I Thought Pageant Talents Were Cringe… I Was Wrong

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I started learning the violin at the age of two. Now I don’t know how much you know about Asian stereotypes when it comes to discipline and classical music, but suffice to say I didn’t get much choice in the matter, and "enjoyment" was a dirty word. It certainly didn’t factor into the equation when I was forcefully conscripted into several high school orchestras simultaneously, having to attend practices six days a week at one point.

A Viral Violin Performance (for the Wrong Reasons)

So when I came across a viral talent video of a former Miss Mississippi playing the violin, it was with a mix of excitement and trepidation—although if I’m honest, it was mainly the latter. I was pretty sure the video wouldn’t have gone viral if she had played at least moderately well.

Sure enough, it was… interesting. One might call it "unique," or "a bold reinterpretation." On the other hand, I think one of the YouTube comments said it best:

"My teeth shattered."

Now I don’t want to heap blame on the poor girl. I’m sure she must have been nervous, and whilst I’ve played in front of some big audiences, I’ve never had to play in a couture gown whilst beaming from ear to ear. That being said, if that had been her audition for the orchestras at my high school, she wouldn’t have been asked back.

My Misconceptions About Pageant Talent

So that probably wasn’t the best introduction to the world of pageant talents. For one reason or another, I’d never really stumbled across many pageant systems in Australia that had talent sections, and for whatever reason, they never really sparked my interest. I almost viewed it as the dancing monkey section, where contestants were forced to perform for the audience just to have a chance of winning the crown.

Well, I’m happy to say that I was wrong.

The Talent That Changed My Mind

In fact, I’d say the highlights of my recent trip to the Miss Volunteer America pageant revolved mainly around the talent section. There was the energy and effortless stage presence of Berkley Bryant’s "Blue Suede Shoes" tap routine, the sheer quirkiness and tongue-twisting wizardry of Baylee Joy Martin’s ventriloquism act to "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)," and then Emma Bachman’s operatic performance of "Parla Piu Piano (The Godfather Theme)," which deservingly received a standing ovation. There were even a couple of violin performances which I’m happy to report didn’t cause my teeth to shatter, but instead made me want to start practising again.

What I Overlooked: Personality and Presence

But what exactly did I get wrong?

In one word: personality. What I didn’t account for was the unique opportunity the talent section affords the contestants to showcase not only their personality, but also their story. Sometimes that could be implied by the choice of talent itself (performing a drum solo versus an aerial routine), whereas at other times, the choice of song or the original lyrics written might more explicitly point to dreams, hopes, and desires—or even obstacles overcome.

I often say that the on-stage components of pageantry don’t really give the judges much insight into your personality. I stand by that—I mean, how could you possibly convey a history of being bullied over your speech impediment in your swimsuit walk?

But talent? 100%. And on top of that, the talent section really gives the judges a chance to see which contestants have genuine stage presence and charisma. Emma Bachman’s performance of The Godfather Theme wasn’t