Confessions of a Pageant King

I help pageant queens win in pageantry AND in life.
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Pageant coaching and a healthy dose of pageant tea with Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project. Over the last decade, Adrian has coached titleholders from every major pageant system including: Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, as well as interviewing over 350 pageant contestants from around the world. He is a qualified Tony Robbins life-coach, serial entrepreneur, and an Amazon Best-Selling Author. Adrian is currently based in Sydney, Australia. www.thepageantproject.com

  1. Is There Any Such Thing As "Pageant Coaching Secrets"?

    1d ago

    Is There Any Such Thing As "Pageant Coaching Secrets"?

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe There is a certain type of coach who likes you to believe they possess secrets. Not experience. Not expertise. Secrets. Knowledge so rare and valuable that it must be guarded carefully, lest another coach discover it and the entire competitive advantage disappear overnight. I have encountered this mentality in tennis coaching, life coaching and now pageant coaching. And honestly? I don’t buy it. That doesn’t mean every coach is equally skilled. Some coaches are considerably better than others. Nor does it mean specialised knowledge has no value. Someone who competed in your exact pageant last year may know things about the director, schedule or judging environment that an outsider would not. But that’s insider knowledge. It’s not necessarily coaching ability. And it usually has a much shorter shelf life than people care to admit. Pageantry has changed dramatically over the past decade. Social media changed it. COVID changed it. The expectations placed on titleholders changed. The way contestants build platforms, communicate with audiences and handle public scrutiny changed. Winning a title years ago may give someone valuable experience. It does not automatically mean they know how to coach you. What worked for them, may not work for you. In this week’s video, I unpack what I believe creates those rare coaching moments where someone tells you something you genuinely had not considered before. And it’s not because they possess some closely guarded pageant secret. It’s because they bring together knowledge from several different worlds. * Sport. * Business. * Communication. * Psychology. * Life experience. Pageantry may be one piece of the puzzle, but it should not be the entire puzzle. That matters when you are choosing a coach. It also matters when you are developing yourself as a contestant. Your biggest competitive advantage may not come from doing another mock interview, taking another walking lesson or memorising another “winning” answer. It may come from building a more interesting life outside pageantry. * Studying something difficult. * Starting a business. * Coaching a sport. * Recovering from failure. * Speaking to people whose lives look nothing like yours. Those experiences give you something no pageant formula can manufacture. Perspective. I’ve said it before: The best way to succeed in pageantry is to create an amazing life outside of it. I believe the same principle applies to coaching. The best coach for you may not be the person with the most impressive former title. It may be the person who can see connections you cannot yet see for yourself. In this week’s video, I explain why I am sceptical of anyone selling “secrets,” what past pageant success can and cannot tell you about a coach, and what I would look for instead. Adrian. The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    17 min
  2. [EP 351] ALAYNA WILSON INTERVIEW: MISS KANSAS VOLUNTEER 2026

    1d ago

    [EP 351] ALAYNA WILSON INTERVIEW: MISS KANSAS VOLUNTEER 2026

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe ABOUT ALAYNA WILSON Alayna Wilson is a current PhD student, speech-language pathologist, part-time graduate teaching assistant, and a 24/7 Miss Kansas Volunteer. She is studying literacy disorders in middle/high school students and aspires to be a professor. Her SERVE initiative is “Love & Light: Giving Back, Moving Forward.” This initiative was sparked when one of Alayna’s friends, Trevor Luckey, passed away from childhood cancer seven years ago. Since then, Alayna has written a children’s book, helped pass legislation, presented to thousands of students, founded a dance convention, and holds a variety of leadership roles all in his honor. In her downtime, Alayna is finishing up the Harry Potter series, trying new restaurants, and keeping up with her 11 nieces and nephews. FOLLOW ALAYNA WILSON 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alaynawilsonn/ 👉 https://www.instagram.com/missksvol/ The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    1h 15m
  3. [EP 350] HANNAH KELSEY INTERVIEW: MISS BOSTON USA 2026

