Exemplary Pageants Handbook

Meet the Staff

Brief History of Exemplary Pageants

Established in January 2026 by Rebekah Slayton, Exemplary Pageants is a national pageant system. It is privately owned and licensed. Exemplary Pageants is known as a boutique-style pageant because of its unique approach to ensure quality pageantry to hand-picked and thoroughly vetted clientele. In addition, Exemplary Pageants is specifically designed for females ages 16+. Exemplary Pageants is designed to be drama-free, mental health-friendly, and platform-based. Each contestant/titleholder is required to have a pageant platform about which they are both passionate and articulate.

Inaugural Queens

The 2026 Inaugural Queens’ Court was chosen by Exemplary Pageants Staff. These queens will be crowning their successors at the national pageant in 2027, but during their reign, they will be representing Exemplary Pageants, building the brand, promoting their own pageant platforms, and recruiting the contestants/titleholders for the 2027 national pageant.

Our Inaugural Queens will be introduced in July 2026.

Inaugural Princess: (1) titleholder under age 16, appointed by the Exemplary Board of Directors. This is an honorary title, and this titleholder and their parent/guardian will be invited to attend 2027 Nationals to assist with crowning.

Exemplary Princess 2026: Paisleigh Stevens (Tennessee)

5 Divisions

Registration, Fees, and Payment Information

Early Bird Registration: April 17, 2026 – June 1, 2026

Early Bird Registration Fee: $600 (this is a discount of $200). Deadline will be strictly enforced.

(Non-Early Bird) Entry Fee: $800 (includes $200 non-refundable deposit)

Entry Fee Includes:

State/Regional Title for 2027 Nationals, Embroidered State/Regional Sash, State/Regional Tiara, Mentorship with Division Inaugural Queen, Official Exemplary Pageants T-shirt and Tote Bag, Orientation Swag Bag, Competition Sash, Pageant Program, Admission for all Family Members/Friends/Fans to Pageant Finals and Crowning, and Photo Gallery from Pageant Weekend.

Also included with entry fee are the following award categories: Congeniality (voted on by all contestants/titleholders), Best Interview, Best Costume, and Best Formalwear (determined by scores), Directors’ Awards (chosen by Exemplary Pageants Board of Directors). Winners will receive on-stage recognition and prizes.

All contestants/titleholders will automatically be eligible to compete for the title of Exemplary Supreme 2027.

Not included in entry fee: travel expenses to/from Nationals, lodging expenses (except for Exemplary Retreats), food/beverage expenses at Nationals and/or Exemplary Retreats.

Non-Refundable Deposit

A deposit of $200 reserves a title for (30) calendar days. If additional payment(s) towards the balance is not made within (30) calendar days, contestant forfeits the title, and the title will again become available.

This deposit is non-refundable and applies to both the Early Bird Registration as well as the Non-Early Bird entry fee.

Delivery of Goods Upon Full Payment

Entry Fee must be paid in full before state/regional title is officially appointed and any of the items included in the entry fee can be provided to the titleholder. Upon payment of full entry fee, titleholder can expect sash, tiara, t-shirt, and tote bag within (3) weeks via mail.

Tracking information will be provided to the titleholder for informational purposes. All other items included in entry fee will be delivered and/or made available at Nationals.

Recruitment Bonuses

All Inaugural Queens and State/Regional Titleholders (must have paid entry fee in full) will be eligible for recruitment bonuses of $25 per contestant they recruit. These bonuses will be paid to Queens/Titleholders upon contestant(s) payment(s) of $200 non-refundable deposit.

Queens/Titleholders are encouraged to recruit contestants for any/all divisions.

Mentorship with Division Inaugural Queen

State/Regional titleholders will be assigned to the Inaugural Queen of their respective divisions for mentorship. Mentorship is not pageant coaching, but rather an additional support and/or source of encouragement for state/regional titleholders as they prepare for competition.

Mentors will be responsible for hosting at least (1) virtual meeting per month (Facetime is acceptable) with any/all mentees beginning October 2026, and extending through the month of the national pageant. Please be respectful of your mentor’s time. Monthly meetings are not mandatory but must be made available by mentors.

Nationals, Retreats, and Zoom Calls

2027 Exemplary Nationals: The 2027 Exemplary National Pageant will be held April 9–11, 2027. The venue will be determined and announced at a later date, but will be located in the Greater Nashville, Tennessee area.

Exemplary Retreats: Inaugural Queens are invited to attend a weekend retreat with the Exemplary Board of Directors. This retreat will be held September 11–13, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Each subsequent Queens’ Court will be invited to attend a retreat. Retreat venues will be chosen by the CEO and Executive Director. Lodging will be paid for by Exemplary Pageants. Travel and food/beverage expenses for these retreats are the responsibility of each titleholder.

