The crown may be won on stage—but the competition starts long before the lights come up.

For today's pageant queens and contestants, first impressions aren't limited to the stage. Judges, directors, sponsors, followers, media, and fans are seeing contestants online long before they ever see them in person.

Preparing for a Canadian pageant? Discover why beauty queens should work with a professional photography, creative and makeup team to create powerful, crown-worthy images.