Below are the rules for Sunshine Productions Natural Pageants only.

Preliminary Age Divisions:
0-18 Month Girls
19-35 Month Girls
3-4 Year Girls
5-6 Year Girls
7-9 Year Girls
10-12 Year Girls
13-17 Year Girls
18-27 Year Women

Talent Age Groups:
6 and under
7-12 Years
13 Years and up

National Age Divisions:
0-23 Months
2 Years
3-4 Years
5-6 Years
7-9 Years
10-12 Years
13-17 Years
18-27 Years

The most asked question that Donna receives is "What do the Judges look for". Below you will find the "Judges Instructions". This is what each judge receives at every pageant as a guideline in choosing a Sunshine Winner!

This is an Equal Opportunity pageant system. Race, handicap, or nationality is not to be discriminated against. Children should be judged on facial beauty, poise, personality and appropriate dress.

Beauty Competition:
These contestants should be judged on facial beauty, poise, personality and appropriate dress. Appropriate dress is Sunday Best Dress for Ages Birth - 9 Years. Please read below the specifics on attire. DO NOT PICK A CHILD THAT IS WEARING GLITZ PAGEANT CLOTHING. (no rhinestones allowed on children under the age of 10 years old). Absolutely no make-up is allowed on children under the age of 3. A contestant may wear age appropriate jewelry. Contestants in the 3-9 year division may wear LIMITED makeup (blush, lip gloss or light lipstick and light mascara no eyeshadow). Contestants in the 10 and up age groups can have full makeup.

The dresses must be TEA LENGTH OR SHORTER for ages 6 and under. Any contestant that wears a long dress will be given a zero in attire. All dresses for ages 6 and under must be above the ankle and the shoes must show. Contestants 7-9 may wear long dresses. NO RHINESTONES, (NOT EVEN ONE STONE. No dresses that are covered in pearls, sequins or glitter, but they may wear dresses with pearls, sequins or glitter, but limited. Contestants 9 years and younger may wear limited beads and sequins. This is a natural pageant. Contestants 10 years through 12 years may wear long dresses with LIMITED stones. They may have sequins, beads, and glitter on the dresses. The contestants in the 13 and up age groups may wear long formal stoned, beaded, sequined and glittered dresses only in the beauty competition. No splits above the knee on any child and no low cut dresses. Dresses may be backless, but within good taste.

SHOES: I suggest that all girls from 0-9 years old wear white Mary Jane shoes or shoes that match the dress. NO HEALS over 1" on children 0-9 years old. Also, on girls 10-17 they should wear white, beige or taupe shoes or shoes that match the dress. This is just my personal opinion and I would not suggest the clear heals for any age.

Casual wear, sleepwear should not have rhinestones, beads, glitter or sequins in any age division.> ABSOLUTELY NO FAKE EYELASHES AND NO FAKE FINGERNAILS. The 13 and up age groups may have fake fingernails. Fake tans are allowed but only if they look natural. No orange or streaked tans. Contestants will be scored accordingly if they do not look natural. You don't want your child to be too dark.

NEW RULE ON FAKE HAIR: A contestant may wear hair pieces but ONLY due to medical reasons. A letter from her doctor on the physician's stationery must be given at registration. I will need the phycian's phone number, address, description of medical condition and dated within one week of the pageant date. If not given at registration then they are not allowed to wear the hair. I REPEAT....THIS IS ONLY IN THE CASE OF SOMEONE LOSING THEIR HAIR DUE TO Chemo Therapy or Radiation. This is not the case if your child just has not grown hair yet. THIS WILL BE STRICKTLY ENFORCED!!!!!

HAIR EXTENSIONS: Contestants 10 years old and up my wear "SEWN IN" hair extensions. These MUST BE SEWN IN!! No other type of extensions. NO fake hair pieces at all!!!! No falls, cascades, scrunchies, etc. on any age group. Only the contestants 10 years old and up. THIS WILL BE STRICKTLY ENFORCED!!!! CASUAL WEAR, SLEEPWEAR:
Every pageant will have one or two of these categories. No pageant will have all of them. These outfits may be custom made or off the rack. However, they MUST NOT have rhinestones, beads, glitter, bangles or sequins. Nothing that is shiny. They can have all the bows, ribbons or ruffles they want. PROPS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. These categories are judged on the creativity of the outfit, appropriate fit and personality of contestant.

