Contestant Information

Welcome to the Royal United Universe Contestant Portal!

We’re thrilled to have you as part of the Royal United Universe family. This page is your all-in-one resource for everything you need to prepare for competition. As you scroll, you’ll find important deadlines, submission forms for your required photos, Optionals videos and documents, as well as detailed information about each phase of competition—including guidelines for your Impact Statement and Formal Wear. We are here to support you every step of the way as you showcase your heart, your platform, and your unique brilliance!

All Submissions are due 2 weeks prior to pageant date

2026 VIRTUAL PAGEANT

Areas of Competition and Requirements

INTERVIEW

30% of Overall Score

Time: 4 minutes

Live on Zoom

Delegates will be judge on confidence, knowledge of platform, clarity of speech, audience connection, ability to articulate, responsiveness to questions and overall appearance.

FORMAL WEAR

20% of Overall Score

Delegates will compete by photo and video submission in Evening Gown or Formal Wear. Evening gowns should brush the floor without sitting on the floor. Men's suits should fit properly.

Click the button below for

formal wear fit guide.

Delegates will be judged on elegance, fit, style, fashion sense, confidence, poise and runway presence.

*See Video and Photo Submission Requirement Information Below*

Women's Guide

Men's Guide

IMPACT STATEMENT

30% of Overall Score

Time: 1.5 - 2 minutes

Live on Zoom

Each Delegate will have up to 2 minutes to present a monology about their platform, how it provides a positive impact for the world, educational/statistical insights and include

a call to action.

Sample and more details below

Delegates will be judged on clarity, passion, delivery, educational content, audience engagement, and the effectiveness of their call to action.

FUN FASHION

20% of Overall Score

Delegates will compete via photo and video submission in the Fun Fashion Outfit of their choice. Showcasing their style and personality.

Delegate will be judge on confidence, poise, runway routine, and how well the style of outfit showcases their personality.

*See Video and Photo Submission Requirement Information Below*

Below you will find a Sample Impact Statement and the Impact Statement Structure.
A successful Impact Statement should include the structural elements and should be 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in length
(not to exceed 2 minutes)

Impact Statement Guide

Impact Statement Sample
Platform:
"Families Together"

Imagine being a parent in crisis - jobless, overwhelmed, and completely alone with no one safe to call. Now imagine that because of this isolation, your child enters the foster care system - not because you didn’t love them, but because you lacked meaningful support.

Today in the United States, more than 400,000 children are in foster care. Approximately 70% of those cases are due to neglect or maltreatment NOT abuse. When we look closely at the root cause of neglect and maltreatment we find social isolation. Families aren’t uncaring - they’re exhausted, unseen, and unsupported.

My platform, Families Together, exists to change that.

I advocate for prevention not placement - stepping in before families are separated. I educate churches and community organizations about the urgent need to come alongside families before child welfare is involved. Through partnership with Safe Families for Children, we surround biological families with caring volunteers, practical resources, and healthy relationships - we don’t just prevent crisis—we create stability, dignity, and hope.

Safe Families for Children is leading the way by building networks of volunteers who offer temporary care for children, mentorship for parents, and practical resources for families in crisis. They support parents so they can get back on their feet and keep their children safely at home.

Now more than ever, our communities need people who are willing to step in - not to replace parents, but to support them.

I challenge you today: Look for ways to get involved. Volunteer, advocate, spread the word. Whether it's through Safe Families or another local organization, you have the power to help keep children safe and families together.

Impact Statement Structure Based on Platform:
"Families Together"

** You can change up the structure order, however every Impact Statement should start with a Hook and end with a Call to Action

1. Hook / Attention-Getter

Open with an emotional, relatable scenario to draw the audience in.
“Imagine being a parent in crisis - jobless, overwhelmed, and completely alone…”

2. Statement of the Problem

Present relevant statistics and highlight the scope of the issue.
“Over 400,000 children are in foster care… 70% due to neglect or maltreatment - not abuse.”

3. Root Cause / Deeper Insight

Identify what’s really causing the issue and clear up common misconceptions.
“The root cause...social isolation - Families aren’t uncaring - they’re exhausted, unseen, and unsupported.”

4. Introduction of Platform

Clearly state your platform’s name and its purpose.
“My platform, Families Together, exists to change that.”

5. Advocacy Focus / Your Role

Explain what you specifically advocate for and how you take action.
“I advocate for prevention not placement - stepping in before families are separated…”

6. Highlight of Supporting Organization

Feature a real-world organization that aligns with your platform.
“Safe Families for Children is leading the way… temporary care for children, mentorship for parents…”

7. Call to Action

Encourage your audience to take specific, meaningful steps.
“Volunteer, advocate, spread the word… you have the power to help keep children safe and families together.”

