Beauty Queen Makes Pageants Her Business

To , an honorable person does what she says she is going to do.

In October 2011, Shakhawala received the honor of being named second runner-up in  the 2012 Miss New Jersey USA pageant. She also—and she would say more importantly—won a humanitarian award from the pageant for her work collecting 268 coats for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New Jersey.

While competing, the Parsippany resident told judges that she wanted to give back to the community and to serve as a mentor for young women.

Nearly a year later, Shakhawala, now 27, is doing what she said she would do.

In addition to her work serving as a liaison between pharmacies and patients who need medications delivered, she recently started her own enterprise as a pageant consultant.

The business came about, Shakhawala said, during a period when she had aged out of the pageant and needed to figure out what her next step would be.

"I went through a phase where it was, what am i going to do with my title?" she explained, adding that she considered her strengths and interests.

"I was thinking about the things I care about: personal training, my love for pageants and being on stage," Shakhawala said. "Since I can't be in pageants anymore, I thought about pageant consulting."

She went online to research the topic ("What would I have needed if I had had a consultant when I was competing?") and realized that she could make a business out of it. However, she decided to infuse her business with her own priorities and values. 

"I really am not concerned with materialistic things," she said. "This isn't about money as much as it is about diving in to make sure my clients feel comfortable.

"I'm not thinking about my business or what's in it for me primarily, I'm focused on my clients," she said. 

Three months ago, she stopped researching and went to work, opening her Miss New Jersey USA and Miss Teen USA handbooks and emailed everybody in them.

"I said, I am Meghna Shakhawala, I was the 2012 Miss New Jersey 2nd runner-up, and I am here for you," she recalled. "Some girls responded really well, and some said I'm not going to do it this year."

Of course, she went after those who said no and offered some advice.

"Keep in the back of your mind that you're going to age out [of pageants]," she said. "Take every opportunity you can get and go for it."

Shakhawala already boasts a client of whom she said she is extremely proud.

"Her name is Ora Kemp and she is out of Montclair," she said. "She'll be competing for Miss New Jersey USA 2013."

As part of her coaching, Shakhawala said she serves as a mentor, teaching onstage presence and introduction, helping with wardrobe and runway analysis, preparing her clients for interviews.

"I also help them get their sponsorships," she said, noting that this particular service is exceedingly important.

According to Shakhawala, Miss New Jersey USA contestants must raise $1,195 in sponsor money in order to be eligible to compete. That's the primary reason why her fee, which she reveals one-on-one with prospective clients, is "a little expensive."

"They are paying for my contacts and experience in the pageant world and in medicine," which is where many sponsors who "want to help local girls trying to achieve their dreams" can be found, she said. 

As important as getting sponsors, Shakhawala said, is inspiring young women to live up to their civic responsibility.

"I'm really adamant about them doing the coat drive for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, which is Miss New Jersey USA's official charity," she said. "I'm adamant about them giving back. I can't tell them enough how important it is to be an activist in their community, to participate in local activities and to give back to local charities."

Her pageant consulting package also focuses on promoting health of mind, body and spirit, which she said is infinitely more important for a beauty queen than worrying about makeup, gowns and shoes.

"I'm partnered with Aces Boxing Club in Boonton, where they have personal trainer services, and that is a service available for my clients," she said. 

Of course, Shakhawala said she hopes to fulfill personal goals too.

For herself, while mentoring others, she works to improve her own skills by working out and taking a course on television broadcasting in New York City.

Clearly, the work she does on herself is paying off. On July 5, she appeared on ABC-TV's "The Revolution" with Tim Gunn as a model.

And she has her own coach in preparation for a longed-for simultaneous career as a television host or anchor.

"Everyone needs a coach," she said. "I have to pay for it as well."

Shakhawala said she has another goal that fuels her work as a pageant consultant.

"There hasn't been a New Jersey titleholder to win Miss USA," she said. "I want a Jersey girl to win, and I really hope it's one of my clients."

Her message to prospective clients is that one need not be a from-the-womb pageant girl to win the prize.

"I wasn't one of those 'Toddlers and Tiaras' girls, just a normal girl who went to college and finally placed. This is something every girl can do to get herself out there in the community," she asserted.

And Shakhawala said she is convinced that her client Ora Kemp has what it takes to be a winner.

"I hope Ora will do well and then [share her talent and experience] with another girl," she said. 

Shakhawala laughs when it is pointed out that if she gets enough clients following her path of focusing on mind, body and soul and then paying it forward, she could well start a revolution of her own.

"The saying is, you're more likely to have a son play in the Super Bowl than have a daughter compete on stage in Miss USA," she said. "You're really shooting for the stars in this. But if you can't reach the stars,  you'll end up on the moon.

"It's a win-win situation."

Young women interested in seeing if the pageant life and pageant consulting is right for them can reach Shakhawala for a free initial consultation at 973-699-2283.