307 Hillman Drive
Clarksville, TN 37042
931-237-0018 Cell
BrandiButts@yahoo.com
Clarksville, TN 37042
931-237-0018 Cell
BrandiButts@yahoo.com
My How Things Have Changed!
While taking a look back at my childhood, it is amazing how many wonderful experiences I have had. Undoubtedly, the largest portion of my time has been spent in the pageant world. I was only nine months old when I first started competing in beauty pageants and I continued for the sixteen years that followed. Along with my mom, I am now coaching hundreds of kids from all over the country. Throughout the years, we have seen many people come and go in the pageant community. Because of the constant turnover in clients and competitors, many people do not know how the trends of pageantry have changed. I was visiting with a pageant friend the other night and sharing some stories from when I was younger. She was shocked at how evolved competing has become. That conversation led me to write this article. I am sure you will be surprised too.
Some of my fondest childhood memories stem back to doing some of the several events once offered by childrens pageants. When I was two, I started competing at Americas Cover Miss. At this time, they offered Beauty, Sportswear, Swimwear, Sleepwear, Costume, Photogenic, and Talent. To be prepared for all of these events was a huge challenge, but was also a lot of fun. This may come as no surprise to many of you, but Miss Donna took advantage of every opportunity to be creative! I remember the Costume category very well; I have been everything from a girl in a birthday cake to an alien in a spaceship. It seems like this would have cost a fortune, but all of these costumes were home made from baby pools and Christmas tinsel! It truly was a family effort for me and everyone else who did pageants.
Along with designing costumes and choreographing my routines, my mom was also my hair and make-up artist! I have photos of us sitting on the hotel bed, me in sponge rollers and her holding a blue eyeliner pencil. And who would ever forget the BIG hair! Another essential team member was my grandmother; she was responsible for making the clothes. My favorite outfit she made was my cotton candy pink satin Western Wear accented with a white straw hat and white boots! Can you imagine?
I believe my favorite part of competing was the traveling. We would all load up in the car and drive to each pageant. Sometimes, depending on the distance, I would get to miss a day of school so we could get to the hotel at a decent hour. We would try and make it as much of a vacation as possible. We would stop at amusement parks, putt-putt golf courses, and candy stores. Truly a childs perfect day! Most of the time, it was a very relaxed atmosphere- we were going to have FUN!
As you can tell, a lot has changed since I was a little girl. Some aspects I wish were still the same. I know that back then, pageantry was a hobby for the kids and it was kept in that perspective. When I left a pageant with a beauty title or even first runner-up, we were THRILLED! I would love to see pageantry turn back to the days where winning wasnt everything.
The most important lessons and ideals in pageantry have stayed the same. I believe that children still gain self confidence while learning that hard work pays off. I have seen kids transform from ornery toddlers into hard working children with an incredible sense of determination. Along with the psychological lessons, today more than ever, I believe that modeling improves motor skills in young children and helps to define the coordination and rhythm in all students. As the style of Pro-Am constantly changes, so does the level of physical ability. It forces the kids to raise the bar up a notch or two and demands constant improvement.
On the whole, I am a huge advocate of children being involved with pageants, I know they have helped to shape my life in more ways than I can mention. Now I can look at some of my peers and see that because of my pageant experiences, I am very well spoken, well rounded, and well traveled. I think the most important asset that pageants have created is my grounded sense of self. I have gained the confidence that allows me to not to follow in everyone elses footprints but to create my own. This is the one attribute I hope every child is able to carry with them for the rest of their lives!
It is what you hope to try to accomplish in your life that makes you the person that you are to the world.
I can't wait to meet you,
Love Always
Ms. Brandi
While taking a look back at my childhood, it is amazing how many wonderful experiences I have had. Undoubtedly, the largest portion of my time has been spent in the pageant world. I was only nine months old when I first started competing in beauty pageants and I continued for the sixteen years that followed. Along with my mom, I am now coaching hundreds of kids from all over the country. Throughout the years, we have seen many people come and go in the pageant community. Because of the constant turnover in clients and competitors, many people do not know how the trends of pageantry have changed. I was visiting with a pageant friend the other night and sharing some stories from when I was younger. She was shocked at how evolved competing has become. That conversation led me to write this article. I am sure you will be surprised too.
Some of my fondest childhood memories stem back to doing some of the several events once offered by childrens pageants. When I was two, I started competing at Americas Cover Miss. At this time, they offered Beauty, Sportswear, Swimwear, Sleepwear, Costume, Photogenic, and Talent. To be prepared for all of these events was a huge challenge, but was also a lot of fun. This may come as no surprise to many of you, but Miss Donna took advantage of every opportunity to be creative! I remember the Costume category very well; I have been everything from a girl in a birthday cake to an alien in a spaceship. It seems like this would have cost a fortune, but all of these costumes were home made from baby pools and Christmas tinsel! It truly was a family effort for me and everyone else who did pageants.
Along with designing costumes and choreographing my routines, my mom was also my hair and make-up artist! I have photos of us sitting on the hotel bed, me in sponge rollers and her holding a blue eyeliner pencil. And who would ever forget the BIG hair! Another essential team member was my grandmother; she was responsible for making the clothes. My favorite outfit she made was my cotton candy pink satin Western Wear accented with a white straw hat and white boots! Can you imagine?
I believe my favorite part of competing was the traveling. We would all load up in the car and drive to each pageant. Sometimes, depending on the distance, I would get to miss a day of school so we could get to the hotel at a decent hour. We would try and make it as much of a vacation as possible. We would stop at amusement parks, putt-putt golf courses, and candy stores. Truly a childs perfect day! Most of the time, it was a very relaxed atmosphere- we were going to have FUN!
As you can tell, a lot has changed since I was a little girl. Some aspects I wish were still the same. I know that back then, pageantry was a hobby for the kids and it was kept in that perspective. When I left a pageant with a beauty title or even first runner-up, we were THRILLED! I would love to see pageantry turn back to the days where winning wasnt everything.
The most important lessons and ideals in pageantry have stayed the same. I believe that children still gain self confidence while learning that hard work pays off. I have seen kids transform from ornery toddlers into hard working children with an incredible sense of determination. Along with the psychological lessons, today more than ever, I believe that modeling improves motor skills in young children and helps to define the coordination and rhythm in all students. As the style of Pro-Am constantly changes, so does the level of physical ability. It forces the kids to raise the bar up a notch or two and demands constant improvement.
On the whole, I am a huge advocate of children being involved with pageants, I know they have helped to shape my life in more ways than I can mention. Now I can look at some of my peers and see that because of my pageant experiences, I am very well spoken, well rounded, and well traveled. I think the most important asset that pageants have created is my grounded sense of self. I have gained the confidence that allows me to not to follow in everyone elses footprints but to create my own. This is the one attribute I hope every child is able to carry with them for the rest of their lives!
It is what you hope to try to accomplish in your life that makes you the person that you are to the world.
I can't wait to meet you,
Love Always
Ms. Brandi
With Love Always
Brandi
Brandi
