FAQ

Let's start with the RULES.
1. Photos (with the exception of Red Carpet Photogenic) are not used for scores other than photo based scores.

2. No fallbacks. Compete age day of pageant. You may move up one age group.

3. Boys and over 21 contestants welcome.

4. Hollywood Jewels is a separate pageant. Crown Jewels lifetime queens and current royalty may compete at this pageant. Mega Ultimate Superstar Supreme will never recompete at Hollywood Jewels, but will be crowned a Lifetime Queen the following year. Hollywood Jewels royalty may compete at Crown Jewels, as it is a separate pageant.

5. A contestant, parent, vendor or guest who displays bad sportsmanship or improper conduct at the pageant will be asked to leave with no refunds. Poor sportsmanship or improper conduct shown after the pageant will result in refusal of your entry for future pageants. We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone.

6. Late arrival to beauty misses lineup and will not be eligible for side awards. No other penalty for being late - you may compete when you arrive. We are unable to wait and will keep the schedule moving so not to penalize the contestants who were on time. A reasonable effort will be made to find the contestant. If many are held up, the pageant director may opt to give the judges a break to allow everyone to get back on schedule; however, this is completely at the director's discretion.

7. First deposit in chooses spot in lineup. Requests will attempt to be met, but obviously if 3 moms want their contestant last, only one can be last. We will refer to the dates of receipt of entry to confirm who gets the spot they want. Please do NOT wait until the day before the pageant to talk to the director about lineup. This is determined weeks before the pageant, and we will not be able to change your spot at the last minute.

8. Crowning attire will be your choice. Our Crown Jewels moms requested no crowning t-shirts, that they would prefer to choose crowning attire.

9. No cameras of any kind allowed in the ballroom. La Belle Fille will be taking stage shots and video of our event.

10. Any contestant may be accompanied on stage by a parent, if need be.

11. No discounts or fees paid are transferrable from one contestant to another. All fees are nonrefundable. No exceptions. If you have made a deposit then choose not to attend, you will lose your deposit. That is what a deposit is. We attempted to have a policy of rolling over a deposit to another pageant, and since that was abused we have had to change to this policy.

12. Only one discount can be used.

13. If you leave your photos at the pageant, you must pay for shipping in advance for us to send them to you. We insist on trackable shipping for photos so expect $10-25 depending on what you left. We will make photos available at 7am on Sunday morning so that you may pick up your photos before breakfast.

14. Door badges or contestant number must be worn at all times. Do not attempt to enter the ballroom without a badge or contestant number.

15. Please bring your child's social security number to crowning. If your child wins an award over $600, you must fill out a W-9 to receive the award. Contestants agree as a condition of entering the pageant that the prize winner is responsible for any and all taxes associated with their receipt of the prize.

16. Contestants acknowledge as a condition of entry that Crown Jewels is not acting as a manufacturer or distributor of the prizes, but is acting as consumer, acquiring the prizes for the sole purpose of awarding the prizes to our winners. Prices on jewelry were determined by the appraiser of the jewelry - contestant realizes that Crown Jewels is not a jeweler. Prices of other items determined by MSRP or stated retail price by seller of item. Contestants agree that they should look solely to the prize's manufacturer to any claims, suits, losses, expenses, costs and liabilities related to any prize received at Crown Jewels, and releases Crown Jewels from all claims, suits, losses, expenses, costs and liabilities associated with any prizes.

17. If a contestant needs assistance in shipping prizes home, Crown Jewels will assist at the cost of the prize winner. Prize winners assume liability for any loss or damage of shipped prizes. Prizes will only be shipped by Crown Jewels by using a trackable means.

18. Contestant agrees that if ANY deceptive practices were found to be used in entering or competing in this pageant, that all prizes, titles, crowns and banners will be forfeited and returned, and an alternate winner will be chosen.

19. Gifts will not be purchased or made for your child until a full (nonrefundable) deposit is made. Unfortunately some abuse of our partial deposit system has led us to have to enact this rule. This may mean that even though you have a partial deposit in, your child may miss out on a gift if you do not have a full deposit in by a deadline. All deadlines are clearly identified.

20. If you pay a deposit then choose not to attend, we will not ship your gifts to you. No exceptions.

Now, on to the FAQ...

Who's judging, and how will we know what they are looking for?

We asked our Crown Jewels contestant moms in 2012 if they wanted us to continue with 'everyday average people' who did not know your kids for judging, or if they wanted us to change to professional pageant judges. The majority wanted us to try 1/2 glitz circuit judges, 1/2 "everyday people."

