Pageant Lingo For Newbies

If you’re a beauty pageant newbie then there’s probably terms you’ve been hearing throughout the pageant world that don’t make sense to you. Pageant Designs is here to help you learn and understand pageantry lingo, so you’ll be better prepared for your next pageant.

Bodice – Similar to a corset, the part of a pageant dress from the waist to the shoulders.

Casual wear – Clothing that is usually worn before 5 p.m. Casual pageant wear isn’t as formal as your pageantry dress, but it shouldn’t be as informal as sweatpants.

Crowning Dress – A dress that is worn by a pageant queen returning to a pageant to crown her successor.

Cupcake Dress – A particular style of little girls pageant dresses that feature a skirt layered with ruffles and often resembles a tutu.

Etiquette – A certain type of social behavior or way to conduct yourself during a beauty pageant

Extensions – Hairpieces that are added to a contestant’s real hair in order to give it length and body.

Flippers – False teeth that are worn by young girls who’ve lost a tooth.

Glitz Pageants – Beauty pageants in which the contestants wear custom made pageant gowns that are decorated with rhinestones, sequins, etc. The girls who compete in glitz beauty pageants often wear a lot of makeup, large hairpieces and hairstyles.

Grand – A level of award in glitz beauty pageants.

H/M – A contestant’s hair and makeup artist.

What are some pageant terms that you’ve heard and need defined? Let us know with a comment, and don’t forget to check out the Pageant Designs blog next week when we’ll explain more terms that are often heard in pageants.