Inside the Making of a Gown (K. Graham)

GUEST BLOG: K. Lee Graham with Jennifer Graham, gown designer

We all know that one of the most exciting parts of pageant preparation is finding the gown. Luckily for me, I’ve been blessed to have a mother that has been particularly involved in helping me choose my wardrobe. Together, we designed my off-white silk charmeuse and organza gown, and she handmade it.

My mom, Jennifer Graham, has always made my pageant gowns and they have all been special, but to me this was her masterpiece! I originally wore it in my high school pageant last February, but it made me feel so confident that I knew it was the dress that I needed to wear for the Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2014 pageant!

It’s pretty interesting how my mom got started with creating gowns. When she competed as a teen, my grandmother made her gowns. It looks like I’ll have to take some sewing classes soon if we want to continue the tradition!

“My mom and I made my gowns because we couldn’t afford to buy them, but I always loved it since I would have a beautiful gown that no one else would have.”
–Jennifer Graham

When people hear that my mom makes my gowns, they’re always interested in learning how she does it. As you can imagine, making a gown from scratch is much different than ordering a dress from a designer. But like any gown, we start with a concept.

For this gown, we knew we wanted a side train. We already had yards of this beautiful ivory silk organza, so that became the first element we based the design on. We wanted to create a gown that reflected me and my personality, it had to be very elegant and somewhat sophisticated but still age appropriate.

Mom's gown at Mrs. South Carolina America

Closeup Skirt Hips — Lace appliqué on skirt (hips)

In order to remain cost efficient, we always check to see what we can use from dresses she already made. Normally we take elements from a few different gowns and use them to make a completely new one.

After trying on dresses, we decided to use the skirt of a gown Mom had made for herself years ago when she was Mrs. South Carolina America. It was made completely of silk charmeuse, even lined in it.

Closeup Skirt Bottom — Lace appliqué on skirt (bottom)

Lace appliqués were placed all around the hips, and the bottom of the gown was also accented with the same appliqués, but these had soft white feathers attached to them to create an ethereal look and movement when I walked.

So after determining what we already had, Mom and I took a trip to our favorite fabric store. These trips are always so fun for us, and very special.

When my mom was a teen, her mom took her to the same store to get lace for her gowns, so as you can imagine it means a lot to me to share this experience with my mom. At the store, we found some gorgeous lace appliqués that would look fabulous to accent the bodice we planned to make.

After buying the new appliqués, we started putting together the gown...

“I didn’t learn to sew until I was 30, when I took a sewing and smocking class. I wish I had known how much I enjoy it, I would have started much earlier in life.”
-Jennifer Graham

When it comes to actually creating a gown, we have a unique sort of process. There’s definitely an element of flexibility, fabrics don’t always work the way you want them to.

Much of our creation process is trial and error. We have a general idea, a look that we go after, and work out the details as we construct the gown.

K Lee front-side-back — Front, side, and back view at Miss SC Teen USA 2014

We already had the skirt, so after experimenting with a few different options for the bodice we settled on a corset style top with a sweetheart neckline. This gave the gown some structure, and balanced out the flowiness of the skirt.

So we had the basic form of the gown, the next step was to add the detailing. My mom’s designs are characterized by her attention to detail; she has an amazing eye for placing lace and stones just so in order to create a gorgeous overall image.

After attaching the top and skirt, I would just stand there in the gown while we would pin and unpin appliqués until we were both happy with how it accented the dress and me. We also had to work out the placement of the train. It had to be placed a certain way so that it would be cohesive with the rest of the gown.

By bringing it diagonally down across the torso, there weren’t any unflattering lines. We also added a drape of lace across my left arm to continue the line created by the train.

After a few months of fitting (and in my mom’s case sewing and rhinestoning) whenever we had a chance, the gown was finally finished!

K Lee and Mom Collage — (Top Left) Jennifer Graham - Miss SC Teen USA 1985, (Bottom Left) K. Lee Graham - Miss SC Teen USA 2014, (Right) K. Lee and Jennifer Graham

Wearing a gown created by my mom made my experience at the Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2014 pageant all the more special.

The dress is a tangible representation of how supportive my Mom is of me and my goals, and working on it together has been a bonding experience for both of us.

I’ve never felt more confident in a dress and I am so grateful to have such a talented woman in my life!

I'm so proud of Mom for winning Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1985, and to follow in her footsteps as Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2014 is a dream come true!