HAIR, MAKEUP & WARDROBE

All outfits should be an extension of your personality, don't try to be someone else. Think fashion forward, expressive, and true to you.

Some suggestions:

Have a theme for your outfits that ties together in all areas of competition, for example Hollywood Glam, Vintage, Old Money, Glam, Elegant and Sophisticated
Pick a color that shows up in all of your outfits (be careful not to have all of your outfit be the same color solid, instead think hits of the color on some outfits)
Pick a fashion personality that is expressed in all your outfits

Formal Wear:

Women's Evening Gowns should brush the floor with no toes showing

Men's evening wear should be properly fit; jacket shoulders, sleeves and pant legs (google it)

Interview and Impact Statement Attire:

Dress to impress, should be professional with a fashion forward look, again this is a great place to express your personality in your outfit.

Hair and Makeup:

Makeup - When it comes to makeup, Royal United Universe is not a Glam pageant and it is not a Natural pageant, we are an Elegance pageant. That means we want you to enhance your natural beauty without looking like someone else. We should be able to look at your headshot and pageant photos and recognize you walking down the street in jeans and a sweatshirt.

Hair - You have the freedom to do your hair however you like. As long as it is in line with your true self. If you love Big Hair, make it Big, if you love extensions, use them, if you don't ever use products and keep your hair natural, then style it in a way that is appropriate for each area of competition. Extensions, Big Hair and over the top hair styles are not required - We want you to be real and true to yourself while looking elegant and Royal!

PHOTO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Photos should have a plain background and be in JPG or PNG format 1000x1000 Pixels no larger than 25mb.

All Divisions (excluding Royal Couple)

Required Photos:

2 Headshots (not Judged)
2 Fun Fashion - full length
- Only 1 outfit will be submitted
- 1 waist high and up
- 1 full length
3 Formal Wear
- 1 full length front view
- 1 full length back view
- 1 pose of your choice

Royal Couples ONLY

4 headshots
- 1 each individually
- 2 as a couple
3 Fun Fashion - should showcase unity and personal style at the same time.
- 1 waist-high and up as a couple
- 2 full length as a couple
4 Formal Wear
- 1 each full length individually - front view
- 1 each full length individually - back view
- 1 full length couple
- 1 pose of your choice as a couple

VIDEO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VIDEO SUBMISSIONS COMING APRIL 2026

Fun Fashion All Divisions

FUN FASHION video requirements:

Length Requirement: between 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
- videos over 1 1/2 minutes or under 45 seconds will have point deductions.
Show your best Fun Fashion Runway Walk
- Routine should include at least 3 poses: back of runway, end of runway and finish with on at back of runway.
- Make sure your lighting is good and we can see your whole outfit and facial expressions.
- Camera should be toward the end of the runway
- Video should be clear and good quality
- Lastly, make sure to have FUN - This is Fun Fashion after all!
ROYAL COUPLES:
- Video Length can be up to 2 1/2 minutes
- Create a Routine that includes both of you, showcase individuality and unity.
- Have Fun and showcase your partnership.

Video submissions should be between 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Showing your best formal wear runway walk.

Formal Wear All Divisions

FORMAL WEAR video requirements:

Length Requirement: between 1 1/2 TO 2 minutes
- videos over 2 minutes or under 1 minute will have point deductions.
Show your best Formal Wear Runway Walk
- Routine should include at least 3 poses: back of runway, end of runway and finish with on at back of runway.
- Make sure your lighting is good and we can see your whole outfit and facial expressions.
- Camera should be toward the end of the runway
- Video should be clear and good quality
- Formal Wear runway should show elegance, poise, and Royalty.
ROYAL COUPLES:
- Video Length can be up to 3 minutes
- Create a Routine that includes both of you, showcase individuality and unity.

SUBMISSIONS

SCHEDULING

OPTIONALS

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS

Submit Headshots, Fun Fashion and Formal Wear Photos.

Photos should have a plain background and be in JPG or PNG format 1000x1000 Pixels no larger than 25mb.

Interview and Impact Statement

Interviews and Impact Statements will be held Live on ZOOM. Attire should be fashion forward and Interview worthy.

Interview and Impact Statement Schedule Opens 1 month prior to pageant date.

Volunteering with Childrenjpg_edited.jpg

Optional Competition

Submit Optional Competition photos, videos and forms below.

Not sure what to submit?

Check out the Optionals Page under PAGEANT INFO for details.