Second Place is Nothing to Sneeze At...

It’s not necessarily all about winning. And everyone should remember that before she enters a pageant. It’s about the experience and bettering who you are. Just ask Halle Berry! Back in 1986 she was crowned Miss Ohio USA. That meant that she got to compete for the title of Miss USA. Halle’s a famous actress now—but back then she was just a 19-year-old pageant contestant. Do you think winning a pageant will change your life? Why don’t you ask a runner up?

Halle almost won the Miss USA pageant that year. But it just wasn’t meant to be. She came in second to Christy Fichtner of Texas. That didn’t stop Halle from having a successful career, though. She even went on to be the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. She’s had many successful movie roles, and she’s an ambassador for Revlon.

So what happened to Christy Fichtner? Last we heard, she starred on the reality show Who Wants to Marry My Dad?. She came in second.

Take your cue from Halle Berry… you don’t have to win the pageant to be a superstar! With the right pageant dress and some preparation, you’ll be ready to get out there and gibe it your best shot. Just don’t worry about the outcome!