7 things I wish I knew (before competing in pageants)

[@TheBrookeJ]

Sponsors literally kept me alive for my whole pageant career and because of it I didn’t go in debt to get to Miss USA🙌🏽

[@DaniWalker]

I didn't go into bad debt because of them lol

[@Awesome00012]

@@DaniWalker How did you find sponsors?

[@TheBrookeJ]

My dad always says “If you’re going to do it, do it right.” Short cuts are not an option in competition and ladies really need to swallow that pull.

[@DaniWalker]

My dad gave me one piece of pageant advice. It was someone's birthday and I was about to break my pageant diet to indulge in a chocolate soufflé cake. He took a bite first, and said, "mmmm, you know what that tastes like?" As I was ready to devour it, I said, "WHAT?!" He replied, "second place." I didn't have a problem sticking to my pageant diet after that.

[@marose_05]

You should do a video explaining the difference between some of the different systems you’ve competed in, Miss USA, Miss America, etc.

[@DaniWalker]

Here's that episode. I think I should update it though :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4G3Z2V5m7GHf6s

[@marose_05]

Dani Walker thank you so much! That was extremely helpful!

[@queentaylorlorin]

There is a difference between being busy and being productive! Say that Dani!!!!!

[@DaniWalker]

Yessss!!

[@TheBrookeJ]

I think a problem is so many ladies have people telling them that they’re amazing the way they are (which they are) but then they don’t grow and learn and evolve. I don’t care how amazing you think you are, everyone should get coaching at least once.

[@DaniWalker]

YESSSSSSS!!! Totally agree. I can't think of a Miss USA or Miss Universe who's never gone through some kind of coaching. It benefits everyone. If Miss Universe is open to coaching, everyone else should be too.

[@harnoorghuman8904]

If I win Miss India. I’d give half the credit to you!

[@DaniWalker]

lol thank you so much. I wish you the best!

[@aariyanar.britton3716]

Starting to compete in pageants in Virginia! Thank you for this.

[@DaniWalker]

Yayyy, glad you watched this episode sooner, rather than later :)

[@briannagutierrez2565]

Getting sponsors for cheer (6 years) and pageants (4 years) has been so hard! Seen your video and will try some more

[@DaniWalker]

It does take time and determination but it's worth it. Wishing you the best!

[@sophiaamkuntz]

Thank you so much for creating this video, Dani. I’ve always struggled with the comparisons of myself toward others’ in pageantry! We are surrounded by such qualified, intelligent, beautiful women but who’s to say I don’t deserve to be among them and to hold myself to that same mindset! I needed this 🙌🏽 Love this video!

[@DaniWalker]

You're so welcome! We all struggle with that. That's why I had to mention it. I'm glad this one could provide some perspective for you

[@natalia-vd5ng]

Thank you Dani, you have no idea how much you've helped us girls with pageant dreams. Keep shining and going with your videos! You are a gem

[@DaniWalker]

You're so welcome! Thank you for watching them!

[@libbyallen149]

Your a life saver thank you soo much I am doing my first pageant this year in a few months and I am soo nervous

[@DaniWalker]

No need to feel nervous. Pageants are something to look forward too. Feel excited :D

[@libbyallen149]

@@DaniWalker I am really looking forward to it too :)

[@lifespanwellnessbeauty-60i64]

Amen.

[@ThandiMashiane]

Amen ❤😂

[@TheBrookeJ]

Don’t wait to build your team!!! So so true!!

[@DaniWalker]

If you wait, your directors will build it for you hahaha. Not always the best option.

[@Awesome00012]

@@DaniWalker How do you build a team?

[@luzquinonez1012]

@@DaniWalker yeah, how do you build a team?

[@isabellesnyder8866]

Honestly I wish I knew this before internationals for IUM because I would have breakdowns because I thought that my competition was much better than me, so I wasn’t doing my best. Therefore, I didn’t win. But now that I’m doing Nationals this year for IUM I will definitely take your advice 🙂

[@DaniWalker]

Oh awesome, I'm glad you're recompeting. I love IUM.