Please note: At this time Exemplary Pageants will only pay for the lodging of Exemplary Titleholders and (1) Parent/Guardian (applies to Miss Teen Division only). We cannot pay for the lodging of spouses, children, and/or other family/friends.

Mandatory Zoom Calls with CEO & Executive Director: The CEO and Executive Directors will schedule Zoom calls at least (2) weeks in advance. These calls will be no more than (30) minutes in duration. The dates/times/zoom links will be announced on the Exemplary Pageants Facebook Page. All regional/state and inaugural titleholders will be required to attend.

If anyone is unable to attend, they will be required to contact the CEO and Executive Director via email prior to the Zoom meeting and will also be required to follow up with their mentor after the meeting to ensure they are aware of any/all necessary information.

Opening Number and Areas of Competition

Opening Number

All state/regional titleholders will have a runway walk as they are introduced by the Emcee.
Attire: Cocktail dress of choice in one of the official pageant colors (Black, Hot Pink, Silver).

Following the introduction of all state/regional titleholders, the Inaugural Queens and the Exemplary Princess will have their runway walk as they are introduced by the Emcee.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted press-conference style in front of a panel of (5) judges. Each contestant/titleholder will have a maximum of (7) minutes with the judges’ panel. A timekeeper will be present and will give a 30-second warning to everyone in the room, at which point titleholders should be sure to conclude the interview on a positive/strong note.

Judges will score titleholders on poise, confidence, eye-contact, and most importantly, platform awareness. No high/low scores will be dropped. Scores will range from 1 to 10. The highest possible score, therefore, will be 50.

Introduction

During Opening Number, each contestant/titleholder will be required to provide a 15 to 30 second on-stage introduction. They must walk up to the microphone which will be located center-stage and give the following information in any order: Greeting, First & Last Names, Title, Name of Platform.

Example: Hello! I am Jane Doe, your Miss Teen Tennessee Exemplary. My platform is Foster Care Awareness.

Introduction is not scored, but judges will be present and looking for poise. Introduction is also your first opportunity to connect with the audience.

State Costume

Each contestant/titleholder will be required to create and model a costume that represents the state and/or region they represent. Judges will score titleholders on creativity and originality. No high/low scores will be dropped. Scores will range from 1 to 5. The highest possible score, therefore, will be 25, and will be added to the titleholder’s score from Interview.

Formalwear/Evening Gown

Each contestant/titleholder will be required to model the evening gown of her choice. Gowns must be floor-length and age appropriate. Hi-low gowns and 2-piece gowns are not appropriate attire for this portion of the competition. Gowns should fall to the top of the foot (heels should not be visible as titleholders will not be judged on the shoes they are wearing).

Judges will score titleholders on elegance and poise. No high/low scores will be dropped. Scores will range from 1 to 5. The highest possible score, therefore, will be 25. This score will be added to the titleholder’s cumulative score from Interview and State Costume.

Ties / On-Stage Questions

In the event there is a tie in any division, the contestant/titleholder with the highest score in Interview will be crowned the Divisional Queen.

The (5) Divisional Queens will compete in On-Stage Question to determine the Exemplary Supreme. Queens will reach into a bowl and pull out (1) question, read it to themselves, then hand it to the Emcee. The Emcee will read the question out loud, then repeat it a second time. After the Emcee has read the question a second time, the titleholder will have (1) minute to answer the question.

Judges will score titleholders on whether the question was answered, whether the answer made sense, and whether the titleholder answered with confidence. No high/low scores will be dropped. Scores will range from 1 to 15. The highest possible score, therefore, will be 75. This will then be added to the titleholder’s cumulative competition score.

Exemplary Supreme

The titleholder with the overall highest score in the pageant will win the title of Exemplary Supreme. They will not be double crowned. Meaning, that the 1st Runner-Up in their division will be crowned Divisional Queen.

Example: Miss Teen Georgia wins her division but also has the highest overall score. She will be crowned Exemplary Supreme, and whomever was the 1st Runner-Up in the Miss Teen division will be crowned Miss Teen Exemplary 2027.

The Exemplary Supreme will also be the official Brand Ambassador for Exemplary Pageants during her reign, and will be involved in the production and planning of 2028 Exemplary Nationals.

Awards and Prize Packages

Congeniality Winner and Best in Interview, Costume, and Formalwear will each receive a $50 cash prize.

