Below is a simple recap of the the interview. This includes the introduction and the questions we asked Dawn. Dawn Frison-Cook is the American Elegance Lifetime Queen. She been involved in pageantry for 31 years and coaches all styles of interview & on-stage question and today she is sharing with us how to mentally prepare for interview. Where should a new contestant start while preparing for interview? What would be the first steps? What do you recommend for a seasoned competitor? How far in advance should one begin preparing? What type of self-talk should contestants have? If someone is feeling insecure about interview, what can she do to boost her confidence in herself? Do you think practicing interview alone is as beneficial as practicing with someone else? Would you recommend preparing for one-on- one style and panel style in the same way? How do you prepare for political and controversial type questions? Do you recommend having a list of important points about yourself that you should be sure to bring up during your interview? How do you handle a “tough” judge? What do you do if you don’t know an answer to a judge’s question? How do you find a balance between sounding too casual and sounding too rehearsed? In the days leading up to your interview, do you do anything different? How do you calm your nerves right before entering the interview room? What type of “pep talk” statements would you give yourself? What advice would you give to a contestant who felt her interview went poorly? After leaving an interview, how do you decompress? How do you mentally prepare for the on-stage question? What are you tips for being prepared to answer any question that may be asked? How can we find and follow you and the American Elegance Pageant system on social media?