The Duties of a Beauty Pageant Coordinator

by Lindsey Thompson, Demand Media Google

Before the judges and an audience can enjoy the smiling faces, ornate gowns and talents of the women in a beauty pageant, a coordinator works behind the scenes to put the event together. Behind all the glitz and glamor, beauty pageant coordinators and directors fulfill a number of duties to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, often working weeks and months in advance to plan, organize and orchestrate the pageant.


One of the most important parts of a beauty pageant coordinator's duties, working with and organizing the contestants, takes up a large portion of time and energy. The beauty pageant coordinator advertises the upcoming pageant to get contestants to enter, creates and distributes the contest entrance forms, and decides how much the entry fee will be for each entrant. The beauty pageant coordinator also puts together contestant information kits that include materials that help the girls before and during the pageant, such as potential interview questions, wardrobe requirements, judging criteria and travel arrangements.


The judges require direction and preparation as well. Pageant coordinators hire judges for the pageant, coach them on the particulars of that pageant and prepare the judging sheets used during the pageant. The coordinator arranges for travel and accommodations for the judges, as well as transportation, meals and other incidentals during the pageant.


The coordinator must decide on a date, time and place for the pageant and secure all the necessary reservations and permits. Although largely unseen and unnoticed, other aspects, such as audio, video and music, must also be lined up and scripted by the coordinator. Additionally, the coordinator is in charge of hiring an emcee and putting together a script for the event. Pageant coordinators determine the entry fee for the pageant and bring on advertisers to help pay for the event.


On top of all the major duties, pageant coordinators fulfill a number of smaller, yet still important, duties. Coordinators create the pageant's program, which is distributed to the audience, and advertise the pageant to bring in audience members. Each of the winners of a pageant receives a number of prizes including cash, scholarships and merchandise, and coordinators line up the sponsors and donors of the prizes. After the pageant is all over and one woman crowned the queen, the pageant coordinator works with the winner, setting their travel, media and personal appearance schedule and coaching her to represent that pageant and organization.

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