#39 More Than a Number: Why Contestant Lineup Doesn't Define Your Success

Anxiety about contestant numbers is a persistent yet unnecessary worry in pageantry. From my experience as both a contestant and a judge, I'm debunking the myths that keep competitors fixated on lineup placement instead of performance.

Your contestant number is beyond your control, and focusing on it only diverts energy from your preparation. Judges don't score based on order - we evaluate each contestant individually, remembering your energy, authenticity, and vision, not your number.

The myths don't hold up. First contestants aren't at a disadvantage, last contestants don’t have an edge, and middle contestants don't get overlooked. Success comes from mindset, confidence, preparation, and connection - not lineup placement.

I've been contestant number one at Miss America, and my struggles came from mindset, not order. The key? Focus on what you can control. When you shift from numbers to growth, your results will reflect your effort - not your position in line.

Chapters

• 0:58 Introduction and Competition Season
• 2:08 My Perspective on Contestant Numbers
• 3:43 Debunking Myth: First Contestant Never Wins
• 10:31 Debunking Myth: Last Contestant Advantage
• 13:50 Debunking Myth: Middle Contestants Get Overlooked
• 15:51 What Really Matters: Confidence and Authenticity
• 17:52 Preparation and Connection with Judges
• 22:20 Focus on What You Can Control

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:30

Hey you guys, welcome back to Sash and Soul, so excited to have you back this week. It is another beautiful week outside, at least from where I'm sitting Blue skies, birds chirping, I don't know. I just feel like I have this new energy right when it's like spring is in the air, daylight savings is over, the days are getting longer and at the same time, we're ramping up for competition season, and you know that my clients have a lot of orientations going on and figuring out what their contestant numbers are and sharing their headshots with everyone in the world, and so it's just kind of like that fun, like buzzy time of year. And so, speaking of competition preparation, today I thought it would be a good day to talk about a topic that sparks a whole lot of anxiety, which is contestant numbers. There is a ton of speculation about whether your placement in the competition lineup really affects your chances of winning, and I know that there are a lot out there that would probably argue until they're blue in the face that it really does matter that much. But today I want to talk about why I don't believe that that's true and give a different perspective on it. So, first of all, my perspective on contestant numbers. Number one contestant number is completely outside of your control and if you're familiar with the winning mindset as part of Fearlessly Authentic, focusing on the things outside of your control are going to pull you away from what you're there to be doing in the first place. So your big picture, your why, your vision, your mission, your purpose for being there, and it's going to lead you into worrying about a lot of things that don't actually matter in the outcome. So contestant number is one of those things that, because it's outside of your control, it's one of those areas, then, that could potentially cause some mindset glitches and cause us to kind of spiral into stress.

Speaker 1: 2:21

Number two the judges are focused on what is in front of them, and I can speak as a former judge that when I am judging a pageant competition, I'm looking at the girl right in front of me. I am already overwhelmed with this big job that I have to do. I have to look at all of these different aspects and I only have a very, very, very short period of time in which to make a decision and put a number down on my score sheet, so I'm focused on what's right there in front of me. It doesn't matter if you were first, if you are 15th or if you're last. I am focused on the job.

Speaker 1: 2:58

Number three you can stand out anywhere. You can stand out from any contestant position, wherever you are, and that all comes from your level of preparation, your confidence, your authenticity, all of those things that are actually going to put you ahead of the game. So let's dive into this, though, because I know that, even though I give you my perspective, and we're going to go through these myths and try and bust them for you, you are still going to have your anxiety about this because, let's face it, it's just something that's constantly talked about every single year, without fail. We are talking about contestant numbers, and a lot of that is because you either pick at random when you're at orientation, or it's picked for you, or there's some kind of a lottery, or there's you know you have an opportunity to pick sooner than other people because you sold a certain number of ads. So there's all this big pressure on figuring out where you want to be in the lineup somebody else based on their talent or their skills, or where they've placed in the past, like all of these things are going to start creating all this noise in your head. That will pull you away from what actually matters. So I really first just want to acknowledge that there are a ton of emotions around contestant placement. So, whether that is going ahead or going after someone who you're intimidated by or has a similar talent to yours, or if, like, being first in an interview, puts you in this weird anxiety place of not knowing what to expect, or that you're just afraid of getting lost in the shuffle, I mean, all of these are very valid, real anxieties and fears, but they're also limiting beliefs, also limiting beliefs. So what we need to shift into understanding is that performance determines your success, and that is going to come with a whole nother level of anxieties, but at least you have more control in that space and you have more control on providing your clarity on your mission and vision. So let's dive into some of these myths that we need to debunk.

