The Importance of Supporting Your Successor

Although many believe that once your reign is over and you officially pass the crown, the work for you is done, but I'm definitely learning just how important it is to support your successor. 

Many fail to realize the largest aspect of pageantry: SISTERHOOD. 

Passing the crown to another queen worthy of possessing your title means you two are sisters united in a bond.

Pageantry is more than a single event, and your service does not end just because your crown has. In your year of service you have learned the tricks of the trade, including fundraising tips, contacts to keep in touch with, gown decisions, going on the right type of appearances, public speaking do's, and wardrobe don'ts, etc. etc. etc. It's important to help your sister be the best queen she can be. 

Another thing about pageantry: It's NOT about YOU. It's about the mission of the organization and leaving an impact on your community. You don't want your pageant/title to look bad because of an avoidable mistake your successor could have learned from you. 

Being Queen is not easy, it really is work. It can be emotionally stressful and also financially straining. Although people get into pageantry for different reasons, some do not necessarily have natural abilities. So just like you need a mentor in a career field to learn the ropes, you need a mentor in pageantry. 

Be a true sister queen and stay involved by supporting your successor. Be the shoulder to lean on and (sometimes) cry on. Give a her a heads-up and an honest opinion on things. Give her some of your time, even if it's just a minute or two to NOT talk about pageant work. Most importantly, continue to be the titleholder you once were by serving as a role model. You'll always be queen, so take the time to help her shine through her journey to the crown.


Big thanks to my sister queens Brijet Finister, Miss Black California USA 2012 and Amina L. Gilyard, Miss Black District of Columbia USA 2012, for their great insight on this!