Each divisional winner will receive a national crown, embroidered sash, and flower bouquet. They will receive other gifts throughout their year’s reign and will have their lodging paid for at the 2027 Exemplary Retreat where they will also have a professional photo shoot. Discounted hair and makeup services will be available through Tabatha Nichole’s Salon.

Additionally, divisional winners will receive prizes at the 2028 national pageant if they return to crown their successors.

The Exemplary Supreme will receive a custom-made crown valued at $200, embroidered sash, scepter, and flower bouquet. She will also receive $500 cash at the time of her crowning, and $500 cash when she returns to 2028 Nationals to crown her successor.

In addition, at the 2027 Exemplary Retreat, the Exemplary Supreme will receive a complimentary hair and makeup session from Tabatha Nichole’s Salon, followed by a professional photoshoot.

Directors’ Awards

Exemplary Elegance Award: Honors an Inaugural Queen who embodies grace, poise, and timeless sophistication in every aspect of her presence. This individual carries herself with confidence and composure, demonstrating refined style, genuine kindness, and an effortless ability to uplift those around her. From her appearance to her demeanor, she represents the true essence of elegance, both inside and out, serving as a shining example of class, character, and charm. The winner of this award will be chosen by the Exemplary CEO.

Purpose Over Self Award: Honors an Inaugural Queen who embodies the true spirit of Exemplary Pageants by placing the needs of others above their own. This individual demonstrates unwavering commitment to community service, advocacy, and making a meaningful impact. Through compassion, leadership, and action, she inspires others and represents what it truly means to wear the crown with purpose. The winner of this award will be chosen by the Exemplary Pageants Executive Director.

Carbon Footprint Award: Honors a contestant/titleholder who demonstrates exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability and actively works to reduce their environmental impact while inspiring others to do the same. The winner of this award will be chosen by the Exemplary Director of Productions.

Cutting Edge Award: Honors a contestant/titleholder who is creative with bold visions. This individual pushes the barriers of beauty standards in the best ways. She carries herself with confidence and has a strong sense of self-worth. She inspires others with her charisma and unique brand of moxie. The winner of this award will be chosen by the Exemplary Director of Aesthetics.

Exemplary Ambassadors (Virtual Titleholders)

Beginning April 19, 2026, Exemplary Pageants will accept applications for Exemplary Ambassadors. This is a virtual contest, rather than a competition. Applicants must be active followers of the Exemplary Pageants Facebook Page.

Contest is open to Females and Males ages 16 and up. Applicants must submit an Exemplary Ambassador Application, and pay an entry fee of $300, $100 of which is non-refundable. We will accept a total of (15) applications.

Applications and total entry fee of $300 must be received by 11:59 PM Central Time on June 1, 2026 to qualify. When entry fee has been paid in full, all applicants will receive an official Exemplary Pageant T-Shirt, Tote Bag, and other prizes.

The Exemplary Pageants Board of Directors and the Inaugural Court will choose a total of (3) Exemplary Ambassadors to represent Exemplary Pageants on their own social media platforms. These Ambassadors will be considered National (Virtual) Titleholders.

Each will be awarded a custom Ambassador Crown, Embroidered Ambassador Sash, and other prizes (prize package valued at $700). The (3) Exemplary Ambassadors will be announced on September 12, 2026, and will be invited to the Exemplary National In-Person Pageant April 9–11, 2027, where they will be recognized on stage.

Pageant Rules

Exemplary Pageants does not have non-compete contracts. The Exemplary Supreme, Divisional Queens, and Exemplary Ambassadors may participate and/or compete in other pageant systems as long as they also represent Exemplary Pageants to the best of their ability.

The Exemplary Supreme will be required to attend the 2027 Exemplary Retreat, and will also be required to assist the Exemplary Board of Directors in planning the 2028 National Pageant.

Divisional Queens are invited to the 2027 Exemplary Retreat, and should make every effort to attend, but their attendance is not required. If they are unable to attend for any reason, they must contact the CEO and Executive Director via email to notify them of the reason(s) for their absence from the event.

The Exemplary Supreme and Divisional Queens are expected to be present at the 2028 National Pageant to crown their successors. Appearance at Nationals is optional for Exemplary Ambassadors.

No pageant-bashing will be tolerated. This includes defamatory or other negative comments about Exemplary Pageants or any other pageant system. We are trying to be a source of joy in the world of pageantry, not hate and/or discontent.

No violence or hate speech will be tolerated. Anyone engaging in these behaviors will have their title immediately revoked by the CEO and/or Executive Director.

Contestants/titleholders and Exemplary Royalty are expected to contact both the CEO and Executive Director with any concerns. We strive to foster open and effective communication so that Exemplary Pageants can grow and become a positive force in pageantry.