(Photos courtesy of Sage Media Group, K. Lee Graham, and Jennifer Graham)

February 20, 2014

VIDEO: Jesica Ahlberg – Miss Alabama USA 2014

Jesica was born and raised in Selma, Alabama. She moved to Destin, Florida in the tenth grade, and graduated high school as a Bright Futures Medallion Scholar. She returned to Alabama for college, attended Auburn University, and graduated with a degree in Public Relations. She has been a full time actress and model since graduation.

Jesica won the prestigious title of Miss Alabama USA 2014 on November 16, 2013. She will represent Alabama in the 2014 Miss USA pageant, televised live on NBC. Miss USA is owned and operated by Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC/Universal partnership.

Jesica is an avocate for education. She is a volunteer for the Better Basics M.O.R.E. program, Motivators Of Reading Enrichment, which focuses on improving reading skills and comprehension in forth grade students. (Bio courtesy of JesicaAhlberg.com)

You can follow Jesica and her journey to Miss USA 2014 on Twitter: @JesicaAhlberg

Enjoy Jesica's exclusive interview below with thePageantGuy.com. Video by Zac Grimaldo/Pixelbroom.

-Will the Pageant Guy

January 27, 2014December 5, 2018

10 Ways to Be a Great Titleholder

As a pageant director, I have been extremely lucky to have titleholders that are committed to the vision of our program and committed to winning.

From my own experience and through other directors, I've learned (and still learning) ways to make my year and our titleholders' year enjoyable and successful. I understand that sometimes a titleholder may not have a director that's a good fit for her goals, some titleholders have priorities bigger than pageantry, and others have a different agenda altogether. I get it. Every situation is different.

Regardless of your situation, if you are willing to be a great titleholder you will create a working environment that is conducive to winning. More importantly...you have the opportunity to leave a legacy, to be welcomed back year after year, and have one of the most memorable years of your life.

Interested? Well here are 10 Ways to Be a Great Titleholder.

1) Set Expectations
Discuss with your director what is expected of you. This usually happens early in your year during your first official meeting, contract signing, etc. All directors are different and may have a certain set of rules or guidelines that have worked for them over the years. It may range from explaining standard procedure for appearances to suggestions on managing boyfriends, parents, social media, etc. Simply meeting these expectations is 99% of being a great titleholder.

2) Communication
Learn it. Do it. Consistently. Promptly. Not 5 days later. Instagram likes are not considered communication.

3) Commitment
Commitment is crucial. If you commit to something you must do it. It doesn't matter if your bff has backstage tickets to ~~Bieber~~ Timberlake, you must fulfill your commitments. Just remember that it's not only your director that you are letting down, instead it's all the people that have committed their time and made sacrifices for such event. Breaking a commitment is the #1 way for your director to lose confidence in you.

4) Punctuality
Never be late. If you are on time you are late. Arrive at least 5 minutes early. "Fashionably late" are excuse words are for divas. You are not a diva...you are a titleholder.

5) Closure
You have 365 days to make your time as a titleholder one of the most life changing, impactful, and unforgettable years of your life. Get the most out of each day, because your year will pass by quicker than you'll realize. And remember -- win or lose -- always complete your reign. Your reign does not end after the completion of your next pageant. Especially if you didn't win. Don't let the bitterness of a pageant loss prevent you from enjoying the opportunities of being a titleholder for the remainder of the year.

6) Sponsors
Work with sponsors. They may be incredible. They may be terrible. But give them respect for sponsoring the pageant you now represent. Understand that pageants are a business.

7) Humbleness
Stay grounded. Remember how stoked you were when you barely cracked the Top 15? Keep that humble spirit as a titleholder at appearances, in competition, in everyday life. The crown may now be on your head, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.

8) Gratefulness
Personally, I think the most attractive quality in a lady is gratefulness. Genuine appreciation is a rare commodity these days. The word "title" is present in both titleholder and entitlement, however they are remotely far from having similar meanings. As a titleholder, be grateful everyday for your opportunity, express gratitude to your team, and leave any sense of entitlement for those wishing to be in your shoes.

9) Do work
Some titleholders may only have one opportunity to compete at the next level. So in preparations, do not be outworked. Either by your competition, sponsors, your mom, and especially your director. If you truly want to win, be prepared to make personal sacrifices, adhere strictly to your team's game plan, and most importantly, be passionate about reaching your goals. Nothing will ever substitute a passion for winning. It will show in your preparations...and on stage.

