Behind the Glitz and Glamour: Experiences of Senior Highschool Students in Pageantry in Davao City, Philippines

Aims: To provide an overview of the experiences of Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao senior high school students who participate in pageantry, focusing on how they balance their personal lives and academic responsibilities.

Study Design: This research employs a descriptive qualitative design, generating data that describes the 'who, what, and where of events or experiences' (Kim et al., 2017).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, High School Department, from April to May 2023.

Methodology: The primary data sources were interview transcripts from four in-depth interviews (IDIs) and four focus group discussions (FGDs), involving eight participants. The participants were senior high school students who are current or former beauty pageant contestants, with at least one year of experience.

Results: The study covered the participants' lived experiences, coping mechanisms, and insights. It explored their struggles in maintaining well-being, peer encouragement, time management amidst responsibilities, and the character development fostered by their pageantry experiences. Participants shared how they managed pressures and expectations while balancing academics and pageantry, highlighting both common strategies and unique personal insights.

Conclusion: The research revealed the nuances of balancing academic responsibilities and pageantry. While common coping strategies were identified, each participant's unique perspective provided valuable insights into their individual approaches to managing pressures and expectations. Schools and support networks should offer targeted guidance and resources to help student pageant contestants manage their dual roles effectively, promoting a healthier balance between their academic and extracurricular commitments.