COSTUME WEAR/HOLIDAY WEAR (either regular costume, storybook costume, valentine costume or patriotic wear): This category is a little more flashy. Contestants may wear rhinestones, sequins, beads, glitter, feathers, fur, etc. Also, contestants my wear makeup to complete the costume, such as clown painted face, cats whiskers, etc. and wigs to complete the costume.

Remember, they are just children and they will cry, be bashful, suck their thumb and have scratches and bumps. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A MANIKIN OR POLISHED MODEL. THERE IS NOT A SCORE FOR MODELING OR GOING TO THE RIGHT X. We are looking for the "GIRL NEXT DOOR" and a confident young woman.

PHOTOGENIC:
Do not judge the photographer....only the child. Pick a child that the camera loves. A child you would expect to see in a print advertisement. Photos may be snapshot or professional photos. Enhancements are allowed, but remember this is a natural pageant system and we are not looking for children that look 21 years old or full glitz photos.

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT PHOTOGENIC: We are looking for your child in a print advertisement. Be creative. Go to your favorite magazine or television advertizement and re-create that advertizement with your child as the star! You must be advertising a specific product. So make sure that the product is visible and when you look at the advertizement you know what is being advertized. These photos can be snapshot or professional. Each contestant will be on stage approximately 30-60 seconds individually. In beauty, after each contestant has been judged individually there will be a final line-up. During the lineup judges are to choose the prettiest eyes, prettiest smile, prettiest hair, best personality and best dressed. In casual wear, sleepwear, patriotic wear or costume wear there will not be a final lineup.

TALENT COMPETITION:
Talent competiton can be one of the most enjoyable events. As always, we are so proud of all our boys and girls who love to perform. We encourage them to expand on their strengths and strive to reach their dreams. If they "DARE TO DREAM" we want to provide a way to "REACH FOR THE STARS"!

Any type of talent is allowed (without the use of knives, fire, or skateborading acts). Many of the boys and girls are probably experiencing their very first time on stage performing. One of the greatest joys I have as a director is to watch these young people develop their talent skills and improve rapidly! The judges will be critiquing these young people on their performance by making comments and considering the following categories:

QUALITY OF TALENT - (voice or instrument on key, difficulty of dance or twirling routine, memorization of words, difficulty of gymnastics or lyrical dance, etc.) TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY - (performance too simple or too difficult, vocal range, etc.) This is scored according to their age. A 3 year old will not be as advanced at a 6 year old, a 7 year old will not be as advanced as a 12 year old. It is very important to look at the contestant’s age. It is better to have a routine simple that is performed well than to have technical difficulty and not performed well. CHOICE OF MATERIAL - Consider the actual musical choice, dance style, narration, etc. Is the material age appropriate and/or within their ability and range for their age. COSTUME/APPEARANCE - Consider the attire and personal appearance for their performance. This is NOT a beauty score - instead it is the appropriateness of whatever they are wearing for this type of talent act. Makeup is allowed for talent contestants.

OVERALL TALENT PERFORMANCE - Children are encouraged to develop their creative sides! As they perform, look for the way they are using various types of creativity and encourage them with your comments. After watching this performance, consider how this child has developed their talent skill, the degree of difficulty of the act for the child's age, the general reaction of the audience watching, etc. Did the child appear to actually enjoy performing?

Most Important: Enjoy these Future Stars. I may be introducing the next "American Idol" to you!

NOTICE TO ALL PARENTS:
IF A CONTESTANT IS WEARING ANYTHING AGAINST THESE RULES THEY WILL BE GIVEN ZEROS IN ATTIRE OR OVERALL APPEARANCE WITH NO REFUND.

SCORE SHEETS: If you would like to have your child's score sheets, please mail a self address, stamped (with $.74 postage for prelims and $1.48 postage for nationals) envelope. The envelops must be no smaller than a 5x7 envelop. Please include your child's name and age group. I will mail the score sheets to you. DO NOT ASK FOR YOUR CHILD's SCORES TO BE EMAILED TO YOU. You MUST send in the self address stamped envelop. I will not give the master score sheets as this is private for each contest. If you want your child's scores given to others, please send written consent. You may mail your request for scores to:

Sunshine Productions
PO Box 331247
Nashville, TN 37203