National American Miss

I am preparing for my state pageant and when going to the NAM Website, I stumbled upon this page. I was very shocked to see such a low rating.

A lot of these reviews seem to be from upset parents of children who didn't win. Investing into something and not getting the desired outcome can be frustrating. I've been there. I speak from experience, when you learn more in the losses.

Likewise, I've learned that I don't need a crown to make a difference or serve my community. In fact, I have even earned 3 awards for my volunteerism- including the President's Volunteer Service Award. I didn't recognize the importance of volunteering until my time with NAM. I've learned I can inspire people without a crown.

To the person who said a bald or "fat person" shouldn't win, you are just wrong. As a plus size contestant, I have been given opportunities to speak publicly and give interviews about my experiences as a plus size woman in pageantry. I didn't need a crown for that. I have made so many amazing, beautiful, accomplished friends through NAM.

Girls who are size 2's and size 22's. Girls who have won national and international titles. Girls who won their state pageant first try (without entering optionals might I add) Girls who are still working towards their first title. Girls who have won their state title multiple times.

True genuine friendships. Girls I have traveled cross-country to support, and girls who are traveling cross-country to support me. I am 23 years old and have interviewed for around 6/7 jobs in my lifetime. Whether it was at a local boutique at 16 or at a billion-dollar company for a job I didn't qualify for on paper...

I have gotten every single job I have interviewed for. I thank National American Miss for these life skills. Another thing I see brought up is the financial aspect. I would be lying if I said it was cheap.

I would love to see NAM be more accessible for all girls and women. However, the high production value is unlike any other state pageant - minus Miss USA or Miss America. It is that level. That cost money for the directors.

Renting ballrooms for rehearsals cost money. Hiring judge's cost money. Paying the state titleholder's entry fee to National's cost money. It isn't cheap for them either.

My advice is invest into what invests into you. If you have no aspirations to be an actress, don't enter that optional. If you have no interest in modeling, don't enter the modeling competitions. Optional contests have no bearing on the winner.

Same with coaching. If investing in coaching is what it takes to not only help you get the crown but also further in life, do it. I think I have learned more about "real life" than pageants with my coach. It isn't a scam.

It isn't human trafficking. Yes, it can be expensive. No, you are not promised to win. Yes, they are strict on refunds.

Yes, the letter in the mail is sketchy at first. But just because your child didn't win, or you didn't even give NAM a chance in the first place doesn't mean is an awful company. There is a reason girls come back year after year.

Look at the experience with the perspective of what you gain if you do not win. If you are entering for only the crown the experience isn't for you.

My friend's daughter has been participating in this pageant for years. I did research in the beginning and based on the info I found it is an obvious scam.

The pageant has no mainstream sponsors and it appears that they keep the money flowing in their inner circle because the girls are referred to specific individuals for dresses, shoots, training in runway walking etc. The daughter of the ones who spend the most are more likely to win. Luckily for my goddaughter her mother is a spender so she's won multiple times. I hoped her mom would wake up after spending tens of thousands of dollars, but now her daughter is roped into another of their pageants!

This organization preys on little girls seeking validation and parents who don't know any better. Don't be their next victim.

They canceled the pageant during the pandemic. We paid registration fees and a talent fee.

The day the pageant was canceled my daughter paid the talent fee. NAM knew they were canceling the pageant and took several hundred dollars from a full time college freshman who was working 2 jobs to pay for school. I can understand losing the registration fee as this was paid much earlier and it was before the pandemic hit, but to take money knowing that the pageant is being canceled should be criminal. They are a SCAM and they are THIEVES.

I wouldn't want my daughter representing or being associated with a business who STEALS from their customers.

Disgusting behavior. Do not involve yourself with this shady pageant.AVOID

They are great at the selling of their dream pageant opportunity , but dont let that fool you. Your fee only is a slot as a contestant.

$550 later, they ask $35 per shirt that is required for their performance, that they claim they will teach. The lesson is in a group setting, shown once and then your girl will practice one time, and a video link is provided for you to learn on your own time. Only to find out they switched it the day of the pageant. Im not sure how they build up girls, when the staff is extremely rude, snatches credit cards from parents hand, and no one ever knows whats going on.

The disorganisation is ridiculous. Ive been looking for staff for several hours and its rare to come by anyone but but the rude cashier in the NAM store. Explains why only a few out 100 girls returned from last years competition.

When asked why the NAM discounts werent applied to the Hyatt hotel, they said I dont know, were still figuring it out day 3 into this event, and I doubt we will return. Lets see what selling point theyre going to pitch tonight during the finale.

My friends daughter entered this dumb competition. She was one of the most prepared and beautiful contestants, however, the selection of winners was politically correct.

A bald girl won. Nothing against her personally but isnt this about beauty?

No overweight or bald woman should wins beauty pageant. Period.

Dont waist your time and money and subject your daughter or self to Thai torture and stay clear

Definite scam. My proof.

We got the same letter. We don't even have a daughter. Three different unrelated adults at this address. Not even one has ANY child.

Addressed to each of us by official, proper first and last legal names. They didn't do their homework well. There's no way this isn't a scam if they get so bold to send it in this manner.

That said, its completely sad that ANY parent of a daughter believes pageants are healthy, so much so that they're willing to get scammed.

Or leave it to god when we know that the one thing 3000 gods have in common is a dislike for vanity.

Beware, OKC metro residents. Looks like we're up soon for a visit.

We entered this pageant and then COVID happened, it was postponed and eventually canceled. The issue was the very day they canceled the pageant my daughter paid for the talent portion.

I believe this was $300. They accepted payment knowing the pageant would be canceled. She was a full time college student working full time making minimum wage. $300 for her was a lot of money.

They refused to refund that $300, knowing they stole it from a girl who couldn't afford $300 easily. Knowing they were getting ready to send out an announcement that the pageant was canceled.

The announcement was literally sent out within the hour of her payment. They should have never still been accepting payments if they were unsure if the pageant was going to happen