Pageant Essentials 2026
As your pageant big sister, I can't gatekeep from you guys! I get questions all the time about my favorite products I use on stage or for headshots or really anything pageant related, so I am excited to finally be sharing everything with you in this blog. From makeup products to comfort items, these are pageant essentials you need to set you up for success. If you want to learn even more, check out my YouTube video where I talk about everything even more!
Makeup Case
The first thing on this list is my travel makeup case! If you’re traveling for a long weekend or doing your own hair and makeup, this is crucial to have. This case holds everything I could possibly need, from my rollers, curling iron, hair products, makeup and more, these 5 layers really let you squeeze everything you need inside for easy access on the go!
Heels
I have gone through a variety of different pageant shoes, but let me tell you, these are the best ones that I have ever tried! These are the holy grail of pageant shoes because of how gorgeous they look on stage while being insanely comfortable. I also love the variety of shades these heels come in because it makes it SO easy to find a pair that matches you perfectly!
Crown Box + Organizer
My crown box went viral on TikTok, and I can totally understand why. It’s a makeup box for under $30 that holds my crown and literally everything else I could need when I need to wear it. To keep it organized, I place this other bag inside to hold things like deodorant, perfume pads, hairbrushes, etc.!
Eyelashes
I have been talking about how much I love these lashes for years, and they have been a staple in my pageant makeup routine for as long as I can remember. These are the exact lashes I wear onstage, for interview, and any other pageant appearance I find myself on. They are only $10, and I can reuse each pair 3-4 times before they start to lose their stickiness!
Organizational Products
When it comes to packing for pageants, it is crucial to keep things organized in the best way possible. To stop myself from digging around for things or worrying about them getting damaged, I got some organizational products that have saved my life. From jewelry bags, shoe bags, and dress bags, I keep everything safe and in a spot where I know exactly where to find it!
Tanning Routine
So many people ask me about how I keep my tan fresh during competition weekend, and the answer is Loving Tan. Loving Tan is my favorite tanning company of all time, and I can’t express how bronzy they have made my skin look for so many competitions. I use their mitt to apply either their regular tanner or 2 hour express or their 10 minute version if I’m in a rush!
Make it stand out
This product might be my favorite product on this entire list. When I competed for Miss New York, I got SO many compliments on how shimmery and flawless my skin looked, and it’s all because of this Vita Liberata body blur. I apply it to my legs, collarbones, arms, and shoulders using their brush, and my skin literally looks airbrushed. Truly, if you want to try anything, try this!
Hair Tools
When it comes to curling my hair, I have been using a T3 iron for as long as I can remember. What I love about this one is all of the different barrels that come with it so you can really control exactly how you want the curl to look. To keep my curls right, I use these velcro rollers and depending on the size, use them to either perfect pin curls or a nice blowout look!
Bags
If you are looking for a bag that is easy to roll around and hold absolutely everything in the world you can imagine, you need a Hulken bag. I have packed virtually my entire pageant weekend into this bag and rolled it around competition weekend with me with so much ease! When you need something smaller, I go for my Casemate tote that isn’t at big, but can still hold a bunch of my stuff!
Sneakers and Socks
This might be a little random but during Miss New York I competed in a fitness category where you needed white sneakers. I found this cheer shoes online as well as cheer socks, and I absolutely loved wearing them. What’s great about these shoes is the fact that they are nice and sleek which helps you elongate your legs and make your toes look more pointed on stage!
Body Glue
If you’re competing in a fitness or swimsuit competition, you need body glue to make sure everything stays where it needs to and doesn’t rise up. For swimwear, I have found that a roll-on glue works great for making sure your bikini stays in place and doesn’t move an inch. For fitness wear, because the short material is thicker, I use Elmer’s spray glue, and it works perfectly!
Peppermint Tea
Hear me out on this one guys! Bringing peppermint tea to pageant weekend or pageant appearances has literally changed my life. I’m someone who gets nauseous when they get nervous, and this tea has helped calm me and my nausea SO much. When I make it, I put a little bit of honey in it, and it truly has just become a staple of my pageant routine.
Title Jackets
Title jackets or title sweatshirts were not something I was aware of until I started competing in pageants, and they are now some of my favorite things to wear. It can be super chilly in rehearsal and you’re going to want to wear something to keep warm, so what’s better than something that reps your title?! So many girls have these and customize them in so many fun and cute ways!
Eye Patches
During a pageant, we focus so much on what we’re doing onstage that we neglect taking care of ourselves offstage. One of my favorite ways to reset and relax is using eye patches. Not only do they bring my stress levels down, but they also help take care of my skin! My go-to are these ones from Patchology, but I recently have been loving these ones from Rhode!
Undergarments
Something else I didn’t know existed until I started doing pageants was an adhesive thong! When competing, you are wearing so many gorgeous outfits, and the last thing you want is for the outline of a thong to ruin it. So these adhesive ones truly hide everything in the back! Related to this, if you don’t want your bra straps showing, you need to get these nipple covers!
Sewing Kit
During competition, you never know what is going to happen, so it is always better to be over prepared than under prepared. I never go to a pageant without a sewing kit because 9 times out of 10, you’re probably going to need at least ONE thing inside of it. Whether something rips or you need a last minute alteration, this sewing kit will save your life!
Slippers
Slippers are a must-have for me during competition weekend! Even in the comfiest heels ever, your feet are going to want a break, and what better break to give them than in fluffy slippers. I have been wearing these pink ones from Amazon from the longest time, but I absolutely love these crown slippers that really fit with the entire vibe of the pageant!
Setting Spray
If there is one thing you should invest in during a pageant, it is a phenomenal setting spray like this one. This OneSize setting spray has truly changed my life because my makeup does not move an inch when I put this one. While it is on the pricier side, I swear my makeup would last for 24 hours if I kept it on that long. Not only does it stay in place, it looks fresh and beautiful, too!
Lip Combo
I swear I have been doing the same lip combination forever but it’s because Charlotte Tilbury is just pure perfection! I have been wearing her lipstick and lipliner onstage and off for such a long time, and I always get SO many compliments on it. Not only does it look nice, but it also stays on for hours without having to constantly reapply it.
Steamer
If you’re competing in a pageant, you NEED a steamer. I have gone through SO many different steamers, but let me tell you, this travel sized one is my favorite of all time. Not only is it easy to carry around, but it truly gets every last wrinkle out of any type of fabric, and when you’re competing, you will be wearing some interesting fabrics that can be hard to handle.
I know that we are hitting the sweet spot right now for a lot of different pageant systems, so I'm hoping you found a new favorite on this list to help you for the exciting time ahead!
