PPM : How do you feel competing in pageants has helped you get to where you are in business ?
YJC : It has helped me transitioning to a new country , I ’ ve been here going on three years , although I am still learning the language . Competing has helped me get out there and be with different types of people and situations .
PPM : Who helped you prepare the most for your Pageant ?
YJC : Preparing was difficult because my parents were not happy about me competing initially . I prepared for 2 months , which is relatively short compared to the other girls , they usually prepare for two years . The way the Miss Korea pageant system works is you have to win a preliminary , just like Miss California or Miss Ohio . Then all the girls go into a training camp for a month . When I was competing , you had to live with those girls for 25 days . It ' s almost like America ' s Next Top Model where everyone is in the same house . It ’ s very intensive , you wake up at 7 and you start training . You learn how to apply makeup , walk the runway and there ' s a lot of Sponsors for pageants so you must participate in a lot of promotional photo shoots . You must learn all the choreography for the main show and they judge on how all the girls work together as team .
PPM : What are three things you would like for Contestants to take away from this interview ?
YJC : First , always believe in yourself , you must have your own mission . I don ' t think I became Miss Korea based solely on my looks . I became Miss Korea because I interviewed with over 25 judges and the interview process is extremely important in Korea . They judge from the inside , they felt that I could really represent the country as an Ambassador and as a beauty queen . Secondly , think about the longterm not short-term .
So many girls are focused on the title , that they are going to be famous and it ' s going to change their life . It will change your life , but it is up to you how you transform .
That ' s why a lot of girls go through a certain amount of depression after they exit the pageant industry , it happened to me as well . When I gave the crown away , suddenly the media stopped calling . It ' s important to see the long-term picture , what you ' re going to do after the pageant is over . Lastly , appreciate what you have , appreciate your family , your friends , your health , and of course , appreciate the opportunity to compete and all that it can do for you .
Yoon Jin Chang is the Co-Founder , Director of Business Development for LifeSite . Yoon-Jin has been an advocate for technology startups across the globe . Previously she was a partner at Kstartup , the leading accelerator in Korea . She is an advisor , angel investor in Korean startups and a venture partner at Cherubic Ventures . Yoon-Jin has also earned the title of Miss Korea and hosted numerous TV shows and premiere events . Voted 2013 ’ s “ Most Promising Female Entrepreneur ” in Korea , she continues to pursue her entrepreneurship with LifeSite .
6 Pageant Platform Magazine May / June 2018