Meet the Director!

Meet the Director!

Meet Tina Rowan from Southern Lavender and Lace. Tina's Mini National Pageant was Dec. 9 in Georgia. Congratulations to all of the winners. They were great! Click the link to visit the Southern Lavender and Lace website. Scroll down to read Tina's interview. Special thanks to Tina for taking the time to be a featured director!

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"12 Questions" 1. Why did you get involved in beauty pageants?
I competed in pageants as a child. My mother originally put me into them in an effort to raise my self-esteem. Pageants have been a part of my life since the age of 7 and I have been involved in every aspect of pageantry – contestant, pageant mom, judge, director, and emcee, I have done it all!
2. How long have you been a director?
This is only my second year directing for Lavender and Lace but I directed for 4 years for the International Miss system when I lived in Illinois.
3. Describe your pageant system.
Lavender and Lace is the type of system I would have done as a child. (Too bad I have boys!) We focus on the child. Our system is a QUEENS’s pageant and we do not believe in awarding titles for overall grand Supremes. A well-rounded age division queen will possess beauty, personality, interpersonal skill as well as strength in at least one optional category. Glitzy clothing, hair and makeup are allowed. Judges are told to expect pageant hair and makeup on all levels but concentrate on skills over which the child has control – eye contact, personality, conversation ability, modeling or talent skill, etc. Contestants should wear any type of clothing they prefer, but should know in advance that someone whose clothing is not as expensive as theirs can score higher if their performance is stronger. Queens titles consist of 40% Interview, 40% Evening Gown/Formalwear and 20% highest optional. Beauty winners are chosen by the highest Evening Gown/Formalwear score.
4. What is your favorite aspect of pageantry?
As a contestant, my favorite aspect of pageantry has always been the competition. Good, healthy competitiveness is the best. There is little difference between a gracious winner and a gracious loser. As a pageant mom, it is the pride I see in my boys eyes when they do their best!
5. What is your favorite aspect of directing?
It would have to be the children – no doubt! Above all, I try to make my pageants fun for the children because I love to see those smiles!
6. What goals have you set for yourself and your pageant system?
I want the children that compete in my pageants, whether they win or lose, to say "Mommy, I want to come back next time!" I also want pageant moms to view me as approachable and fair.
7. In what ways have you seen pageantry evolve over the years?
The clothes have become a lot more extravagant. The one thing that bothers me is that there are not a lot of pageants left that include interview and talent.
8. In what ways has your pageant evolved over the years?
Lavender and Lace is a new system.
9. What are some of the mistakes you made as a new director?
My biggest mistake was in assuming that I was offering the kind of system that everyone wanted, and that I'd be bombarded with contestants. But in reality, people have lost their faith in pageantry and directors and I need to gain their trust.
10. What are some of your accomplishments as a director?
My biggest accomplishment was going into Illinois without knowing anyone and still be able to stage a successful state pageant. My first set of queens still hold a special place in my heart.
11. What is your favorite pageant memory?
Once, while judging a pageant, I made the mistake of asking a 3-year-old what the last thing her mommy told her was before she came in to talk with us. She told us that her mommy had told her to make sure she sat with her legs crossed. When we ask why, she stood and lifted her dress up showing us the bright pink Barbie panties she was wearing. She told us her mommy had forgotten her "fluffy" panties.
12. Describe any impact, positive or negative, the Internet has had with your pageant system.
I think in general the Internet is a good thing for pageants. It allows directors to reach more potential contestants and also allows people to share their experiences with different systems. There are some bad aspects to it as well but I feel like at the present time, the good outweighs those things.