River City Pageant LogoFrequently Asked Questions

Information, Please!

Answers To Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

We have tried to put together a list of the most frequently asked questions and answered them to the best of our ability here. If your question is not on our list, or you still are not clear on an issue, please feel free to contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you!


Where does the money go?

Registration fees for the pageant including those for Optionals contests go to pay for crowns, sashes, trophies, prizes, location rental, sound and lighting specialist and other operations.

ALL donations collected will be delivered to Spokane Parks Foundation, a non-profit agency whose mission is to cultivate the health, growth and continued enjoyment of our communities by inspiring giving and passion for our parks.

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I can raise money for Spokane Parks Foundation on my own; why should I compete in a pageant?

First, we encourage anyone interested in helping Spokane Parks Foundation to do so in any way that they choose. Pageantry is not for everyone, but it can be a really fun way to be recognized for your efforts and even get more attention for a cause.

The goals of River City Pageant are to spread awareness about the efforts and programs of the Spokane Parks Foundation, and help competitors become confident spokespeople all while having fun and making new friends.

Competitors who are selected to become royalty will notice that when they wear their crowns, two things happen: 1. People are curious and more likely to speak to you about your platform and 2. They assume that because you are royalty, you have been chosen for your ability to be a good spokesperson. Then they are more likely to become involved as well.

If you do decide not to compete for a River City Pageant title this year, we still invite you to come watch the pageant and to donate to our on-line fund raising campaign. All donations collected will be delivered to Spokane Parks Foundation.

MAKE A DONATION NOW

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Are your Supreme Titles fundraising titles?

Our Supreme titles will be awarded to the contestants who have the highest combined overall scores. This will typically go to top fundraisers, but not necessarily the ones who raised the very most. For example, let's say these 3 have the top overall scores:

  • Stacy collects $600 in cash donations (worth 1 point per $10 or 60 points), 30 swimsuits (worth 1 point each) and her pageant age division Score is 540.

Her Overall Score would be 60+30+540 = 630.

  • Tiana collects $400 in cash donations (worth 40 points), 50 swimsuits (worth 50 points) and her pageant age division Score is 565.

Her Overall Score would be 40+50+565 = 655.

  • Austin raises $350 in cash donations (worth 35 points), 45 swimsuits (worth 45 points) and his pageant age division Score is 580.

His Overall Score would be 35+45+580 = 660.

Austin then becomes the Ultimate Supreme winner, Tiana the Grand Supreme and Stacy the Supreme even though Stacy raised the most money and Tiana brought in the most swimsuits.

If this happens, we will be sure to recognize Stacy for her amazing fundraising efforts and Tiana for her donations collected to help Spokane Parks Foundation, but they will not have won the Ultimate Supreme title this year.

Visit our Titles and Age Divisions page for more information about Supreme Titles.

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What if there's a tie?

If 2 contestants have the same score within the same division, we will use their donation totals to break the tie.

For example: Lilly and Makayla are both in the Preteen Division and they both receive scores of 480. We look and see that Lilly has a donation score of 60 and Makayla has an 80. Makayla will be crowned the new Preteen Queen.

In the event that they also collected the same donation amount, we will look to see who has the highest score in Personal Introduction. In the extraordinarily unlikely event there is still a tie, we will look at who had the highest theme wear score.

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Do you allow boys to compete?

River City Pageant is all inclusive. Anyone can compete to be royalty and become a spokesperson for Spokane Parks Foundation. This year, we have three boys' titles:  Jr. Prince for boys ages 4-5, Prince for boys ages 6-9 and King for boys ages 10 and up.  Baby boys ages 0-3 join the Baby division.

We have boys' crowns for the 3 boys' divisions. In the event that a boy wins one of the supreme titles, we can discuss plans for ordering a more masculine crown for him to wear if he prefers after the pageant is over.

Visit our Titles and Age Divisions page for more information.

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I don't live in Washington. Can I still come to the River City Pageant in Spokane to compete?

YES! Absolutely! You are more than welcome to collect donations for the Spokane Parks Foundation and compete in the River City Pageant. You just need to be prepared to return to Spokane County a minimum of 3 times during the year if you win a title.

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Does Theme Wear need to be a costume?

Them wear does not need to be a costume, however you are welcome to wear one or a casual wear style outfit that shows off your pride of the Spokane regions.  This could have something to do with a local sports team, a favorite activity on Spokane River or Mt. Spokane, a historical costume, or even something lilac themed.
Contestants may submit custom music for their Theme Wear as long as it is already cut to 30 seconds and delivered via our website a minimum of two weeks prior to competition date.  Upbeat modeling music will be played for any contestants who do not wish to or are not able to submit custom music.  Props are allowed as long as they can easily be carried on and off stage during the routine. Feel free to be creative and make up a custom routine or use the X’s on stage.  There is no set choreography for Theme Wear.

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Do you have a no-compete requirement?

River City Pageant is like most other benefit pageants in that we do not require competitors to give up any current titles they might have with other systems or prevent them from competing elsewhere in the future.

If you win a title, we do require that you make at least 3 public appearances during your year of service representing River City Pageant. There are many appearance opportunities for title holders to make appearances during the year.

You will want to check with other systems that interest you, though, to make sure they don't mind if you hold a pageant title elsewhere. Most systems are fine with multiple titles, especially benefit titles, as long as you are not a National representative in their system. Just make sure you can make time to promote all of your titles as required by each pageant.

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How do I find out more?

For more details about registration, competition requirements, scoring, fees, optional events, venue, deadlines, walking patterns, how to submit custom music for holiday wear or Talent, how to make a donation, and more, please check out the links in the navigation bar at the top of the page or send us a message using our Contact Form. And thank you for your interest in River City Pageant!

Natural Makeup Requirements

River City Pageant is a natural system. Please follow these guidelines for competition:

  • Contestants younger than 13 years old are not allowed to wear any noticeable makeup. This means they can wear a little concealer under their eyes for dark circles or a little powder on their noses for shine, and maybe a little lip gloss for chapped lips, but you really should not be able to tell. This goes for all areas of competition including photos submitted for photogenic.

  • Contestants 13 and older may wear makeup, but it must not be too over the top. False eyelashes are okay as long as they are not so long that it is overly noticeable. Think about what might be appropriate to wear to a job interview in an office and that should give you a pretty good idea of what we mean.

  • Wigs like the kind you see in a “glitz” style pageant are not allowed. If someone needs to wear a natural wig, that is fine as are hair extensions that you pin under your own hair.

  • Permanently colored/dyed hair and tattoos are acceptable. Most natural pageants ask that contestants keep hair and skin neutral so as not to be distracting, but we don’t mind. We do, however, require that hair-styles are tidy during competition and any royalty appearances should you win.