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You are here: Home / Costuming / What Should Pageant Singers Wear? | Best Pageant Costuming for Vocalists

What Should Pageant Singers Wear? | Best Pageant Costuming for Vocalists

A pageant singer’s costuming should instantly convey the mood of her musical selection in the talent competition.

A singer’s costuming in the talent competition is one of the most important aspects of creating a cohesive, effective talentperformance. “We try to work the talent outfit around the whole song,” explains Robin Elliott-Bear, of Robin Elliott Ltd. She cites the example of a state finalist whose costuming helped create an aquatic mood for her performance of The Little Mermaid. “We did a sequin dress that was royal blue and turquoise and she looked like The Little Mermaid. She was a great actress with a pretty good voice — but her ‘total package’ made you feel like you were in the water with her while she sang.”

Miss America 2012 talent costume

Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, wore an elegant red gown for her performance of “Il Bacio” in the talent competition.

One of the secrets to selling opera is wearing a spectacular costume that gets — and keeps — judges’ attention.

Never sing classical music in a contemporary beaded gown. A singers performing a contemporary popular song should use costuming that is an extension of her pageant music.

  • Rebecca King, Miss America 1974, set the mood for “If I Ruled the World” with a regal scarlet velvet gown encrusted with rhinestones.
  • Leanza Cornett, an AIDS prevention advocate, used symbolism in her choice of attire. She performed the tearjerker, “A New Life,” clad in a pure white gown accented with a blood-red AIDS ribbon.
  • Susan Powell, Miss America 1981 (Oklahoma), won the talent competition performing the comedic area, The Telephone, in a pastel blue gown trimmed with rhinestones and boa feathers.
  • Kati Stam, Miss America 2009, wore a beautiful white gown with a full train that beautifully reflected for her vocal performance of Via Delarosa (The Road of Suffering of Jesus Christ).
  • Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, wore an elegant red gown for her performance of the Italian aria Il Bacio in the talent competition.
  • Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987, opted for a fitted black gown with sequin artwork across the shoulders and back when she sang the popular vocal, I’ll be Home.
  • Vanessa Williams chose a perfect glittery silver sequin gown when she sang Happy Days Are Here Again during the talent competition.
  • Carolyn Sapp, Miss America 1992, performed Ain’t Misbehavin’ in a stunning, sensual white and silver gown that was so pretty, we couldn’t take out eyes off her.

In each case, the singer’s costuming conveyed the theme of her music and created a specific mood onstage.

Miss America 1992 costume for pageant singer

Miss America 1992 Carolyn Sapp sings Ain’t Misbehavin“

Miss America 2012 talent outfit

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler performing Il Bacio

Miss America 1984 singers pageant costume

Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams – Happy Days Are Here Again

Miss America 1983 singer talent outfit

Miss America 1983 Debra Maffett sings Come In From the Rain

Miss America 2008 talent outfit

Miss America 2008 performs Over the Rainbow

Miss America 2009 talent competition

Kati Stam Miss America 2009 sings Via Delarosa

 


  • Your Pageant Talent Costuming Sets the Mood for Your Performance
  • Best Pageant Music for Dance, Ballet, Gymnastics, Baton, Acrobatics in the Talent Competition
  • Pageant Costuming for Dancers, Baton, Gymnastics in Talent Competition
  • Outfits for Pageant Instrumental Talents | Costuming for Pageant Musicians
  • What Should Pageant Singers Wear? | Best Pageant Costuming for Vocalists
  • What Judges Look for in the Pageant Talent Competition
  • Pageant Talent Tips for Singers
  • Tips for Classical Singers in Pageants
  • Best Pageant Music for Singers
  • Best Pageant Talent Music for Musicians
  • Pageant Music for Classical Musicians and Dancers
  • Pageant Dancers Have it Made! The Many Types of Dance Used as Pageant Talents
  • How to Prepare for the Pageant Talent Competition

 

You might also like:

  • Pageant Walk: How to Walk in Swimsuit and Evening Gown
  • Do Pageant Gowns Need to be Expensive to Win?
  • Best Pageant Talent Music for Musicians
  • Different “right” answers to judges’ questions in pageant interviews
  • Choose a Pageant Gown by Body Type
  • The 10 Best Pageant Talents
  • All Time Best Pageant Music
  • Is Your Voice Turning Off the Pageant Judges?

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