Pageant Prep: The Best Little Rock Businesses for Beauty Queens

November 7, 2023 - Rhys Branman, MD

Young woman getting her makeup done in preparation for an Arkansas beauty pageant

Dr. Rhys Branman and our team at Cosmetic Surgery Center have sponsored the Miss Arkansas pageant for the past 37 years, and we are passionate about both supporting young women’s educational journeys and helping patients feel like pageant queens.

But we’re not the only folks in town who know about glamour and grace! Whether you are a pageant contestant looking to refine your presentation or simply in need of a confidence boost, there are several local Little Rock businesses offering top-tier beauty and wellness experiences served with charming Southern hospitality. Below, we highlight some of our favorites.

Get Glammed Up

Pageant winners are well-known for maintaining a refined and groomed appearance year-round; you can count on the following Little Rock salons for custom hair, makeup, and nail services to help you look polished for your next event.

Hair

Caracalla Salon
Scarlet Salon
The Fix Salon

Nails: Ethereal Spa

Lashes:

Bloom Salon – Ashley Swain
Sunlimited – Bailey Griffin

Spray tan:

Airbronze – Megan Torres
Sunlimited – Becky Christman

Become a Style Icon

Little Rock is home to many stylish stores and luxury boutiques offering trending clothing and unique accessories to help you embrace your inner fashionista. As a beauty queen, you’ll want to have options for all occasions, from eye-catching casual wear to sophisticated evening attire. It’s easy to create a personalized and professional look with these fashion-forward boutiques where friendly staff members will help style you from head to toe.

Strike a Pose

A pageant queen’s fans are always eager for new social posts! Thankfully, our city is full of charismatic backdrops where you can showcase your latest look while highlighting local scenery. Hire a professional photographer, or simply invite a friend to capture scroll-stopping content for your social feed or your new headshots. The following Little Rock locations are perfect for your next mini photoshoot:

(Want more? Check out our past post on the city’s most Instagrammable photo spots.)

Dine Like Royalty

Little Rock is known for its vibrant food scene, offering an array of restaurants with cuisine from both our local region and around the world, so let your taste buds rejoice and indulge in a culinary experience fit for a queen.

The restaurants below feature healthy menu options that are packed with nutrients to support your well-being.

Brave New Restaurant is a renowned fine dining establishment in Little Rock offering a blend of contemporary American and international cuisine that overlooks breathtaking views of the Arkansas River.
Cache is known for its upscale ambiance and New American cuisine, showcasing a creative menu that highlights seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Kemuri blends traditional Japanese cuisine with Southern flavors, featuring a menu that includes sushi, hibachi-grilled dishes, and creative fusion offerings.
The Pantry Crest is known for Czech and German classics but also amazing and healthful salads, sides and flatbreads. They’re also vegetarian and gluten-free friendly!

For a bit more indulgence, check out these fine dining establishments:

Work it Out

It’s no secret that pageant queens must prioritize their physical health and fitness. They typically maintain a healthy lifestyle through a dedicated exercise routine, including anything from yoga to marathoning. The following gyms and studios can help support a positive body image and boost your confidence:

Full Out Barre specializes in barre workouts with classes that combine elements of ballet, Pilates, and strength training to provide a full-body workout that improves strength, flexibility, and posture.
The Pilates Studio is the first and only traditional pilates studio in Central Arkansas. Located in Prospect Terrace, it offers a light and bright space equipped with certified instructors and a variety of equipment for group and private classes.
Zenstudio is a boutique fitness studio in Little Rock that offers a variety of mind-body classes, including yoga, barre, and indoor cycling. They aim to create a welcoming and serene environment where individuals can find balance, strength, and relaxation through their diverse class offerings.

Give Back

True beauty queens are not only admired for their physical beauty, but also for their kind and compassionate hearts. They use their platform for good, serving as ambassadors, role models and leaders in their communities. Consider volunteering with one of these local non-profits to spread kindness and make a positive impact in Little Rock and beyond:

Want to put yourself out there even more? Keep your eyes peeled for unique charitable events and galas that will allow you to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant social scene while making a difference and inspiring others.

Cultivate Congeniality

Pageant queen contestants must invest a lot of time and effort to present their best selves to the audience, which undoubtedly requires a lot of commitment, dedication, and self-work on both the outside AND inside.

One key aspect of pageant success is in maintaining an admirable character, friendly demeanor, and positive attitude. The best beauty queens are interesting, engaging, approachable, and easy to talk to. They have a welcoming presence, gaining trust easily and making people feel comfortable around them.

To embody a true winning spirit aim to practice the following interpersonal “soft skills” when out and about in public:

Engage in upbeat and open conversation with others
Connect with diverse audiences
Practice active listening and empathy
Express yourself clearly through verbal and nonverbal communication
Uphold high moral and ethical standards
Demonstrate personal integrity and honesty
Embody teamwork and sportsmanship
Be flexible and adaptable to all situations

Need practice? If you desire support or training in any of these areas, consider joining your local Rotary club, signing up for Toastmasters, or looking into a personal development coach.

Pamper Yourself

Wrap up your “Queen for a Day” experience by indulging in rejuvenating and luxury aesthetic treatments. Unwind, relax, and let the skilled professionals at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center and Exhale MedSpa work their magic, leaving you feeling refreshed and radiant.

We’ll put the finishing touches on your beauty queen look with our award-winning skin and spa services, including:

Neurotoxins to relax frown lines and more, including Botox and Dysport
Dermal fillers to add volume to lips and cheeks, including Juvéderm, Voluma, Restylane, and Revance RHA Fillers
Skin boosting and perfecting options including Microdermabrasion, Ultherapy Skin Tightening, Sofwave, Laser Skin Resurfacing, and Skinpen Microneedling
Laser Hair Removal, Waxing & Tinting to help you maintain a smooth, refined look
Ways to refresh your glow including Chemical Peels, Micropeels, Dermaplaning HydraFacial MD, and custom medspa facials
Lash-boosting magic with Latisse

If you’re seeking a more lasting transformation, we also offer the following surgical procedures:

Breast enhancement, including Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction, and Breast Surgery Revision
Body contouring including Liposuction, VASER Lipo, Tummy Tuck, Mommy Makeover, and Body Lift
Facial rejuvenation via Facelift, Brow Lift, Neck Contouring, or Eyelid Surgery
Facial shaping procedures such as Rhinoplasty, Chin Surgery, Ear Surgery, and Cheek Enhancement
And Fat Transfer for shaping almost any area, from head to toe!

Little Rock’s favorite cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Rhys Branman, and his expert medical aesthetics team are ready to help you channel your inner “Miss Arkansas.” Contact us online today or give us a call at (501) 227-0707 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We can’t wait to help you reveal a fresh, new look!

Remember, true beauty lies within, but with a touch of finesse, and the right local support team, you can conquer the world—just like a real beauty queen!