International Pageant Day is celebrated every year on April 8 to recognize women competing in pageants, encouraging girls and young women to think about the benefits that pageants have to offer. Senior Makenna Eppes tells her journey through the pageant world taking one heel at a time.

Makenna will compete as Miss Houston’s Teen with the Miss Houston Organization which falls under the Miss America Texas Organization. Makenna will compete for the title of Miss Texas´ Teen in June against close to 100 contestants.

“Personality, I have learned that it does not matter what you look like on the outside because the most beautiful girl can have a rude personality,” Makenna said. “It is very important to maintain focus and remember that you have worked just as hard, you are just as beautiful, and that you bring the same and extra qualities that are just as good or better to the table.”

Makenna has participated in pageants since she was three years old and has been in the pageants of Miss Texas’ Teen, Miss Houston, Miss Harris County, Miss Sugarland, Miss Plano, Miss Richardson, Miss Freestone County, Miss Buffalo Stampede, and Miss Fall Frolic. 

 “Since I was not old enough at the time that I started doing pageants to make my own decisions, I would have to say my mom entered me in pageants to enhance my confidence, ” Makenna said. “I like pageants because they have given me life changing skills that I will use in my future such as confidence, marketing, and communication skills.” 

Makenna’s platform, which the Miss America Organization calls the Community Service Initiative, is Back to the Basics – Advocating for Agriculture, which is all about educating urban areas on how and where their everyday necessities are coming from. The judges are given a copy of each contestant’s platform and fact sheet. Makenna thoroughly studies both documents and makes sure she has a story or personal experience to talk about for each statement she has made on the papers.

“My mission is to speak with as much of the youth as possible and educate them on how they too can become involved in the agriculture industry through 4-H and FFA,” Makenna said. “For political questions I try to keep updated with the news and form my own opinion on how I feel about the situation.” 

Makenna’s  pageant talent is essentially Dramatic Reading. Makenna performs a twist on the story of the Princess and The Pea from the Princess and the Pea Stories by Kendra Sparks. Each of the characters Makenna portrays have their own voice and personality. 

“The most important skill to have in pageants is communication,” Makenna said, “but I think that the most important thing to be able to do is to be able to not compare yourself with others.” 

Makenna picks her outfits based on the color and silhouette that looks best on her. Pageants take many months to prepare for, but close to a pageant week, Makenna does her nails, tan, eyelashes, and hair. She then practices interview questions at the venue. 

“It is important to know your colors when competing because that can make all the difference in your complexion while on stage,” Makenna said. “The judges are going to pick the person with the best personality in the end, and I believe that you are just as beautiful as you are on the inside.” 

Makenna said her favorite moment throughout her pageant career is when they announced her name as a top ten contestant on the Miss Texas stage. 

“That is a dream of many girls, and I know several that have competed for years hoping for that opportunity,” Makenna said. “As I walked down to the front of the stage my sister, Marissa, stopped me and hugged me and I burst into happy tears.” 

Makenna encourages others to compete in pageants to enhance or help them gain the personal development in communication, professionalism, and confidence to aid them in their future endeavors.

“The most important thing about pageants, like I said before, is to know your worth,” Makenna said. “Everyone brings different and good things to the table, but you must not let it get in your head and understand that your confidence in yourself as well as your performance is key.”