10) Win
Winning your next pageant doesn't automatically make you a great titleholder. In fact, you can win and still be an awful titleholder. Of course, winning plus being a great titleholder will help secure a permanent place in the memory of your pageant peers. But if you want to be remembered, if you want to be great, if you want to be legendary -- to those that actually matter -- you don't always have to win. Just be a great titleholder.

-Will the Pageant Guy

January 26, 2014January 28, 2014

Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013

Similar to the Top 10 Pageant Gowns of 2013, this list was also designed to be the most relevant and comprehensive to determine the top contestants competing in the swimsuit competition. Additionally, I wanted the opportunity for readers to gain a inside look and learn from those who were the best in swimsuit for 2013.

To make this the most comprehensive Top 10 list, I contacted pageantry’s leading authorities across the country including gown designers, boutique owners, pageant coaches, seasoned pageant judges, hair and makeup stylists, photographers, and current and former state and national titleholders from the Miss America and Miss Universe organizations.

Once the final rankings were calculated, I personally contacted the majority of the Top 10 to interview them about their fitness training, nutritional plan, and overall preparation for their pageant.

Those eligible for nomination were ANY contestant competing in ANY pageant, in ANY system during the 2013 calendar year, then ranked in Top 5 format with points for each placement. People’s Choice was determined by popular vote by the public.

I present to you the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013.

“On the bubble”

These ladies barely missed cracking the Top 10, but deserved special recognition.

Constanza Baez, Nastassja Bolivar, Megan Ervin, Lauren Guzman, Gabriela Isler, Brittany Deaville (People's Choice)

10. Miss South Carolina 2012

Our first to appear in the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013 is Miss South Carolina 2012 - Ali Rogers.

Ali gave thePageantGuy.com some insight on preparing for the swimsuit competition at Miss America 2013:

"My key focus while preparing to compete in swimsuit at Miss America 2013 was to stay healthy and more importantly, happy. I had competed in swimsuit only two times before, at Miss Laurens County and at Miss South Carolina.

While maintaining a balanced diet, I never let myself become miserable with the same boring foods. I mixed in foods I like with fruits, vegetables, and high-protein, low-carb dishes.

I even left room for biscuits and gravy...that kept me happy, which was undoubtedly more important than being thin. When it came to working out, I didn't stay confined to a treadmill and weights in the gym. I grew up playing sports, not competing in pageants so swimsuit competition gave me the chance to utilize my passion for sports.

I mixed things up with CrossFit, Zumba, running outside, and anything to give my workouts variation. For me, cardio was key. I began and ended every workout with cardio...running, biking, or rowing. With multiple speaking engagements and appearances everyday for the six months leading up to Miss America, I used the month of December to really buckle down before I left for Las Vegas.

I worked out twice, sometimes three times a day, but I never let myself get bored. Balance was key. While I may have not been the thinnest, I learned very quickly that skinny doesn't always win swimsuit. I was healthy and of course, happy."

9. Miss West Virginia 2013

Coming in at 9th place is Miss West Virginia USA 2013 - Chelsea Welch.

Chelsea shared with thePageantGuy.com her process of preparing for the Miss USA 2013 pageant:

"To prepare for swimsuit competition I worked with Nancy Bond at Complete Physique and there's no way I could have been swimsuit ready without her help.

I started 4 months before my state pageant on a clean eating lifestyle. 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks every day, never more than 3 hours between eating.

I only ate clean foods like complex carbs, fruits, veggies, lean protein, healthy fats, and didn't take any supplements.

I also drank over 1 gallon of water each day. As for workouts, I trained for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day, 6 days a week, which included high intensity cardio intervals and quite a bit of strength training (I even used a squat rack). I dropped nearly 15 pounds in 3 months and became so toned.

My confidence in my body skyrocketed and I was so proud to show it off on stage. Working with Complete Physique was key to my success."

8. Miss Wyoming 2012

Placing 8th on the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013 is Miss Wyoming 2012 - Lexie Madden.

When asked about her preparations for the Miss America 2013 swimsuit competition, Lexie offered thePageantGuy.com this:

"To prepare for the swimsuit portion at Miss America, I did a variety of cardio 6 times a week, generally trying to keep my heart rate in the fat burning zone.

I also added in weight lifting, incorporating low weight with lots of reps to create leaner muscle.

In terms of nutrition, I ate a lot of fruit, veggies and lean protein and drank a gallon of water a day.