    1d ago

    [EP 350] HANNAH KELSEY INTERVIEW: MISS BOSTON USA 2026

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe ABOUT HANNAH KELSEY Hannah Kelsey is a driven biomedical engineer with a passion for advocacy, health, and empowering others through resilience. Holding both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering, she combines intelligence, compassion, and determination in every aspect of her life and career. Hannah was homeschooled growing up in order to pursue competitive tennis, where she developed the discipline, confidence, and perseverance that continue to shape her professional and personal pursuits today. In addition to her work in healthcare, she has over a decade of modeling experience, working with notable brands including Nordstrom, Living Proof, and Jovani. Most importantly, Hannah’s perspective has been profoundly shaped by her journey as a brain tumor survivor. Her experience inspired a deep commitment to improving the future of cancer care and advocating for patients and families facing similar challenges. Recently, she traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased funding for brain tumor treatments and greater affordability and accessibility in cancer care. Her story of overcoming adversity fuels her platform of resilience, faith, and purpose. In the pageant world, Hannah proudly earned the title of first runner-up to Miss Massachusetts USA 2025, where she continues to use her voice to inspire confidence, perseverance, and the courage to pursue one’s purpose despite life’s obstacles. FOLLOW HANNAH KELSEY 👉 https://www.instagram.com/Hannahekelsey/ 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@Thehannahkelsey The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    53 min

  4. 2d ago

    What's the WORST Thing That's Been Said About You Online?

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe Social media, particularly in the world of pageantry, can be a pretty crazy place to try to navigate at times. Forewarned is forearmed so to speak, so this week we’re discussing some of the worst and craziest things that have been said about you guys (and us too) online. When it comes to your options online, remember (in order of increasing severity): * Mute * Restrict * Unfollow * Block We may live in a free speech world, but it’s your social media. You get to decide the rules. --Pageants & Tangents is an irreverential and honest take on modern-day pageantry, hosted by Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project.Got a pageant issue or question you want us to discuss? Submit it here: 👉 https://pageantpod.com OUR CO-HOSTS: Morgan Morgan: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/morganmorganbonafide/ 👉 https://www.morganmorganfitness.com/ Peyton Christen: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/peytonkaynec/ 👉 https://www.instagram.com/missgavol/ Kenzie Hansley: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenziehansleyy/ 👉 https://www.instagram.com/kenzieleecoachingg/ Geanna Koulouris: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/geannakoulouris/ For all media and sponsorship enquiries: 👉 info@thepageantproject.com The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    58 min
  5. [EP 349] VICTORIA TREADWELL INTERVIEW: MISS CONNECTICUT USA 2026 CANDIDATE

    2d ago

    [EP 349] VICTORIA TREADWELL INTERVIEW: MISS CONNECTICUT USA 2026 CANDIDATE

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe ABOUT VICTORIA TREADWELL Fresh off the Miss Connecticut USA stage, Victoria is using pageantry as a platform for purpose. As an overdose survivor and advocate for mental health, substance abuse awareness, and personal growth, she is committed to sharing her story to inspire hope, resilience, and transformation. Through speaking openly about her journey, she works to break the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health while encouraging others to believe that their setbacks do not define their future. Passionate about empowering others to take charge of their lives, she uses pageantry as both a personal challenge and an outlet to create meaningful impact in her community and beyond. FOLLOW VICTORIA TREADWELL 👉 https://www.instagram.com/victreaddd/ 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@victreaddd The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
  6. [EP 348] MYKALA GREEN INTERVIEW: MISS BIDDEFORD USA 2026

    6d ago

    [EP 348] MYKALA GREEN INTERVIEW: MISS BIDDEFORD USA 2026

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe ABOUT MYKALA GREEN Mykala is a 24 year old paralegal working in family law. With an interest in serving at-risk children, she aspires to one day become a family attorney. She graduated from Providence College in 2023 with her degree in Psychology and received her Masters in Child Policy from Boston University. After losing her best friend Nikki in 2025, Mykala started an internship program for high school and college students in New England to help them learn more about careers centered around Child Advocacy and engage in meaningful mentorship opportunities. After navigating her own experience with loss, Mykala began volunteering to help facilitate support groups for grieving children. In 2023, she co-founded a chapter of It’s On Us at Providence College to assist students impacted by interpersonal violence. Mykala has competed in pageants since she was 14 years old and has been a long time competitor with the Miss USA Organization. She is the former captain of her collegiate figure skating team, models with Monster Energy, and enjoys playing golf and trying new coffee combinations. FOLLOW MYKALA GREEN 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mykalagreen/ 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@mykalagreen The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    1h 5m
  7. How to Answer “What Makes You Unique?” in a Pageant Interview

