Sash & Soul

Send us Fan Mail Fear of "backsliding" in pageant placement haunts even the most accomplished contestants. That nagging anxiety—what if I don't do as well as last year? What will people think if I was first runner-up and don't even make top five this time? As a former Miss Wisconsin who lived this exact experience, I understand this pressure intimately. When we've tasted s...

Send us Fan Mail Interview can feel like the most nerve-wracking part of competition, but are you making it harder than it needs to be? In this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest don'ts of pageant interview, including outdated strategies that actually increase your nerves and make it harder to connect with judges. From trying to control the conversation to over-rehearsing responses,...

Send us Fan Mail Anxiety about contestant numbers is a persistent yet unnecessary worry in pageantry. From my experience as both a contestant and a judge, I'm debunking the myths that keep competitors fixated on lineup placement instead of performance. Your contestant number is beyond your control, and focusing on it only diverts energy from your preparation. Judges don't score based on...

Send us Fan Mail Worthiness sits at the core of how we view ourselves, yet many of us struggle to grasp this fundamental truth: we are worthy simply because we exist. This episode explores the critical difference between inherent worth and contextual value – a distinction that transforms how we handle rejection, failure, and self-doubt. Growing up with conditional approval taught me to equate acco...

Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about breaking stereotypes, embracing confidence, and proving that size has nothing to do with success! In this episode of Sash & Soul, I'm sitting down with the reigning Universal Petite queens - four inspiring women who are using their platforms to empower others and redefine beauty standards. We're getting real about pageantry, self-doubt, and what...

Send us Fan Mail Cierra Nalani Richards, Miss Royal United States, joins us for an engaging discussion on mental health and wellness, sharing her compelling journey from military life to the world of pageantry. She opens up about her experience in the Air Force, offering a candid look into the emotional challenges she faced, including her hospitalization for mental health issues.  Her story of res...

Send us Fan Mail Humble confidence" might sound like a contradiction, but it's part of a Winning Mindset that can set you on the path to success. After years of equating humility with self-deprecation, I discovered the transformative power of balancing self-awareness with self-worth. This episode sheds light on redefining humility—it's not about minimizing your achievements or self-...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of unmet expectations that leave you feeling like a victim? This week on Sash and Soul, I open up about a particularly emotional week that forced me to confront my own expectations and the disappointment they often bring. The expectations we hold—whether of ourselves, others, or situations—often lead to disempowerment and a sense of...

Send us Fan Mail In today's world, difficult conversations are everywhere - from political debates to social justice issues, current events, and personal values. In pageantry, interviews often require contestants to answer polarizing questions with poise, authenticity, and diplomacy . But how do you navigate these discussions without losing your personality or causing unnecessary division? In...

Send us Fan Mail Are you dreaming of competing in a pageant but worried about the costs? In this episode of Sash & Soul, we dive into smart strategies for preparing on a budget while still looking and feeling your best. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Choosing the Right Pageant System - Align your goals with a system that fits your budget. Setting a Smart Budget - Prioritize your spend...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Fearlessly Authentic: Sash & Soul Podcast ! As we step into 2025, I’m sharing honest reflections from the past year - big wins, tough lessons, and personal growth that shaped my new vision . In this episode, we'll dive into: 2024 Recap - The highs, the challenges, and the evolution of Fearlessly Authentic Health & Well-being - A candid look at my r...

Send us Fan Mail Kira Dixon (Kazantsev), Miss America 2015, is a host and reporter for Golf Channel and NBC Sports. She primarily covers news on the PGA TOUR and recently returned from her trip to Paris after her debut as a Sports Desk reporter at the 2024 Olympics.  In this episode with Kira, we discuss her beginnings in pageantry and how her Miss America journey started as a lighthearted, extrac...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore the oftentimes controversial topic of dating as a titleholder -- navigating a relationship during a year of changes, intense schedules, and outside opinions about your personal life. Why is dating while being a titleholder controversial? What’s up with the titleholder to marriage pipeline? Is there a no dating rule? What is it like from the partner'...

Send us Fan Mail How do you maintain balance while juggling life, school, family, extracurriculars, pageants, and finding time to rest and relax? Especially for high-achieving women, what happens when life feels like a never-ending juggling act? As we head into fall and for many of us, a new school year, shifting our priorities is inevitable.  Today we're tackling the art, or should we say th...

Send us Fan Mail We're here to share our top five most common mistakes we see women make in the pageant world after years as competitors and coaches. Whether that's preparation downfalls or falling into conspiracies, hear what we think distracts you most from your big picture goals when it comes to preparation and during your competition.  Our focus is on actionable strategies that go be...

Send us Fan Mail It's a journey, and sometimes a difficult one when you go from competing for years, becoming a titleholder, to leaving the pageant world and planning for the future. It can come with identity shifts, insecurities, and a lot of comparison. We always see the titleholder in the spotlight, but what happens when her year is over and the crown is put away? Lila opens up about redef...

Send us Fan Mail There's one question we hear all too often in the pageant world: "Why would I need a coach?" Especially when you've already competed a few times, have some experience, and liked the outcome. In this episode, we dissect the essential components of an effective coaching program. Learn how a good coach acts as a GPS, helping you navigate challenges efficiently and...

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever felt stuck, wondering if you're the only one facing self-doubt and lack of motivation, you're not alone. On this episode of Sash and Soul, Raeanna opens up about those challenging, uninspiring moments in life when motivation seems to be lacking. We both share our personal battles with self-judgment and the constant tug-of-war between needing rest, fee...

Send us Fan Mail Catherine Liang, Miss California 2022, is a Golden State Warriors In-Arena Co-host, Brand Ambassador to International Fashion Brands, Advocate for AANHPI (Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders) and a Global Deals Financial Analyst. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a BA in International Relations Global Business, she worked as a private we...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to master media literacy in the pageant world? Join us on Sash and Soul as Lila shares tangible tips when tackle the intricate landscape of media literacy, essential for any pageant contestant. Through her years of experience studying and working in the media, she's ready to bring essential information to the show and her clients. We dive into the political landscape of...

Send us Fan Mail Ever found yourself drowning in a sea of to-do lists while trying to take care of yourself physically? It could be a health scare, mental health crisis, or chronic illness that comes at the worst times, especially when we're preparing for competition.  Here on Sash & Soul, Lila shares a little about her own health scares recently and candid experiences about the idea of s...

Send us Fan Mail Imposter Syndrome. We hear about it often and we've probably experienced it. But what is it really and how do we challenge it? In our opinion, this syndrome isn't even, well, real. In this episode, we're challenging the idea of imposter syndrome altogether, what we really think it means, and how to conquer it.  We break down the feelings of inadequacy that often pla...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in celebrating an exciting milestone as Lila officially joins the Fearlessly Authentic team as a full-time Communications, Mindset & Media Literacy coach! We reflect on Lila's journey from competing on stage for over a decade, to mentoring behind the scenes, as she dives into the pivotal role of mentoring and coaching. Together, we explore the unique, ever-evolvin...

Send us Fan Mail We talk often about what it looks like when you earn a title, but what about when you don't? On this episode of Sash & Soul, we'll delve into the emotional highs and lows of preliminary awards, the mindsets that can make or break your final night performance, and what it looks like to carry yourself with grace when you feel disappointed.   It's all about maintai...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Fearlessly Authentic Sash & Soul podcast, Lila and Raeanna take questions from the listeners including how much prep really went into Miss Wisconsin and plans post-titleholder life. Tune in as we discuss how modern women are reshaping the pageant world, turning it into an arena of empowerment and inclusivity. From balancing talent practice to fitness rou...