Speaker 1: 5:15

Myth number one the first contestant never wins right. Many of you believe that if you're the first contestant, you're at a disadvantage because judges aren't quote unquote warmed up yet. However, you're not. Judges in most cases are prepared and trained by a judge's chair to score fairly throughout the competition. So what that means is we will sit through an orientation to go over the rules and the job expectations of the title holder and get trained on exactly how we should be scoring consistently from one contestant to the next. And that is something that most judges go through so that they feel as prepared as possible for the competition and to do their job well. Next, in many cases the judges are going to do a warm-up interview with the outgoing title holder, so the first contestant is not their first interview and therefore their first impression is outstanding, no matter who the first contestant is. Because their first impression is outstanding. No matter who the first contestant is because their first impression was from the outgoing title holder that has just spent an entire year doing this job and probably prepped for the added nerves or the pressure of doing the warmup interview. But the point is the judges have this opportunity to actually practice asking questions and get the feel for each other in that room and get a flow down.

Speaker 1: 6:44

Next, judges are human beings. I cannot instill this in you. Enough. Judges are human. They are usually volunteering their time. They have a great respect for pageantry in the enough. Judges are human. They are usually volunteering their time. They have a great respect for pageantry in the industry. They value the empowerment that the industry provides to you as a contestant and they really want you to succeed Because, honestly, like it's uncomfortable when we see somebody else that's uncomfortable. So when I say that judges are human beings, remember that they have human feelings and human experiences, and so they're looking at you in many ways with a lot of empathy and just cheering you on from the inside, so they take their role seriously. So, in other words, assume that they have good intentions. They're not there to trip you up. They're not there to judge unfairly or have their own personal preferences that they're going to put over what they were taught in the judge's orientation. There's so much more that goes into this. So assume good intentions from every person that's sitting in front of you, asking you questions in that interview room or viewing you from off the stage. If anything, being the first contestant is going to allow you to set the standard and leave a lasting impression. So if you execute with confidence and with presence, you have nothing to worry about. But the reality is every one of you should be executing with confidence and presence, no matter what contestant number, you are All right. So I actually have a really good lived experience example of being contestant number one.

Speaker 1: 8:26

I was contestant number one when I went to Miss America and remember I was sitting during the lottery and I was second to last to choose my contestant number and there were only two numbers left. There was contestant number one and contestant number two, and I opted to go for contestant number one for a couple of reasons. First, because I just figured like why not, that's a memorable number. Like I had all the myths in my head as well, like somehow that was going to help me stand out. I also knew that Laura Kepler was contestant number one when she won Miss America in 2012,. She also won talent as contestant number one.

Speaker 1: 9:02

So it was kind of like I was in this weird space of like busting the own my own myth in my head, while also like just trying to lean into it. And so I was contestant number one at Miss America. But you guys, I was going in like already anxiety filled because you know, two years ago, miss Wisconsin had won Miss America and that was still just kind of in my head because I was her first runner up at Miss Wisconsin. And so just like a whole mess of limiting beliefs and mindset glitches were going on and I had a really rough interview. But it wasn't because I was the first contestant. It was because I was so in my head about being first and I didn't do what I needed to do to be warmed up. So I have to take ownership of that. It wasn't about the judging panel. It wasn't about me being contested number one. It was because I was struggling with my own mindset glitches and that I didn't do the things that I typically did to prepare for my competition interview, namely being really warmed up and getting out of my head.

Speaker 1: 10:03

All right. Myth number two the last contestant has an unfair advantage. All right. The idea here is that the judges are going to remember the last contestant more clearly, which gives the last contestant an edge. So recency bias does exist in some scenarios, but judges are going to be taking notes and they're going to be evaluating contestants based on the criteria they were given, not just based on their memory.

