Emily first stepped onto a pageant stage when she was 13. Little did she know how much that moment would impact her life. Over a decade later, she has not only won titles, having earned crowns such as Miss Asia USA-America, Miss Hawaii Collegiate, Miss Asian Global 2nd Princess, and Miss Hawaii Jr. Teen, but she has also become one of the most sought-after pageant coaches in Hawai’i and beyond.

Emily’s approach to coaching reflects her decade of hard work and experience. She has earned accolades in nearly every competition category, including Best in Interview, Best in Evening Gown, Photogenic, Community Service, and the Academic Award. Her talent for stage presence and communication also earned her a spot in the top five for the Crowned Collective Hawaii Impact in Pageantry Best Coach award, and she received the Best in Evening Gown award. Despite all her awards, what truly sets Emily apart from other pageant contestants is her dedication to nurturing people’s talents all over the world. 

In 2023, Emily founded Elevated Pageant Coaching with the mission of empowering pageant competitors to succeed both on and off stage.

Her approach differs from that of other coaches, as most pageant coaches focus solely on pageant preparation; Emily, on the other hand, emphasizes the development of pageant, professional, and personal skills. She utilizes her background in Communications, having earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an M.A. in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, to bridge the gap between performance and professional development. She blends advanced skills in marketing, digital media, and leadership communication with her insider knowledge of the pageant world. She now coaches people from all over the world spanning from the beautiful islands of Hawaii to the snowy mountains of Germany. 

Through Elevated Pageant Coaching, Emily offers a wide range of services designed to meet contestants at every stage of their journey:

• 1:1 Coaching (Online & In-Person): Personalized sessions covering everything from interview prep, resume development, wardrobe styling, and stage presence to walking, posing, and public speaking.
• Digital Resources: Emily has created accessible tools, including the Elevated Pageant Prep Workbook, a comprehensive guide for contestants, and the Elevate Your Pageant Stage Presence Course, a digital program that helps competitors refine their performance and confidence.
• Group Sessions & Workshops: For contestants seeking community and accountability, Emily runs group coaching sessions and themed workshops that simulate real pageant environments.

During her time coaching, Elevated Pageant Coaching has already seen remarkable success as Emily has taught local, state, national, and international winners. Some of her coaching clients include Ms. United States, Miss Aura Vietnam, Miss Asian Global, Miss Philippines Hawaii, and more. However, most importantly, she has not only led her clients to win crowns, but also taught lifelong skills about excelling in interviews, walking into rooms with confidence, and encouraging her clients to pursue their passions. 

As a result of building her highly successful pageant coaching business, Emily’s expertise has garnered widespread recognition across various platforms. Her profound impact on the industry has not gone unnoticed, earning her notable features in prestigious outlets such as Midweek, where she graced the front cover, Malaysia News Now, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa News, among others. She was also given a feature on HI Now Daily television program where they acknowledged her as one of the top coaches. These spotlights not only showcase her exceptional coaching abilities but also emphasize her commitment to reshaping the pageant coaching landscape. Her work is revolutionizing the way pageant contestants approach their training. Her clients learn skills that transcend the stage, building essential skills such as confidence in interviews, building platforms to become a leader in the community, taking care of themselves physically, and becoming self-assured. Emily’s ability to seamlessly combine passion, expertise, and innovation has solidified her reputation as a transformative force in the pageant world.

For contestants stepping into their very first competition or seasoned titleholders looking to advance to the national or international stage, get elevated with Emily and learn more about her offerings using the link below,

Learn more about Emily Smith’s services, digital resources, and coaching programs at elevatedpageantcoaching.com.