PAGEANT SCAMS

Don't Get Pageant Scammed

Be wary of companies advertising free photo shoots for your pageant or model portfolio, or complimentary makeover portfolios worth lots of money. They are usually cheap marketing ploys by portfolio companies desperate to lure you into a studio where you will spend sometimes over £1,000. Genuine photographic companies will have a good studio, and display all their prices online, and will tell you what you will get for your money.

Work Shops: Although slightly cheaper, workshops – where you are trained with others, are not value for money, as you will be stuck at the back of a large class and not given the time and attention you deserve to ask the questions you need to become truly knowledgeable about the industry. One to one training will ensure that you are given the time you need, with a tutor who will give you their undivided attention, and teach you personally in a safe and secure environment. UK Beauties offers extensive training services, however if you would like to seek alternative training, please do contact us for a list of UKB approved trainers, who will give you the time you deserve, email: info@ukbeauties.co.uk and we will be more than happy to recommend professional trainers who run quality training workshops, are fully CRB checked, and come highly recommended.

Beware of poor imitation watchdog websites: The official watchdog for the British pageant industry is The UK Beauty Pageant Association (UKBPA) which is a registered Trade Mark to UK Beauties Ltd. and is recognised by the industry. In recent years, a number of poor imitation websites have sprung up, claiming to be pageant watchdogs and offering their own training services. Truly independent websites will not run any modelling contests or pageants of their own, or sell products ont heir website, and will be recognised by the industry. Don’t be fooled by these poor imitation websites that claim to be independent industry information watchdog websites: the majority if them run their own pageants, modelling or glamour competitions, and are biased towards certain organisers who they have workedwith in the past. The only two recognised watchdogs are the AMA (Association of Model Agents) and the UKBPA (UK Beauty Pageant Association.). You can view which agencies and pageants are accredited on both websites, which will ensure that you can make an informed choice about the pageants you enter, and model agencies you sign with.

Don’t send any photographs, particularly bikini or lingerie photos, into websites promising prizes and international travel opportunities unless there are genuine contact details posted on the website. You never know who is behind the computer and where the photos may end up!

Don’t part with any money (either to an agency or contest organiser) until you have seen the website, met the organiser/agent, received correspondence from them, or at the very least, viewed their website and contact details. There are a lot of scams out there so don’t get done over!

Use your common sense – if something doesn’t feel quite right, there is probably something wrong, so never discount your intuition, it’s your safety system! If you feel uncomfortable or are placed in a difficult situation, politely but assertively make your excuses and leave – your safety isn’t worth being compromised over a modelling job or pageant.

Be wary of companies advertising free photo shoots for your pageant or model portfolio, or complimentary makeover portfolios worth lots of money. They are usually cheap marketing ploys by portfolio companies desperate to lure you into a studio where you will spend sometimes over £1,000. Genuine photographic companies will have a good studio, and display all their prices online, and will tell you what you will get for your money.

Work Shops: Although slightly cheaper, workshops – where you are trained with others, are not value for money, as you will be stuck at the back of a large class and not given the time and attention you deserve to ask the questions you need to become truly knowledgeable about the industry. One to one training will ensure that you are given the time you need, with a tutor who will give you their undivided attention, and teach you personally in a safe and secure environment. UK Beauties offers extensive training services, however if you would like to seek alternative training, please do contact us for a list of UKB approved trainers, who will give you the time you deserve, email: info@ukbeauties.co.uk and we will be more than happy to recommend professional trainers who run quality training workshops, are fully CRB checked, and come highly recommended.

Beware of poor imitation watchdog websites: The official watchdog for the British pageant industry is The UK Beauty Pageant Association (UKBPA) which is a registered Trade Mark to UK Beauties Ltd. and is recognised by the industry. In recent years, a number of poor imitation websites have sprung up, claiming to be pageant watchdogs and offering their own training services. Truly independent websites will not run any modelling contests or pageants of their own, or sell products ont heir website, and will be recognised by the industry. Don’t be fooled by these poor imitation websites that claim to be independent industry information watchdog websites: the majority if them run their own pageants, modelling or glamour competitions, and are biased towards certain organisers who they have workedwith in the past. The only two recognised watchdogs are the AMA (Association of Model Agents) and the UKBPA (UK Beauty Pageant Association.). You can view which agencies and pageants are accredited on both websites, which will ensure that you can make an informed choice about the pageants you enter, and model agencies you sign with.

Don’t send any photographs, particularly bikini or lingerie photos, into websites promising prizes and international travel opportunities unless there are genuine contact details posted on the website. You never know who is behind the computer and where the photos may end up!

Don’t part with any money (either to an agency or contest organiser) until you have seen the website, met the organiser/agent, received correspondence from them, or at the very least, viewed their website and contact details. There are a lot of scams out there so don’t get done over!

Use your common sense – if something doesn’t feel quite right, there is probably something wrong, so never discount your intuition, it’s your safety system! If you feel uncomfortable or are placed in a difficult situation, politely but assertively make your excuses and leave – your safety isn’t worth being compromised over a modelling job or pageant.