I definitely have a sweet tooth so I would still occasionally treat myself to sweet snacks.

Being healthy doesn't mean depriving yourself of everything, it means making smarter eating choices and eating things in moderation."

7. Miss Oklahoma USA 2014

Next on our list of the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013 is current Miss Oklahoma USA 2014 - Brooklynne Young.

Brooklynne gave thePageantGuy.com a quick glimpse on how she prepared for the Miss Oklahoma USA 2014 swimsuit competition:

"I made sure to go to the gym at least 3-5 times a week and if I didn't make it I would do some work outs at home.

I would always start out doing some form of cardio and then would transition into circuit training using weights to target specific muscle groups.

To mix it up, I enjoyed trying new workouts I would find on Pinterest or on a good fitness website.

As for my nutrition plan, I have grown up liking healthy food so it makes it easier to keep good eating habits.

I did not completely cut out any food group because otherwise I would end up craving it all the time. My go-to meal (also my favorite) would be Greek yogurt with granola and fruit.

I believe that the best plan is to focus on whole, natural, unprocessed foods and stay away from artificial sweeteners and so-called 'diet' foods."

6. Miss North Carolina USA 2013

Narrowly missing the Top 5 is Miss North Carolina USA 2013 - Ashley Mills.

When asked about her workout routine to plan for the swimsuit competition at Miss USA 2013, Ashley explained:

"My workout regimen in preparation for the Miss USA 2013 pageant was rather simple.

I only worked out around 3 times a week.

I did some cardio and weight training but the key in how my body was shaped for Miss USA came down to my diet.

From the moment I was crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2013, I ate healthy and in moderation.

I definitely ate what I wanted, which included a lot of thin crust pizza lol but I stayed away from juice and soda.

Drank nothing but water. Ate lots of veggies, fruits and consumed a ton of protein (cans of tuna, chicken, salmon).

I was very disciplined for a period of 7 months up until the Miss USA 2013 pageant and even now, I still maintain the same diet."

5. Miss Nevada USA 2013

The first to appear in the Top 5 in our list of the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013, is Miss Nevada USA 2013 - Chelsea Caswell.

Here is what Chelsea explained to thePageantGuy.com about her fitness and nutrition plan leading up to Miss USA 2013:

"I am a firm believer in being fit is 70% what you intake and 30% what you workout.

I worked out at least 5 days a week and really focused on my overall fitness. I did all different types of workouts to ensure I was getting the best results.

Everything from 'Insanity' to hiking, I tried to do it all. It also helped keep my workouts fun, and not so mundane!

Like I said 70% what you intake, therefore I was extremely strict about what I ate. I followed a pretty true "Paleo" diet (which I learned after the fact) but I essentially ate only natural foods, nothing processed, no dairy, sugar, or grains.

I'll admit the hardest part was candy! I have an addiction to sour gummy worms like none other, but in the end it was all worth it.

Something I thought I could never give up was coffee. If I could have an IV of coffee everyday I would! Hahah...it was hard but so worth it, I felt the best if ever felt in my entire life going to Miss USA."

4. Miss Utah USA 2013

Placing 4th on our list is Miss Utah USA 2013 - Marissa Powell.

Marissa also explained her routine to prepare for the Miss USA 2013 swimsuit competition:

"I was very fortunate to have an amazing trainer for Miss USA. I trained with Scott's Training System out of Arizona.

Although I was not in the same state as him, it was no problem at all. He was wonderful about calling and emailing back and forth 2 to 3 times a week to make sure that I was sticking to my nutrition plan and exercises.

Before starting to train, I told Scott exactly what I wanted to work on to obtain my ideal Miss USA body, and he helped me know what exercises and nutrition plan I needed in order to make it happen.

I grew up playing a lot of sports, so I was excited to do cardio and light weight lifting at the gym three times a week along with eating clean and natural foods.

Every week I would take photos of myself in my swimsuit in order to see the progress that I was making and it made me very excited and motivated to see the changes I was working for! I was thrilled when I got on the Miss USA 2013 stage and felt perfectly beautiful in my own skin.

I had worked hard and stayed dedicated. I knew that all my hard work paid off because I had reached my personal fitness goal that I had set for myself. Scott help me every bit of the way, and I could not have done it without him!"

3. Miss Illinois USA 2013

Placing 2nd runner up is Miss Illinois USA 2013 - Stacie Juris.

