Pageant Press and to gain exposure ? By Ms Diamond South Yorkshire

So yesterday I got a message from a fellow pageant queen saying she was in awe of how much press coverage I get for my pageant system and charities I work with so I thought I would right a little post with some tips.

So far in 12 months I’ve had 30 press pieces.

Firstly when you become a finalist you should research you local papers you see I have two main papers in Doncaster one is Doncaster Free Press which is online and in print every week and the Doncaster Gazette who unfortunately has had to close during the crisis. The Doncaster Gazette is a fortnightly paper which is FREE but no online presence.

So once you know what papers are in your area you need to contact them saying that you are a finalist in your pageant along with name, age, title and contact details. Now I do go one further and write my own press releases and this was the first one I had published as Ms Diamond South Yorkshire.

Now only one of the two papers ran the story and you will find that they might not run it at all but you have to try if you want to gain exposure for your system and platform.

Now when you do compete in pageants you can also write about the things you do as a queen ! This not only gains exposure for you and the system but also for your platform and/or what your doing !! So last year I did an Easter egg collection at my workplace for my local children’s ward I had a photo with some of the staff and wrote a press release and one of my papers ran it !

Now last year I got permission from my Diamond Director to compete in Ms Scuba 2019 as this didn’t lead to an international. So again I wrote press release and both papers wrote about it !

Then sometimes press opportunities just happen by accident so last year I attended the races as a day out with my partner and I was selected as a best dressed finalist in an outfit I bought from my local charity shop and in my mind it made a lovely press release and the paper ran it !

This article brought attention to my pageant system, the charity shop and Doncaster Races ! So just think when your thinking of press releases who does it benefit, will it make a good story ? It helps when you keep things local example local charity shop and local tourist attraction !

Now when Tina my pageant director unfortunately was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year she launched a campaign called touch ya Tatas and I wanted to help raise awareness of breast cancer and again the paper ran it !

This article when online twice (Doncaster Free Press and South Yorkshire times) and in print ! so that’s 3 pieces of press from one article. This also had to be one of my favourite press pieces as a nurse who works with breast cancer patients found me on Facebook and thanked me for bringing awareness to breast cancer again locally ! That truly meant the world to me !

When I do charity runs I always try and get press for the charity as well as my system so what do I do ?? I write a press release sometimes I write one when I sign up and sometimes afterwards and sometimes both ! Again this works best with local charities !

Last year I signed my work up to be a drop off point for Hallam FM cash for kids Christmas Appeal and it got published again a local charity and a local business ! It doesn’t mention my title but I have my sash on in the photos !

Because of all my charity work the Doncaster Free Press wanted to write a larger piece about my pageant life and my charity work ! This gave exposure to the pageant as well as the local charities I work with !

Now in the Doncaster Free Press we have a Doncaster Voices section which is where you can give your opinion on things happening in Doncaster. Does your paper do this ? I have luckily been asked to do this a few times and each time I do get asked I use a photo of me wearing my sash ! This either goes online or in print or sometimes both.

What I have also learnt is to follow the newspapers on Facebook as this is how I got my next press piece as they were asking for rainbow 🌈 pictures and me and my daughter had just done on for a pageant online campaign and The Star (part of the Doncaster Free Press) our in online !

Even during lockdown you can get press for things your doing ! For example my local children’s hospital are doing a #30in30 campaign where you raise £30 in 30 days so I wrote a press release and it went online !

Finally don’t just use your local press get involved in some Skype interviews !! I’ve done 3 now they not only help get Press for your pageant but also a brilliant way to get used to talking about your platform and what you are doing during your reign !

These are the two that have been published and I have another one due out in May !

I hope this has given you some tips on how to raise more awareness for your system and platform through press !