We will have 4 judges per ballroom -2 will be glitz circuit judges, 2 will be 'everyday people', and drop the lowest score, so that no one judge's low score will ruin a contestant's chances. All judges will be briefed on exactly what we are looking for by a glitz circuit judge using our judging guidelines.

Do particular coaching groups or children from certain states do better at Crown Jewels?

Crown Jewels is ANYONE’s game. We invite every coaching group, every state, every child to give it a shot. In 2010, our Mega Ultimate was from Kansas, 1 Grand was from Kentucky, 1 Grand was from West Virginia, 1 Grand was from Arkansas, 1 Grand was from Louisiana, 2 Grands and 1 Ultimate were from Texas. Two coaching groups and 4 coaches ‘ students represented in the Top 15.

In 2012, our Mega Ultimate was from Arkansas. Our Ultimate was from Oklahoma, one Grand was from Kentucky, two Grands were from Texas, one Grand was from California and one Grand was from North Carolina. Five coaching groups and 7 coaches' students represented in the Top 15.

What do the entry fees pay for?

The entry fees pay for the production of the pageant, the emcee, the facilities, staging, lighting, prizes, judges' expenses, website, postage, office supplies, advertising, and all of the fun extras that you will experience at our pageant. I am not doing this for my income...this is for the KIDS, the fun and satisfaction of a job well done. Crown Jewels also contributes to many charitable pursuits, and will continue to support causes that help people, particularly children.

Will we receive our score sheets?

Yes! Judges will now be using handwritten scoresheets, which will be provided to you after crowning. We feel that the only way to improve your scores is to understand why you received the score in the first place, and we hope that you will enjoy our attention to this detail. Judges will be instructed to comment freely but in a positive and helpful manner.

We ask that everyone remember that scores are only a particular judge's opinion on a particular day. With a different judge or on a different day, the results could be completely different!

Does my child have to enter interview? Will she have a better chance if she does?

No, your child does not have to enter interview. It is an optional event. I was asked if we will give an extra star or anything like that to those who enter interview - no, we will not. Any benefit from entering interview will be based solely on your child's scores and whether they are better than her other optionals.

Do you double crown?

No.

We coach with XYZ Coaching Group. We know that your children coach with Donna's Studio. Will there be preferential treatment given to students who coach with the same coaching group that you do?

Absolutely not. All coaching groups are welcome - every single one of them!

Why do you require no photos and no video?

Imagine an audience full of flashing cameras as your child walks on stage - this could be scary or distracting for a child. Additionally, a professional photographer will be capturing photos of the event and additional flashes of light from the audience could ruin the professional photos. People walking with their eyes on their video camera maneuvering to get a better shot are a hazard in the aisles and again, distracting to the contestants.

Are there appearances required by the winners?

No, appearances are not required though there may be the opportunity for appearances and we will definitely pass that opportunity along to you! Any appearances would only be with parental consent and at the convenience of your schedule. If your child does any appearances with our crown & sash, we would love a copy of the photo!

Do you plan to have pageants in other cities or states and multiple pageants a year?

Developing slowly - we are hoping to begin mini nationals in 2013! At this point, we just want to concentrate on making the two yearly national pageants and 1 mini national the best they can be. For more information on our original pageant, Crown Jewels, please go to www.crownjewelspageants.com

We know that your kids Chelsea, Shelby, Bella and Lexi compete in pageants. Will they be competing at your pageant?

Absolutely not. No relative of the director or the judges will be competing at Crown Jewels. However, you may see children and relatives of vendors, hair & makeup, photographers, etc. competing, as is the case with most pageants we have attended. Also, those donating prizes may have a child competing.

But, since your children compete, you know many of the pageant moms. Won't this be a conflict of interest?

I am completely happy that ANY child wins. I wish they all could win, and my goal is to leave each family feeling that they had a great weekend, no matter what the outcome of the pageant is. I do know a lot of people, and I am friendly to everyone. Any director who has been directing for any length of time knows all of these people too, and has friends in the pageant world. A fair director does not let those friendships in any way influence the judging of his or her pageant. You are ALL my guests and ALL welcome, and I will be THRILLED if your child is our next Mega Ultimate Grand Supreme.

How much are door badges?

Family & friends of a contestant pay only $5 per door badge. If you are not there to support a contestant and you are just coming in to watch the pageant, door badges are $15 for adults, $10 for children.

Our promise to you: we tell the truth, we do what we say we're going to do, and we will always have a fair pageant produced as on time as humanly possible. If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback, we definitely want to hear from you!