What to Wear for Your Pageant Opening Number

Opening numbers are a popular, but often overlooked part of pageantry. If you haven’t competed in a pageant before, you might be asking yourself- what’s a pageant opening number? Opening numbers are an exciting, engaging way that many directors use to start the show. These numbers usually include a choreographed dance, contestant introduction, or model walk- and even sometimes all three! These performances give the contestants a chance to have fun on stage and introduce themselves to the audience. Although these numbers are a part of the pageant, they aren’t a scored area of competition, so you won’t need to worry about impressing the judges. All you need to do is focus on looking and feeling confident in front of your family and friends. Oh- and not forgetting the choreography!

When putting together your pageant wardrobe, you usually want to pick pieces that will make you stand out from the other competitors. This will allow you to capture the judges’ attention while you glide across the stage in your evening gown and chat with them about your passions during your interview. Pageant opening numbers, however, are a bit different! Opening numbers are meant to create a cohesive look among the contestants and provide an aesthetically pleasing, eye-catching stage layout. Instead of seeming like each contestant is on their own, opening numbers are about bringing everyone together to share an exciting time on stage.

This is why directors commonly create specific opening number wardrobe guidelines that all contestants are required to follow. In fact, some directors even partner with wardrobe sponsors that provide matching cocktail dresses or jumpsuits for each contestant to wear so they can achieve the most cohesive look possible. Although this is most common at national and international pageants, some high-profile state pageants provide matching outfits as well. If your pageant doesn’t have an opening number sponsor, then your director will most likely provide you with wardrobe guidelines, like a specific silhouette or color that you should wear. Some of the most common opening number styles include solid black, white, or silver cocktail dresses.

Once you know the wardrobe guidelines for your pageant opening number, you’ll be able to start shopping for the perfect opening number dress! Remember, you’ll be strutting across the stage and possibly performing a choreographed dance, so you’ll want to pick a silhouette that’s easy to move around in and adds eye-catching movement to your outfit, like fringe, feathers, or liquid beading. Although you’re going for a cohesive group look on stage, you’ll still want to incorporate subtle stylish aspects to your opening number dress that will make you shine just a little bit more than the other contestants. It’s time to see some inspiration!

Your opening number dress will be the first thing the audience sees you in during finals night. While you might not necessarily be trying to impress the judges (yet) you’ll still want to look your best for all of the friends and family who came to support you. The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for your pageant opening number dress is the wardrobe specifications that were provided by your director. Knowing how to properly follow instructions is a very valuable quality to have in a titleholder, so it’s key to start showing your director early on that you have what it takes to be the next queen!

Shopping should be a breeze! A queen like you deserves the royal treatment whether she’s buying a new dress online or shopping secondhand. At Queenly, we’ve committed ourselves to promoting sustainable fashion while making it affordable for everyone. Join our community of Queens who have listed outfits in their online closet. It’s as easy as signing up for a free account, snapping some pics, and uploading the details- that’s it!