THINK OF BEAUTY QUEENS as white-toothed babes with shellacked hair and Cinderella-goes-to-Vegas evening gowns? That's so last millennium, says reigning Miss America Lauren Nelson, who — for the record — has a lovely smile and quite windswept locks. She imparts her wisdom to this year's crop of contestants on TLC's new show "Miss America Reality Check" (Fri. at 10 p.m.), before passing her tiara along on Jan. 26.
» EXPRESS: Put a bunch of Miss America contestants in a house, as on your show, and what happens?
» NELSON: Honestly, you'd think there would be catfights, but that's not what happened at all. They had conversations about their lives and got to go through some pretty cool challenges.
» EXPRESS: Like what?
» NELSON: They go through academic challenges and then learn some things about how to be a modern "it" girl. These girls have done a lot of pageantry, so "Reality Check" was ultimately about shaking up their old ideas.
» EXPRESS: Which pageant ideas are dispelled?
» NELSON: If you think about pageant girls walking around in fully rhinestoned gowns, swimsuits and high heels, that's not true anymore. I think the Miss America Pageant wants them to be more like what you see in magazines — more Hollywood, red-carpet glamour.
» EXPRESS: So, what, no more bathing suits and mules?
» NELSON: They're keeping the shoes with the swimsuits. It's more about the mind-set of the contestants, who think they have to do their hair and makeup in a certain way.
» EXPRESS: How do you pick a pageant gown?
» NELSON: It's important to feel comfortable competing in it. By that, I mean that the girl should feel beautiful in the gown and pick a style and color that looks good on her.
» EXPRESS: What's the secret to being a low-key hottie?
» NELSON: Try to get away from the heavy, caked makeup and really "done" hair. You want a natural look, not so done-up, but still glamorous. It's a more everyday look.
» EXPRESS: Any go-to beauty products?
» NELSON: This year, I've just used whatever is available to me as Miss America. But I've started using Trish McEvoy, and I really her love her stuff.
» EXPRESS: You've logged thousands of airline miles since becoming Miss America. Any packing secrets?
» NELSON:I travel with two suitcases: one with all my clothes and shoes, the other with other stuff. I have to be ready at all times for casual or cocktail events in every kind of weather.
» EXPRESS: Wow — that must be hard.
» NELSON: I've gotten really good at ironing quickly! And hotel dry-cleaning is a lifesaver.
» EXPRESS: You were Miss Oklahoma. What do you do when you're back home?
» NELSON: I do nothing — it's nice to have downtime. I talk to my family and friends, and go out to eat Tex-Mex food when I'm there. It's my favorite food in the world. I love tacos and enchiladas.
» EXPRESS: What's the biggest misconception about beauty queens?
» NELSON: I think people forget that we're real, ordinary women.
» EXPRESS: Are there any hazards to wearing tiaras?
» NELSON: Sometimes, honestly, you get hat head since they're pinned to your hair.
source: http://www.readexpress.com/
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