Killing for the Crown

Backstabbing, Bribery and Blackmail Among Beauties

All the information and “how-to”s to help you become pageant-ready before your debut at the pre-pageant party!

A How-To Guide on Winning Pageants

Check out these tips to improve your chances at the competition! (Just for fun, of course!)

How To Look Like Miss America – makeup tutorial

Where to Find That Perfect Pageant Dress for this Beauty Pageant Murder Mystery Game

• Use (or borrow a friend’s) old bridesmaid’s dress

• Scour the second hand shops and garage sales

• Try the clearance racks in a department store right after a high school dance

• Dress up any outfit or gown by adding beading, cording, fancy fabrics, fringe, etc.

• Not the right color? Take a can of spray paint to the dress.

Make Your Own Sash
Directions and templates for your sash. Click Here

Tiaras. Tiaras. Tiaras.

Order a personalized tiara. Click here.
Make your own tiara. Click here. Or here.

In and Around The Party Space
Roll out the red carpet! Nothing but glamour for these beauties!
– Consider adding a banner and/or red rope with stanchions to make it official.
– Where to buy a red carpet.
– How to make red rope with stanchions here.
– Where to buy stanchions with red rope.

• Have your guests enter through a VIP entrance!
‘VIP Entrance’ sign (included with the mystery)

• How about a balloon arch to honor the beauties? It’s easier than it seems!

– How-to make a balloon arch.
– Where to find an inexpensive arch.

• Create a luminary walkway for the guests as they approach the party.

• Download and print off pictures of other beauty queen winners and hang them on the wall. (Included with mystery purchase.)
– For added effect, put them in frames.
– You can spray paint the frames gold for an extra touch!

• Cut or punch out star shapes out of gold or silver cardstock. Hang them from the ceiling with fishing line or create garland by sewing them together.

• Hang signs for the different areas, “backstage,” “judges lounge,” etc. (Included with the mystery.)

• Create a “Pageant Powder Room”.
– Within the powder room, include goodie basket for last-minute touch-ups and freshening up throughout the night. Ideas for items to place in your goodie basket: body glitter, hairspray, nail polish, glitzy eye shadow, compacts, and costume jewelry (found inexpensively at your local Goodwill or re-sale shop). (Sign for the powder room included with the mystery.)

Give your guests an unforgettable souvenier by setting up a photo area where they can capture a picture of themselves in character.

A few suggestions:

• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make the difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Use props like a red carpet, tiaras, boas, lavish chairs, anything you can think of, to create a staged area for pictures.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone in to the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
— Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
— These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.