What can I do to improve stage presence?

How to win a pageant with a dramatic stage presence?

• So I'm in a Miss Local's Outstanding Teen Pageant, and I'm singing I Dreamed a Dream dor Les Miserables. This one girl beat me first to second runner up in the last oine, and I'm a little worried about her as competition. She is singing Run This Town by Lucy Hale. Talent is one of my stronges areas of comoetition, and I need to score very high, Now I am a much better singer than her (not trying to be vain, just trying to give an idea of the situation) but I am a classically trained vocalist. She has this stage presence that judges love. I have to sing slow songs because thats just the way my voice sounds best. So I'm already using my hands and walking around a little bit, and putting tons of emotion in my face and voice. I have a very elegant dress and sparkly acessories. My voice is good enough to win, so I have the singing part down (that song is very easy for me), but how could I improve my presence?

• Answer:

  If your voice really is that great, you shouldn't be limited to slow songs honestly. Your voice would sound good no matter what you sang (Youtube: girl who can sing the alphabet). However, if you are most comfortable with slow songs, figure out the meaning of the song, before singing it. Sit down, dissect the lyrics, and watch the show Les Miserables (if you have not already). Figure out why the character is singing, what she wishes for, why this is, her hopes, her background, anything you can figure out about her; to let you know what is motivating her to sing. Then, you just feel the character. You can easily bring an audience to tears if you just let the character of the song come out (still maintaining control with singing of course!). Best of luck :)