2021 Pageant Trends with Brains and Beauty
As 2021 is wrapping up, what’s been hot? Or not? Beauty and Brains has all the insider knowledge on what’s been popular in pageants and what’s to come.
Suits
There’s nothing like a power-suit to give you an extra boost of confidence. Traditional and avant-garde style suits are popping up at national and international pageants. They can easily be dressed up or down given the occasion. With any garment, make sure it is perfectly tailored to your body, so it compliments you in just the right way.
Suit : @adorfeliciano
Veronika Smidova, Miss Intercontinental Czech Republic
Suit: @adam_grmolec
Styling: @samdolceofficial
Couture Gowns
Couture gowns are gracing pageant stages on both the national and international levels. From Michael Cinco to Biji La Maison de Couture to Hélcio Couture; their creations are being worn by pageant contestants from around the world. While couture gowns may take a little bit more out of your bank account, they can make for an unforgettable showstopping moment. With that being said, the gown should not overpower you. Instead, it should complement you.
Photo: @thediarist.ph and @rozenantonio
Miss Universe 2019 – Biji La Maison de Couture
Miss Grand Brazil 2020 – Hélcio Couture
Custom Walk
Catriona Gray (Miss Universe 2018), Samantha Bernardo (Miss Grand Philippines 2020), Nutnicha Srithongsuk (Miss Intercontinental Thailand 2021) and more have their own signature walks. When developing your own walk, be careful about what and how many special elements you put into it. Depending on the organization you participate in, having a more dramatic walk, or even a standard pageant walk, would not be the best thing. Therefore, do your research about your selected pageant organization and then start developing a walk that represents you and is appropriate for the organization.
One-piece Swimsuits
One-piece swimsuits are making a comeback. Miss Universe Philippines, Miss Grand International, and Miss Universe are a few of the pageants that have showcased one-piece swimsuits on stage. Some women do not feel comfortable wearing a bikini on stage and that is okay! The swimsuit competition is supposed to make you feel confident, so wear whatever makes you feel the most confident. After all, as a former judge of Miss Grand Canada, I can tell you that confidence is the most important thing judges look for in the swimsuit competition.
Inclusivity
The stereotypical pageant contestant most people think of is no longer the norm. Women of all races, sizes, and backgrounds are chasing after their dreams of becoming a titleholder. Kataluna Enriquez (Miss Nevada USA 2021 and first transgender woman to compete at Miss USA), Anchilee Scott-Kemmis (Miss Universe Thailand 2021), Emma Loney (Miss Oklahoma Earth USA 2021), and Claudia Engelhardt (Miss Virginia USA 2021 contestant) are only some of the ladies shattering the glass ceiling.
Photo: @poolookoooooooo
Katherine Zeiler
Katherine is the founder of Beauty and Brains. Beauty and Brains, founded in 2018, is blog centered around pageantry and fashion. Her interest in pageantry started at a young age when she first helped out behind the scenes at a local pageant. From there, her love of pageantry grew and it eventually led me to begin Beauty and Brains. Be sure to check out the official Beauty and Brains Instagram account for daily pageant news as well as her blog www.beautyandbrains.net for upcoming posts.