[@TheBrookeJ]

That BBB Expo was so enlightening!

[@DaniWalker]

Yessssss!!! I felt a break through for sure.

[@talyahrodriguez3330]

Amen Dani!! Love you and your videos soo much!! You are amazing and beautiful 😍 💓💓

[@DaniWalker]

Thank you so much!! You're so sweet!

[@GWorld3]

oh......this video is GOLD!

[@DaniWalker]

:)

[@keirstenwethern5733]

AMEN sister!!

[@georgerobbins3198]

When my father judged, if there was a girl who did not place who he thought had the potential to come back and win or place, he would approach her at the after party and tell them some things that they needed to work on.

[@DaniWalker]

Yes, this definitely happens in pageantry.

[@janetguiza3758]

Would you recommend that you buy the pageant shoes to practice in immediately to initially practice in or practice some then get the shoes?

[@DaniWalker]

I'd purchase shoes when I know what gown I'd be wearing was. Or if I knew I was going to wear a certain heel for swim, then I'd buy them and practice in them.

[@micheacarlisle5013]

"I wish I knew..." - Steve Lacey lol 🤣

[@laurelgrace900]

*Video idea* you could do a video breaking down what vanbross girls are and all of the other sponsors (I guess that’s what they are I didn’t even know they existed until recently) you could say what states belong to them what each one is about and why they matter what they are and what they do because I’m interested and I’m sure other people are as well! Also a pre Miss USA favorites is something I would love to see! And do you know when they think Miss USA will be?

[@DaniWalker]

I don't know their sponsors. It's probably on their website. Every USA state pageant is produced by a production company. Being a Vanbros girls just means that you hold a title for one of the states that Vanbros and assoc. produces. They produce AR, IL, KS, MO, NE, OK.There's also Proctor Productions, PNW, RPM, The Crystal Group, etc. Here are my early USA favs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ2TiaN4etSJbrM

[@bryansansorez4911]

Amen!!! 😄😄btw bingeing your vids ❣️👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@DaniWalker]

Yay! Thank you!

[@geniavannoord2343]

I love watching your helpful tips/advice videos 😍 Tip #1 AMEN 👏👏👏

[@1glitzycowgirl]

My pageant is in July and I am wanting to get sponsors. But with everything gong on, I feel bad asking busniesses for anything when they are struggling too 😔

[@DaniWalker]

Asking for sponsorship is very normal and not something you need to feel bad about. You can first start with friends and family. Did you watch my sponsorship video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl62iYKrm7ysrZY

[@1glitzycowgirl]

@@DaniWalker I am rewatching it now! Thank you! That makes me feel a lot better about it❤

[@paulinemayse9560]

Thanks Dani. I have a Woman of Achievement Pageant next week. I need tips that to wear fit the interview?

[@alissashasteen3556]

Amen sister

[@DaniWalker]

Miss edits 123 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 👑 yesss!

[@TheWomanAlive]

Are there any resources to find a dentist for beautiful pageant teeth?

[@TheWomanAlive]

I'm in Atlanta by the way.

[@DaniWalker]

I believe that GA USA has a dentist sponsor. Montana had one but they were in Utah. I traveled to Utah to get my teeth bonded. The dentist I worked with had done smile transformations for something like 50-80 queens. I forget exactly how many but their office was covered in pictures of queens. It was Morgan Presley dental and working with them was so worth it

[@LL-xn3jk]

Do a review of Miss Universe Vietnam 2020!

[@DaniWalker]

I can :)

[@bella464]

amen girl 👏🏼🙏🏼

[@DaniWalker]

[@leiahmarie3037]

Thanks for all this advice Dani! I have a question for you, so i applied and got accepted into a Miss USA state pageant thinking I'd be competing in Teen, but turns out I'd be in Miss ( i'll be newly 19) and have never competed in pageants before. So should I go though with it? or should I wait awhile till I'm older and get pageant experience? Since I'll be so young I feel like I don't even have a chance and would be disregarded by the judges along with older experienced contestants?