Speaker 1: 10:30

So, in a similar way to the judges not being warmed up at the start of the day, judges can also be wiped out at the end of the day as well. It is exhausting you guys, like I know the energy that it takes to put all of your heart and soul out there for that. You know. Three, five, 10-minute interview, but imagine sitting through multiple of those interviews while having to be really present by you know, having to analyze everyone in front of you by having to listen very clearly to understand what's being said, to be able to also ask follow-up questions and new questions that are really going to get at who this person is and who they would be as the title holder. Like that takes a lot of energy. It's so fun, but it's a lot so by the end of the interviews you might be exhausted as a judge, right? So no matter where you stand in the lineup, the judges are going to be trying to be as consistent as they possibly can and your job is going to be the same Walk into interview exemplifying who you would be as the title holder.

Speaker 1: 11:39

Focus on yourself, focus on the value that you bring to the position, be warm and be inviting. Have a genuine conversation with the judges. Be the person that comes in and rejuvenates them, because it is a long day. Go be in there, you know, as the first contestant and get them excited for the rest. A long day. Go be in there, you know, as the first contestant, and get them excited for the rest of the day. Go in as the middle contestant and remind them how awesome this whole experience is and get them rejuvenated again, and then be the last contestant and get them so excited for the rest of the show.

Speaker 1: 12:10

Your job in that interview room is very much to do the job of a title holder, which is to make people feel special and share your heart and soul and make a difference. It starts right there in that interview room. It doesn't start when you get the crown on your head. That is a part of what it means to be authentic and genuine and exemplify who you are. Who you are doesn't change when you get that crown on your head. Also, you could argue that the last contestant faces the challenge of being really impressive, so that's just added pressure. It's better to show up and show out, no matter where you're at, because you can't control what the other contestants think, do or say. You certainly cannot wish them away and nor would you wish them ill will. So no matter where you are in comparison to any other contestant, your job is the same Show up and show out. Focus on yourself. It is the only thing that you can do.

Speaker 1: 13:16

The third and final myth of today is that the middle contestants get overlooked. I know some of the anxiety here is that if you're in the middle you're going to blend in, but, as I've already clearly established, it's not about where you fall in the lineup, it is how you present yourself. The judges aren't checking contestant numbers before they're scoring. That is absolutely true. I mean, even as a judge, I can't even keep track of how many interviews I've done, much less have time to figure out how many more we have to do, because it's just back to back to back and I have to stay on top of it.

Speaker 1: 13:50

Judges are looking at poise, they're looking at confidence, they're looking at poise, they're looking at confidence, they're looking at communication and they're looking at authenticity. So for me, every time a new contestant walks into the interview room or is introduced on stage, I am zeroed in on that person. I focus on the judging criteria that I was instructed to focus on. I consider what the judge's chair or the director told us that they need in a title holder based on the job description. I am analyzing the unique performance right in front of me and I look for confidence, authenticity and warmth. I'm also looking to see if I can picture that person doing the job for 365 days. Okay, that's me as a judge.

Speaker 1: 14:35

Everyone else has their own different approach, but I can assure you that it is all centered in pure positive good intentions. As judges, we know that every single one of you is worthy. We know you're valuable. We know you're capable. We know that you are unique. But we have a job to do. We have to find the one that we think will best represent the organization for an entire year and is ready to potentially compete at the next level. So we're not overlooking anyone, no matter where they fall in the lineup, but we are going to remember those that are standing out because of their energy, their confidence and their clarity in their unique vision and mission in their unique vision and mission. So what really matters? You guys, instead of focusing on a number, focus on these key factors confidence, authenticity, preparation and connection.

Speaker 1: 15:31

Judges are drawn to contestants who own the stage and believe in themselves. This is not something that you can fake. You can't fake confidence. I know that there's that old saying of like fake it till you make it, and there's some truth in that, but genuine, real confidence stems from you working on your mindset, understanding your sense of self and owning everything that makes you who you are. You have to practice letting go of the fear of what other people think to really get at the core of what it feels like to be confident. As far as authenticity goes, you do not need to be the perfect contestant, because spoiler, it doesn't exist. You have to be you.

