Judging Criteria for Best in Pageantry

How Best in Pageantry Scoring Works

1. Users must have a free or paid profile on Pageant Planet and must indicate on their profile that in 2024, they held a pageant, competed in a pageant, or worked with a contestant.
2. Users must receive at least one nomination for the category they wish to win. 
3. Pageant Planet goes through every nomination and uses the criteria below to narrow the list to a Top 15. If there are not enough nominations for a Top 15, we select a Top 10. We skip that category if there are not enough for a Top 10. 
4. We then give the Top 15 in each category to our judges, who have access to a private portal where they rank the Top 15 in order from 1 to 15. Every past Best in Pageantry award winner is asked to judge the category that they are the expert in. See below for specifics.
5. Once all the judges have submitted their placements, our software organizes the nominee with the lowest score as the winner, the contest with the second lowest score as second place, all the way to our Top 10.
6. Pageant Planet then announces the Top 10 for each category starting in January. 

To qualify for a Best in Pageantry Award, you must take the following action and receive at least one nomination. 

Judging Criteria

To qualify, you must add a 2024 event and receive at least one nomination for the category you desire to win. Pageant Planet then narrows down the nomination list using only the information provided to us on your Pageant Planet profile. We do not view your website or social media.

 

Pageants

Judging Criteria: 

• Stage Quality
• Contestant Reviews*
• Contestant Numbers
• Prize Package 
• Nominations

Category Judges: All Judges Who Are Not Directors

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2024 Event on Pageant Planet

 

Directors

Judging Criteria: 

• Reviews that mention the director specifically* 
• Nominations

 

Category Judges: Pageant Planet.

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2024 Event on Pageant Planet

 

Prize Package

Judging Criteria: 

• The prize package the winner will receive. 
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Planet.

Nomination Requirement: Create a 2024 Event on Pageant Planet & add your prize package details.

 

Event Photographers

Judging Criteria: 

• Quality of Photography
• Number of Pageants Worked With
• Reviews from Directors*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Directors

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one event picture that you took under "Pageants Worked With."

 

Headshot Photographers

Judging Criteria: 

• Quality of Photography
• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Hair and Makeup Artists 

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one headshot image that you took under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024)

 

Pageant Coaches

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Directors

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared them for.

 

Hair & Makeup Artists

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Photographers

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared them for.

 

Retailers

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Coaches

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared her or him for.

 

Designers

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Retailers

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared them for.

 

Personal Trainers 

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Winners Worked With
• Number of Contestants Worked With
• Reviews from Contestants*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Planet

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared her or him for.

 

Emcees

Judging Criteria: 

• Number of Pageants Worked With
• Reviews from Directors*
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Planet

Nomination Requirement: Upload at least one image of a contestant image you worked with under "Contestants Worked With" and tag the image with the event (i.e., Miss Ohio 2024) you prepared them for.

 

Contestant Headshots

Judging Criteria: 

• Headshot Quality
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Category Judges: Photographers

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2024 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Headshots" under "Image Category."

 

Contestant Hairstyles

Judging Criteria: 

• Headshot Quality
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Category Judges: Hair and Makeup Artists

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2024 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Headshots" under "Image Category."

 

Contestant Gowns & Fun Fashion

Judging Criteria: 

• Style & Fit
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Category Judges: Retailers & Designers

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2024 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Evening Gown" or "Fun Fashion" under "Image Category."

 

Contestant Interview Outfits

Judging Criteria: 

• Style & Fit
• Age Appropriateness
• Nominations

Category Judges: Pageant Coaches

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2024 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Interview" under "Image Category."

 

Contestant Fitness

Judging Criteria: 

• Body Composition
• Nominations

Category Judges: Personal Trainers

Nomination Requirement: Tag the 2024 event that you competed in. Then upload your headshot image into the 2024 folder and apply the tag "Swimsuit/Fitness" under "Image Category."

 

Contestant Age Division Breakdown

If you're a contestant and you're wondering why the banner that is showing up on your profile is different than an age division that you competed in, then this section is for you. 

There is overlap because there are no set rules for age divisions in pageantry. As such, we had to create an age range for our Best in Pageantry awards that catered to our global audience as best as possible. So here is the breakdown:

• Mrs (16+ & married)
• Ms (30+ & not married)
• Miss (18-29)
• Jr Teen / Teen (13-17)
• PreTeen / Jr Preteen (9-12)
• Princess / Jr Princess (0-8)

*While nominations typically close on or around Dec 23rd, reviews are considered until Dec 31st of that year or when that category is judged, whichever comes first. Also, in-depth reviews (i.e., this coach or pageant is great because...) are weighted higher than general reviews (i.e., Chris Personal Training is the best).