We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Rice a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tara , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
When I started my business in 2013 I felt it was important to provide valuable services to the girls and women participating in my pageant productions. I didn’t want contestants to sign up just for the day of the pageant which is how most pageants are run and was most of my own personal experiences competing in pageants for 7 years. I feel it’s important to give the girls and women who sign up for my pageants an experience where they can learn, gain self confidence, become young leaders, develop their platforms and self growth. I provide free group coaching session both in person and on zoom for all contestants who participate in my pageants where I teach them how to answer interview and on stage questions, tips on competition wardrobe, on stage walking and posing instructions and advice on how to select the best platform for them. I’m available to my contestants and coaching clients 24/7. I always let them know that I’m here to help them in their pageantry journey. I want the contestants and titleholders that I work with to know I’m there to support them. I definitely take on the role as a mentor and not just a pageant director and coach. My mission has always been to inspire girls and women to pursue their dreams and become leaders in their communities.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Tara Rice is the Founder of Miss West Coast Productions Inc., established in 2013. Since 2013, Rice has produced 29 Pageants in California. The Annual Miss West Coast Pageant is held in Los Angeles, California and starting in 2024 it will be a triple crowning state pageant including California, Arizona and Nevada contestants. In 2012, Rice became a preliminary pageant director for Miss California USA/Miss California Teen USA. In 2017, Rice became the State Director of the California United States Pageant. As a Pageant Director and Coach she has helped many girls, teens and women to capture the crown of both State and National Titles. In 2022, four of the Miss West Coast pageant titleholders captured the prestigious United States National titles under the direction and coaching of Rice. In 2023, Rice coached Serenity Grace Russell who won Little Miss United States and Ella Coleman who won Miss Teen United States. Rice is currently accepting contestants for the 2024 Pageant Apply at www.misswestcoastpageant.com Early sign up contestant discount until Dec 1ST. Some of my proud accomplishments include: In 2019 and 2020, she was awarded Best State Pageant Director and Best State Pageant by Pageant Planet where pageantry industry professionals review all the pageants. In 2022, Rice was also voted Top 3 Best Pageant Director in the world and ranked in the Top 3 Best Pageant Prize Package.
Rice’s pageantry journey began when she was 19 years old. On a whim she entered her first pageant in 2000 and won Miss Teen California All American. During her reign as Miss Teen California she gained self confidence and public speaking skills which lead her to pursue a career in modeling, acting and hosting. Rice attributes her success in the entertainment industry from the experiences she had competing in pageants for 7 years. She has been in over 35 national commercials, guest starred in TV shows and landed lead roles in feature films. In 2021, she was named a Top 25 influencer in Los Angeles featured in the Los Angeles Entrepreneur Magazine. In addition, Rice was awarded the 40 under 40 Award.
This year she launched her coaching business, Pageant Secrets to Success with partner Alana Morgan, whom she has been a director, mentor and coach to for 8 years. Pageant Secrets to Success videos teach girls and women how to achieve success in pageants by learning on-stage walking techniques & posing techniques, secrets to perfecting your interview skills, effectively answering on-stage questions, guidance on selecting the best competition wardrobe, advice on how to select a platform and valuable advice on how to obtain sponsors. Check out www.pageantsecretstosuccess.com
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I pride myself on having a good reputation in the pageant industry. I feel I have a good reputation because my coaching clients, contestants and titleholders know that I care because of my dedication and commitment to them. I provide services to all my contestants that give them a great pageant experience which includes one on one advice and consulting, pageant coaching and professional photo shoots. My goal is to make sure my coaching clients feel that I’m helping them every step of the way when preparing for a pageant. They can reach out to me at any time and I commit to scheduled coaching dates.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I feel the best way to get new clients is through social media. I found that making reels and sharing more on Instagram stories inspires others to get involved with pageantry. I love sharing what my titleholders do to help others, promoting their platforms and events they support. I feel when you show real experiences it’s a great way inspire others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.misswestcoastpageant.com www.pageantsecretstosuccess.com
- Instagram: @misswestcoastpageant @pageantsecretstosuccess @taramaerice
- Facebook: Tara Rice
- Youtube: Beauty & Brains
Image Credits
Intuition Design Photography & Jim Woody Woods Photographer