Speaker 1: 16:14

Last week, I talked about worthiness and I talked about what authenticity really is. Authenticity is about your expression of who you are. It's not about anyone else's perception of who you are. It's not about how others receive you, but about the fact that you are showing up as yourself, unapologetically. What is your pure and positive intention? Are you being honest with yourself? Are you honoring your own truth? Are you showing up in a way that reflects who you really are? In order to answer these questions, you have to know who you are. That's why consistent and long-term mindset work and self-development are essential. Let me repeat that Consistent, long-term mindset work and self-development. This is not something that you can just cram for right before a competition. That is why mindset work is one of the pillars of the work that I do with my clients, because it is something that you have to consistently work on Preparation work that I do with my clients, because it is something that you have to consistently work on Preparation.

Speaker 1: 17:24

Often I'm hearing that there's, you know, this fear of not doing enough Very, very real, very valid fear. So if you are experiencing that fear that you're not prepared enough or not preparing enough, recognize where your prep is lacking and get real about it. Right, like, what is accurate here? Is it accurate that you're not spending enough time on it? Is it accurate that you are spending the amount of time that you have to spend on it because you've got other things in life going on? Is it accurate that you're focusing on the priorities in your life right now and that's okay? And then also, is it accurate that you can find ways that you are preparing in unconventional, non-traditional ways for the role of the title holder?

Speaker 1: 18:08

Next, get organized and make the most of the time that you are allotting to prepare. Life is happening. We are all busy, high functioning and driven people competing in pageants that's like that's kind of what makes us. The epitome is because we are so driven and we are so focused on our personal success and our ambitions and our drive to make a difference and do all the things. So get organized while you're doing all the things and make the most of the time that you are preparing. And if you are really stuck in between these things, where you, like, don't know where your prep is lacking, or if you're struggling to get organized, or if you don't even know if you're not preparing, maybe you are preparing more than enough, sometimes you need to get help from someone from the outside perspective, someone who's been there when you're feeling lost or stuck. Someone from that outside perspective can help you see that you are doing more than enough. In fact, maybe you're doing too much, or you're doing too much in this area and not enough in that area. It's okay to have someone help you analyze that, usually someone that isn't also competing because they're in the throes of it with you. It's better to go to somebody that has competed before and understands what it's all about to get their take on your prep. So, whether that's a director, a board member, a volunteer, a former title holder that is mentoring you and helping you out, or a coach, there are many different resources to help you figure out what your preparation is looking like and where it needs to be.

Speaker 1: 19:44

Finally, whether it's an interview or on stage, connecting with the judges and the audience is a game changer. 150%. Open up, get out of your own head and be present. When you do that, you can build a genuine relationship with the judges by showing them who you are. Do not tell them who you are. I mean, there are ways that you will tell them who you are, but what is more powerful is showing them in the way that you show up, in your energy and the stories that you tell. That's going to help them see your character and your personality more so than telling them. You could tell them that you are responsible. You could tell them that you're respectful. You could tell them that you're driven. Of course you can, but the judges are going to remember how you made them feel. So if you can give them that energy through the stories that you share and the examples that you share with them, that's going to go so much further in building that relationship and letting them in to see exactly who you are.

Speaker 1: 20:45

So finally, as we're wrapping all of this together, there are many aspects of the winning mindset that we talk about in Fearlessly Authentic, but some that really bode into helping you overcome this fear of, or the myths and the limiting beliefs around contestant numbers is focusing on what you can control, practicing some visualization and accurate affirmations, some supportive self-talk, and distract yourself. So remember that the number is out of your hands, but your preparation, your energy and your confidence is within your control. So focus on that Visualizing your success, practicing affirmations that actually help you feel empowered and feel good, and practicing that supportive self-talk will help you stay grounded and steer away from those limiting beliefs. And when all else fails and I do this a lot with myself distract, distract, distract. Throw on some loud music, pull out a coloring book and an audio book, like anything that will get you out of your own thoughts. So we're wrapping up today.

Speaker 1: 21:50

Please remember we are never guaranteed a crowning moment, but that's nothing to do with your contestant number. At the end of the day, your contestant number is just logistics. What actually defines your success isn't where you are in the lineup, it's how you show up. These myths are nothing but limiting beliefs. So focus on what's accurate and when you show up and show out prepared, confident and authentic, the results will reflect that. With that, my friends, I will let you go for now, take care of yourselves, keep all these concepts in mind, work to let go of those limiting beliefs. Focus on what you can control and enjoy the journey. Pageants are meant to be fun, so focus on all the reasons that you got started in it in the first place, and I will talk to you again next week. Bye.