Beyond the Crown: Why Traveling Together Builds a Stronger Pageant Family

As a pageant director, there’s no greater joy than watching our titleholders grow—not just in poise, grace, and confidence, but in connection, community, and heart. While the stage is where the spotlight shines, it’s the moments off the stage that truly illuminate the spirit of our pageant family. One of the most meaningful ways we nurture that spirit is through travel.

From magical days at Disney with our young division queens to relaxing cruise getaways with our women’s division titleholders, these shared experiences go far beyond the typical pageant weekend. They are the foundation of something much deeper: a genuine pageant family.

The Magic of Bonding Beyond the Sash

When we travel together, the walls come down. We’re not just queens and directors—we’re teammates, sisters, and friends. Whether we’re riding rollercoasters at Magic Kingdom or watching the sunset over the ocean, those shared moments allow us to connect on a human level. Laughter becomes more frequent, stories more personal, and relationships more authentic.

It’s in these quiet, in-between moments—over breakfast buffets, pool breaks, or fun board games—that we get to really know each other.

Building Relationships with Parents and Spouses

Trips also offer a unique opportunity to connect with the important people behind our titleholders—the parents, partners, and family members who support them. Sharing a table at dinner or tagging along for a group excursion gives us the chance to form real bonds with those who are cheering from the sidelines. We get to see the love and pride in their eyes, and they get to see the care and support we provide as directors and mentors.

It helps build trust, respect, and mutual understanding—which only makes the entire experience more enriching for everyone involved.

Finding Common Ground

You’d be amazed at what you learn about each other when you’re not in gowns and heels. Suddenly, you realize two of your queens share a love of 80s music, or that a parent used to be a pageant contestant themselves. Maybe a spouse works in the same industry as another parent, or you find out someone else is also obsessed with pineapple on pizza (hey, it happens!).

These little discoveries bring us closer. They remind us that behind every title is a real person with stories, interests, and experiences that help knit our community even tighter.

Creating a True Pageant Family

Pageantry is more than competition—it’s a community. By taking time to travel and explore the world together, we create shared memories that last long after the crowns are passed down. We laugh together, support one another, and build bonds that extend far beyond one reign.

These trips are not just rewards—they’re investments. In confidence. In friendship. In unity. They turn a group of titleholders into a sisterhood, and a group of staff and supporters into a loving, encouraging family.

So whether it's donning Mickey ears at Disney or sipping drinks by the ship’s pool deck, I’ll continue to plan these trips with intention and heart. Because at the end of the day, the most beautiful thing we can wear isn’t a crown—it’s connection.

Join the Pageant, Join a Family

While you might join a pageant for reasons like finding your sparkle or giving back to the community, when you join our pageant family you gain so much more. We work hard not only to curate trips for our queens but to turn the pageant week experience into an event that nurtures your or your daughters personal growth. We want to offer something more than a crown but a place to feel seen, valued, and appreciated. A place to grow, learn, and thrive. International and American Women of Service strives to be a welcoming family to girls and women at every level of pageantry and experience. You are welcome here.

-International and American Women of Service Pageants Executive Director, Jasmine DeRier