[@DaniWalker]

It's not impossible to win at 19. I think a few USA state queens are 19 each year, but it's becoming harder to win USA young, in the IMG era. Contestants with more life experience have had the upper hand in recent years. The average age of a Miss USA and Universe has gone up. Also most contestants who win young, say they wish they'd have waited. But it's all up to you and your preferences.

[@leiahmarie3037]

Dani Walker thank you so much! It definitely makes more sense for something like USA or America to be a end goal type of thing. So should I focus on scholarship and teen pageants while I’m still of age?

[@brookiewaxman2625]

Dani, Who was the Miss Massachusetts USA Your year?

[@DaniWalker]

Allissa Latham :)

[@brookiewaxman2625]

@@DaniWalker okay

[@ashleyharris1670]

AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jhstsr6577]

Hi Dani, I'm wondering if how tall are you? I appreciate you mentioned about confidence coz I have zero on myself, so I thought it's gonna come soon. Thanks hon!

[@DaniWalker]

I'm 5'7 :)

[@ciattylovesperoni]

Hi Dani thank you so much for this! I have a question do you think height matters a lot in a system like muo? Or is it a better trying another system

[@DaniWalker]

I think it matters in some states, which is the gate to the USA stage. But I don't think it matters so much at the national level. Our recent USA winners are short in comparison to ones in the IMG era.

[@georgerobbins3198]

In the south, we don't care about height.You should be poised and confident when performing and walking the runway, but you are not expected to come out like a model or fierce. Judges down here cringe over fierce.

[@maggiec7418]

Hey Dani, what do you mean by building your team? Like a team of walking coach, interview coach, fitness trainer, dentist, etc?

[@DaniWalker]

Yes, exactly :)

[@maggiec7418]

Dani Walker thank you Dani! ❤️

[@TiannaSClark]

Beautiful smile, Did you get Veneers as well? Awesome tips! Thank youu

[@DaniWalker]

Thank you! I didn't, I got my teeth bonded instead. So I kept all my natural teeth and didn't grind them down. I only have a thin film painted on the front of my teeth.

[@JonnelReviews]

Amen!

[@DaniWalker]

:)

[@prachighanshala6950]

In a beauty can we do. Smile in runway walk?

[@TikyoChannel]

Amen indeed.

[@annlavine3576]

Amen

[@DaniWalker]

ann lavine glad you get it 💕

[@aj2292]

When did you start pageants? I know girls start at 4 months old is 12 years old going to give me a major dis advantage

[@DaniWalker]

I started on my 14th birthday. You have time :)

[@Oak7565]

Never too late!! There's different pageants for different age divisions!! I didn't even start until 21!

[@aliaali3712]

Amen!!

[@DaniWalker]

Alia Ali 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@beccaroyce675]

amen🤩👏

[@arunvithayathil6161]

AMEN!!!!!

[@DaniWalker]

:)

[@allysonwallace9419]

AMENNNNNN. A to the MEN.

[@DaniWalker]

Allyson Wallace yessss 🙌🏼👑

[@joshi.bhumika]

❤❤❤

[@mohamadnajminafislaaly554]

I‘m early here

[@DaniWalker]

Mohamad Najmi Nafis Laaly 😄 thanks for watching

[@brandigaulin6082]

Amen hallelujah

[@christinanicolemillar]

AMENNNN😂😂😂

[@DaniWalker]

:)

[@linnakumbuno5147]

Hahaha Amen hahaha....

[@audreylysette7983]

Amen!

[@DaniWalker]

:)))

[@jsoliven1155]

Amen!!

[@tatiyanamckenzie3593]

Amen

[@DaniWalker]

Tatiyana McKenzie 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@PumpkinE750]

Amen!

[@sdaoudi7796]

Amen

[@DaniWalker]

:D

[@jaimecca6259]

Amen

[@DaniWalker]

:)

[@princessbindiful]

Amen

[@monicahmbiri7778]

Amen

[@madidefuria]

Amen

[@chileshewakumelo9978]

Amen

[@sg8500]

Amen