Stacie explains to us her "no fun diet" helping her to place in the Top 5 at the Miss USA 2013 and in our list of the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013.

"To prepare for the Miss USA 2013 swimsuit competition, I went on what I call the no-fun-diet.

I worked with personal trainer and former Miss Illinois USA, Ashley Bond 2-3 times a week and the other 4-5 times a week I would train on my own, at Lifetime Fitness.

As I got closer to leaving for Miss USA, my diet became more and more boring.

Eventually I cut out all grains, dairy, alcohol, and processed sugar.

I was eating a lot of vegetables, chicken, and egg whites.

Yawn.

It was really important to me that my hard work was evident when I hit the stage.

I didn’t just want to be skinny, I wanted to look fit and feel great. Getting ready to be on national television -- in a bikini -- may not be fun, but it is worth it!"

2. Miss Great Britain Universe 2013

Our 1st RU for the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013 is Miss Great Britain Universe 2013 - Amy Willerton.

To prepare for the Miss Universe 2013 pageant KX, an exclusive health and fitness club based in the UK, provided Amy a custom program consisting of personal training, spa treatments, and a particular diet and nutritional plan.

Courtesy of KX, here's a look at Amy's specific diet for Miss Universe 2013.

The diet that Amy followed for the Miss Universe 2013 pageant is a Mediterranean Paleo Menu.

This includes three meals per day consisting of a wide variety of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat.

Following this diet, combined with regular exercise, can help you stay lean, strong and energetic.

Below is Week One of Amy Willerton’s Miss Universe 2013 diet:

Monday: Smoked salmon and spinach / Super green salad & Cod / Chicken Paillard, green beans and broccoli
Tuesday: Poached eggs & grilled tomatoes / Tuna Tartare & Quinoa side / Salmon, beans salad & asparagus
Wednesday: Chicken, avocado & spinach / Vegan pasta & prawns / Beef filet stracchetti with mushrooms & kale
Thursday: White omelette w/red pepper / Beetroots soup & chicken w/green salad / Dover sole broccoli & carrots
Friday: Chilean sea bass, mushrooms and baby spinach / Spicy vegetable & chicken soup & wild rice side / Beef Bresaola & cherries tomatoes
Saturday: Steamed chicken and kale / Lentils Prawns soup / Veal filet green beans mixed salad
Sunday: Scrambled eggs & asparagus / Salmon salad & buckwheat side / Cod & shitake mushrooms

1. Miss Virginia USA 2013

Receiving the highest 1st place votes and placing in Top 5 on over three-fourths of all our expert polls, Miss Virginia USA 2013 - Shannon McAnally earns her the top spot in the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013!

Shannon exclusively spoke to thePageantGuy.com about her fitness and nutrition lifestyle and preparing for the Miss USA 2013 swimsuit competition:

"While I have been a vegetarian my entire life, I was definitely more strict than ever with my eating habits leading up to Miss USA.

I took in about 100 grams of protein per day, included lots of fresh veggie and fruit juices I made at home using a juicer, ate all healthy natural and organic foods, and cut out anything processed or things with a lot of sodium or sugar.

I can honestly say I have never looked or felt better in my life after practicing this diet for several months straight.

As far as my workout routine, I did a lot of low impact cardio several times per week, and worked out with light machines and free weights about 5 times per week.

I also Skyped with my trainer, Mark some towards the end to make sure I was targeting all the right spots correctly.

My workout routines were extremely intense and efficient, but well worth the time and effort!"

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So what do you think? Do you agree with the Top 10 in Swimsuit for 2013?

Who was your favorite? Was there a contestant you thought was worthy to be listed on our Top 10 list that we missed?

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

-Will the Pageant Guy

January 19, 2014February 20, 2014

VIDEO: Nia Sanchez – Miss Nevada USA 2014

During the Miss Nevada USA and Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014 pageant weekend, I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look with the staff and contestants including a few interviews.

Immediately after being crowned the new Miss Nevada USA 2014, Nia Sanchez spoke to Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella about her win.

Be sure to follow Nia on Twitter at: @RealMissNVusa

-Will the Pageant Guy

January 19, 2014January 19, 2014

VIDEO: Alexa Taylor – Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014

During the Miss Nevada USA and Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014 pageant weekend, I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look with the staff and contestants including a few interviews.

Immediately after being crowned the new Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014, Alexa Taylor spoke to Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella about her win.

Be sure to follow Alexa on Twitter at: @RealMissNVteen

-Will the Pageant Guy