Who better to help aspiring beauty queens achieve their goals than a fellow beauty queen?
Jackie Schiffer, Ms. Mercer County International, pageant coach, and founder of Commit to the Crown, is the star of this edition of Beauty Corner. Continue reading to learn more about Jackie and what her pageant coaching and women’s development business, Commit to the Crown, has to offer.
Q: For those who may not know, in addition to creating Commit to the Crown, you have many years of experience in the pageant industry as a titleholder. How did you get your start in pageantry, and what titles have you held?
A: I am the current Ms. Mercer County International and have previously held titles in the Miss America, Miss Tourism USA, Miss American Beauty, and World’s Perfect Miss systems.
Q: If you were given 30 seconds to describe Commit to the Crown, what would you say?
A: Commit to the Crown is a national award-winning pageant coaching and women’s development firm. Our team is passionate about helping you build skills that will serve you both in and beyond your next pageant.
Q: What drove you to create Commit to the Crown?
A: Fellow contestants began to ask for my help with pageant interviews.
Q: What is unique about Commit to the Crown that one would not find in other pageant coaching businesses?
A: I think it’s our emphasis on platform development. Our coaches emphasize this very strongly, as we believe it is fundamental to success in the interview and onstage question components of competition, both as a titleholder and as a well-rounded individual.
Q: While each of the Commit to the Crown services has its importance, which service would you highly advise aspiring pageant titleholders to take to get them closer to the crown?
A: I believe that platform development is a service that benefits titleholders regardless of their age/division and system they are competing in. There are so many factors in a pageant that you can’t control. Choosing to make an impact on an issue you care about IS something you can control.
Q: In addition to the pageant-focused services, you also offer Entertainment Career Consulting. What exactly does the Entertainment Career Consulting entail?
A: Entertainment career consults are for pageant contestants that seek to break into film/commercial/stage careers. I utilize my training and industry experience based on over 10+ years of living and working in the NYC market.
Q: What is your favorite thing to teach clients, and why?
A: I love teaching onstage questions; it’s something that, no matter how many times you’ve done it, you still get a little nervous. However, this is a time when I get to see my clients shine as leaders!
Q: Even though pageant participants have access to pageant preparation services, not everyone uses them. Do you think that people who do not use pageant preparation services are at a disadvantage when competing in pageants?
A: I’m not sure I would say you are at a disadvantage, but I think preparation and gaining perspective from someone outside of yourself are important. For what it’s worth, while I have coached 18 national winners, I have a coach for my upcoming pageant!
Q: Pageant coaching aside, what are your favorite national and international pageants?
A: I love Miss Universe and Miss International. It’s been really exciting to see many international pageants increase their emphasis on social impact.
Q: What would you say is your most memorable pageant moment?
A: Winning my first title was absolutely my favorite memory. I always joke that I was a “how-to” in reverse. It took me multiple tries to win my first local Miss America crown. However, with enough persistence and by staying true to yourself, you can do anything!
Q: What is something you wish you had known when you were a pageant contestant that you now know?
A: Opinions/advice does not equal fact. When I was first getting started, I would adopt every piece of advice that was given to me in hopes that I’d capture the crown at my next pageant. However, not all advice is for you. There’s a saying that goes, “different judges, different day, different winner.” It’s better to present the best version of yourself and be in alignment with how you want to present yourself than to win the crown by being someone you are not.
Q: Becoming an entrepreneur is not an easy task. What advice can you give to others who are wanting to venture into entrepreneurship?
A: Professionalize the business if you want to build the brand. Once I developed coaching contracts and formally established my business policies, I started to be taken more seriously as a professional.
Q: What is something about you that many people may be surprised to know?
A: I am a classically trained opera singer 🙂
Q: Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with us?
A: Please visit us at www.committothecrown.com or follow us on Instagram at @committothecrown. You can also follow me at @msmercercounty.
Thank you, Jackie, for being a guest on Beauty Corner! I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors. Make sure to follow Jackie throughout her reign as Ms. Mercer County on Instagram. If you are interested in learning more about Commit to the Crown, visit their official website and Instagram account.
Feature Image Photographer: Catalina Sommer
Follow Beauty and Brains on Instagram for breaking news on all things pageantry!
@beauty_brains_pageants
Do you want to be featured on Beauty Corner? Send us a message at beauty.brains.pageants@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram.
Tags: Beauty and Brains, Beauty Corner, Commit to the Crown, Ms. Mercer County International, pageant, pageant coach