    Jun 2

    How to Answer “What Makes You Unique?” in a Pageant Interview

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe One of the most dreaded questions in pageant interview is some version of: “What makes you unique?” Or its slightly more terrifying cousin: “Why should we pick you?” And the reason it feels so uncomfortable is because, deep down, you know the obvious answers probably aren’t enough. * “I’ve worked really hard.” * “I care deeply about my community.” * “I’ve been preparing for this role all year.” * “I have a unique story.” None of those answers are necessarily wrong. The problem is that most of the other contestants could say something very similar. That’s where I think a lot of contestants get stuck. They assume the answer must be found in their story. Their background. Their hardship. Their platform. Their life experience. And yes, your story matters. But your story alone is not what makes you unique. Because everyone has a story. What matters is what your story created in you. That is the part judges are actually trying to understand. * Not just what happened to you. * Not just what you’ve been through. * Not just what you care about. But what those experiences shaped in you that would make you the right person for the job. In today’s video, I talk through a framework I’m still refining, but I think it’s a very useful starting point for contestants heading into pageant season. I believe your uniqueness sits at the intersection of three things: * Your beliefs. * Your gifts. * Your values. Your beliefs are the things you hold so deeply that you almost don’t question them. Not vision-board beliefs. Not cute affirmations. Not things you wish were true. I mean the things you genuinely assume about yourself because life has proven them to you again and again. Maybe you believe you can find a way through anything. Maybe you believe you are at your best under pressure. Maybe you believe that if someone else has achieved something, you can learn from them, model them, and grow faster because of it. Those kinds of beliefs matter, because they shape how you show up when things are difficult. Then there are your gifts. These may be natural talents, learned skills, or some combination of both. Maybe you read people well. Maybe you learn quickly. Maybe you make people feel safe. Maybe you are unusually good at simplifying complex ideas. Maybe you are the person who can walk into chaos and immediately see what needs to happen next. Again, the point is not just to list something impressive. The point is to understand how that gift would actually make you a stronger titleholder. Then there are your values. And this is where things get interesting. Because two people can have similar stories, similar skills, and even similar goals, but if their values are different, they will not lead the same way. What do you prioritize when there is a cost? What would you refuse to compromise? What do you want people to feel after they spend time with you? What do you want to be remembered for? Those questions go much deeper than, “Tell us something interesting about yourself.” They start to reveal who you actually are. And that is why “I have a unique story” is not enough. A story is only powerful when you can explain what it taught you, what it changed in you, what it strengthened in you, and how it now shapes the way you would serve. That is the difference between an answer that sounds like a biography and an answer that sounds like a titleholder. So before your next pageant interview, don’t just ask: “What makes my story different?” Ask: “What did my story create in me?” * What belief did it give you? * What gift did it reveal or develop? * What value did it make non-negotiable? That is where your answer starts to become much stronger. In the full video, I talk through this using examples from my own coaching journey, including why I don’t believe uniqueness is simply about having a story no one else has heard before. Because honestly, after hundreds of pageant interviews, I can tell you: even a powerful story can fall flat if the contestant has not done the deeper work of understanding what that story means. But when you can connect your lived experience to your beliefs, gifts, and values? That’s when your answer stops sounding rehearsed. That’s when it starts sounding like you. Adrian. The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    28 min
  8. [EP 347] ZOIE & BRANDI MCGUYER INTERVIEW: HELLO QUEEN FOUNDERS

    Jun 2

    [EP 347] ZOIE & BRANDI MCGUYER INTERVIEW: HELLO QUEEN FOUNDERS

    High-performance pageant coaching, shared weekly. Trusted by 350+ titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and beyond. This isn’t theory. It’s what works. Start your journey for free: 👉 https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe ABOUT THE HELLO QUEEN APP Hello Queen is a women-focused marketplace designed for buying and selling pre-owned formalwear, including pageant gowns, prom dresses, talent costumes, interview attire, appearance wear, special event looks, and more. Founded by a mother–daughter duo, the app combines fashion, sustainability, and community. Empowering women to shop affordably, give garments a second life, and support one another through a safe, confidence-driven platform. DOWNLOAD HELLO QUEEN 👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hello-queen/id6755137018 FOLLOW HELLO QUEEN 👉 https://www.instagram.com/helloqueenapp/ 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@helloqueenapp_ 👉 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578735639044 The Beginner's Guide to Pageantry - Everything You Need to Compete in Your First Pageant With Confidence... Even If You’re Starting From Zero: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645070327 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

Pageant coaching and a healthy dose of pageant tea with Adrian Kwan, Founder of The Pageant Project. Over the last decade, Adrian has coached titleholders from every major pageant system including: Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, as well as interviewing over 350 pageant contestants from around the world. He is a qualified Tony Robbins life-coach, serial entrepreneur, and an Amazon Best-Selling Author. Adrian is currently based in Sydney, Australia. www.thepageantproject.com

Information

  • Creator
    I help pageant queens win in pageantry AND in life.
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    569
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Pageant Project
  • Show Website
    Confessions of a Pageant King