KIMBERLY PRESSLER, FORMER MISS USA
At Pageant Associates, we know how hard our contestants work during their journey to the crown. We recognize their commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle and serving as role models. And while we proudly honor each contestant’s individuality, we believe that confidence is the one trait they all share, which is why we describe them each as “Confidently Beautiful”!
To help us celebrate and shine a spotlight on the importance of confidence, we had the pleasure of sitting down with former Miss USA Kimberly Pressler. Since winning the crown, Kimberly has gone on to a successful career as a television host and ESPN sideline reporter. She also works alongside her husband as the Chief Financial Officer of their own private company. And together, she and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful 7-year-old daughter.
Kimberly shared these pearls of wisdom for creating and maintaining confidence, and why she is passionate about raising her daughter to be confident in everything that she does.
It All Starts from Within
My advice for anyone looking to build self-confidence is this: start by getting to know your strengths and weaknesses. Use your strengths to your advantage. Don’t be afraid to learn and understand your weaknesses – once you know what they are, you can begin to work on them. Build confidence by setting and achieving goals, and see it as a work in progress! And remember that staying open minded and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone will help you to grow your confidence.
Preparation Leads to Confidence
I am an absolute firm believer that preparation is the key to confidence and success. You can go into any situation feeling competent by putting the work in ahead of time. What does that mean for a pageant contestant? It means watching the news, knowing what’s happening in the world around you, volunteering, going to the gym, eating healthy, and truly knowing yourself. Stay informed and involved, so that when you’re asked a question you’ve already set yourself up to speak from experience. Preparation gives you the tools you need to succeed and feel your most confident!
Surround Yourself with Confident People
No matter what the situation, make it a point to avoid negative influences and focus on positive, optimistic behavior. Choose to surround yourself with confident people, because they naturally build each other up. Confident people seek each other out, aren’t afraid to see the greatness in each other, and ultimately inspire others to be their best!
Celebrate What Makes You Unique
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. We’ve all been there. But just as you choose to surround yourself with positive, confident people, choose to stop comparing yourself to others – especially other pageant contestants. Celebrate each other and your own, unique accomplishments, and remind yourself that you don’t have to be somebody else’s version of what the world sees as perfect. Instead, make an unwavering promise to yourself to be the best you can possibly be. Take that mindset into everything you do and you will find success.
If there’s one thing I want every pageant contestant to know, it’s that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing. I tell this to my daughter because I firmly believe that it’s true. It’s ok to be different! I encourage my daughter to be her own shining star. It’s what I want for her and for every pageant contestant – to find true happiness, which ultimately comes from being yourself.
Want to hear more from Kimberly about confidence and how to be your best? Visit her website at www.kimberlypressler.com and follow her on social media for truly inspiring words of wisdom!