Beauty, Poise and … Speaking Skills!
Beauty pageant winners from around the world credit Toastmasters with helping them win their titles
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By Katie De Boer
What does it take to win a beauty pageant today? You might be surprised.
A contestant’s communication and leadership skills are now as important as her poise and appearance, which is why a number of pageant contestants – and winners – from around the world are members of Toastmasters. They credit the program for helping them become confident speakers and leaders, enabling them to impress judges and serve gracefully during their terms as reigning beauty queens.
Ceylone Boothe-Grooms, a Toastmaster from Middletown, New Jersey, won the title of Mrs. New Jersey in 2009. “It is true – winning the contest is dependent on how well you can answer your interview questions,” says Boothe-Grooms. “Just like in Table Topics, the questions are simple and off the cuff, which you are required to answer quickly and clearly.”
Here’s what a few other pageant winners say about their Toastmasters training:
Nicole Flint, 2009 Miss South Africa
Nicole was aware of Toastmasters from a young age: Her father, Ian Flint, DTM, has been a member for 26 years. In high school she joined her public speaking team and participated in two Youth Leadership programs. “This exposure to Toastmasters improved her self-confidence,” says Ian, a member of the Forum Club in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
It has also helped her add polish to her presentations. “It’s being able to understand how important manners are in the presenting of a speech,” Nicole says. “I have learned that it’s the little things that make the difference between good and bad delivery.”
On the heels of her Miss South Africa success, Nicole is giving back to her community as a guest speaker at various Toastmasters events. Once her busy schedule slows down, she plans to join a club in the Pretoria area.
Ceylone Boothe-Grooms, Mrs. New Jersey United States, 2009
Boothe-Grooms competed in her first pageant at 19 and won several titles. Nearly 20 years later, as a mother of four, she returned to the pageant scene and entered the 2009 Mrs. New Jersey pageant, an event for married contestants. During the interviewing process she discovered much had changed since she last competed, and she found it difficult to communicate her answers clearly. So Boothe-Grooms joined the AT&T Middletown club.
She credits Toastmasters with building her skills and confidence. After consistently practicing Table Topics, she notes, answering pageant interview questions was a breeze: “It felt like someone had spoon-fed me my answers and I was able to grab my audience’s attention.”
Her nimble responses helped her win the Mrs. New Jersey contest. Boothe-Grooms now uses her pageant-title platform to raise awareness for the early detection of cervical cancer, the disease that killed her sister. “My experience in Toastmasters has been incredible,” she says. “My club is extremely supportive.”
Rachael Rees, 2009 Miss World, New South Wales, Australia
When Rachael Rees entered the Miss World competition, she knew she had her work cut out for her.
“My skills as a public speaker weren’t very strong and I had a fear of [public speaking],” says Rees, who discovered the importance of these skills – particularly tone of voice – in such competitions. She turned to the Wagga Wagga Toastmasters for help.
The club in New South Wales, Australia, helped her improve her speaking skills dramatically, which boosted her poise and confidence. “I have become such a strong and confident public speaker now that I have the ability to give a 20-minute presentation without any notes,” says Rees. “I feel that my delivery can become more personal, which gives the audience a greater opportunity to get to know me and my personality. It is a great feeling when you can get a laugh from your audience.”
Rees uses her Miss World platform – and communication skills – to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis; she serves as an ambassador and community representative for Multiple Sclerosis Australia.
This is a condensed version of the article “Beauty, Poise and … Speaking Skills!,” which ran in the May issue of the Toastmaster magazine.
Katie De Boer is the editorial assistant for the Toastmaster.