We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Scholarship Pageant?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Feb 06, 2021
Views: 30,955
Share

A scholarship pageant is a competition offering scholarships to participants. It is run much like a traditional beauty pageant where participants are judged on presentation and appearance, but may include a service and talent element. Organizations around the world host scholarship pageants offering a variety of prizes. Competitors may be eligible for prize money even if they do not win, and the amount of funds available can vary. Some pageants offer cash for school, while others require participants to designate a specific educational institution as a payee.

Competitors in a scholarship pageant typically need to present themselves in several different events where judges have an opportunity to score them. These may include swimsuit competitions as well as evening and formal wear events. A talent portion may provide an opportunity to demonstrate a skill. Participants also undergo interviews where they talk about their interests and goals. In some organizations, regional pageants feed to larger competitions which eventually terminate with a national or international competition.

Participants in a scholarship pageant need to adhere to strict rules published by the parent organization. These can include eligibility requirements, which may limit participants by age and educational status. Some are limited to specific communities, often with the goal of promoting higher educational attainment among minority groups. People may need to agree to certain conduct restrictions as well, which may include limitations on personal relationships and activities like having children out of wedlock. Such restrictions are designed to protect the integrity of the sponsoring organization.

For each event, individual rules may dictate the boundaries of appropriate behavior and presentation. A scholarship pageant typically limits the type of makeup and hairstyles used, for example. Some may allow very elaborate and glitzy costumes, hair, and makeup, while others insist on a more natural look. Specifications about hemlines and garment sizing can also be included, sometimes in the interest of creating a uniform look and feel. Swimsuits, for example, may need to be in the same color range.

Participants in a scholarship pageant are judged not just on physical appearance, but also poise, personal conduct, and presentation. Judges may also consider the goals and service records of participants. Someone who wants to be a doctor and has worked in hospitals and clinics, for example, has a demonstrated track record to support her claims. Pageant organizers as well as notable public figures may serve as judges, providing a range of scores for each candidate to ensure the fairest possible scoring.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By fify — On Dec 19, 2014

I think these kinds of pageants are good because they encourage people to concentrate on more than one aspect of their life. My best friend was a winner of a beauty scholarship pageant and she is one of the most accomplished people I know.

By stoneMason — On Dec 19, 2014

I don't know why everyone is so upset about scholarship pageants. There are also contests and programs for scholarships that judge based on other merits. People can apply for those. If it's about fairness, some people give scholarships to only people from their town, or people who promise to go into a specific field, is that fair?

The way I see it, the money is theirs and they can decide to distribute it however they want. If they want to give it to the prettiest girl in the room, it's up to them. The point is that the money is going to a good cause and that's all that matters.

By ZipLine — On Dec 18, 2014

It's great to give young women scholarships for education, especially when the cost of education at a good institution in the US has sky-rocketed. But I don't understand the concept of judging someone's looks and beauty for an academic scholarship. What does their looks have to do with their intelligence, ambitions and talents? Do shorter or less prettier girls not deserve an education?

If the point is to help girls go to school, why not simply judge them based on their goals, grades and the way they express themselves?

By Wisedly33 — On Dec 12, 2014

@Scrbblchick -- Since my daughter got a $5,000 scholarship in a pageant, I can't be completely critical of them, but she had to work to earn her entry fees and pay for her gowns. Her dad and I couldn't afford it.

We were thrilled when she placed and the $5,000 will just about buy her books for two semesters and will pay her apartment rent. So that's a big load off our shoulders. But I understand where you're coming from. I've heard some awful things come out of pageant moms' mouths. Some of these people seriously need to get a life! I've never been around the judges, but I'm sure if I'd heard one of them make a nasty comment about my daughter, I'd be in jail for murder.

By Scrbblchick — On Dec 11, 2014

I don't care how much talent a girl has, or how she has achieved academically, or how service and community oriented she is. I don't care how much the pageant reps say they are focused on scholarship, not beauty. It doesn't matter. A physically unattractive girl isn't going to win a pageant. I'm not bitter or anything. I'm just a realist.

I was asked to judge one years ago and I swore I'd never do it again. There was a young lady who was active in her church and community, volunteered, had a beautiful singing voice and was a straight-A student. No kidding. She was born with a severe cleft lip and the plastic surgery couldn't hide it completely. She didn't even make the Top10, and she was easily the most accomplished contestant in the pageant. The catty comments from the other judges were sickening. I wanted to smack them.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-a-scholarship-pageant.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.