). If you are at the older end of this age division nude hose is appropriate. Hair should be styled but not stiff. Keep hair accessories to a minimum. Remember in Cinderella - less is best!
Again we stress no makeup except powder and lip gloss.
No fake tans, no fake nails, no hair extensions! Natural is the key.
Miss Division
And you probably guessed - the Miss DIvision is just an older version of Tot and Mini MIss! White and pastels are still the most popular colors. In this division the dress must fit!!!! Our little girls are starting to grow up and it is difficult to find flattering off the rack dresses that do not try to make them look 6 years old! In this division a little age appropriate makeup is ok but NO eyeshadow that can be seen from 3 feet! I would suggest light mascara if needed, loose powder, colored lip gloss that enhances the natural lip color and if you are great at blush then a little blush but it must be blended to look natural. Hair should be natural and I wold suggest a down style.
In this division you will see white hose (if wearing a white dress) and nude hose. Shoes should be flats
