Contest Packing List

[MeredithB]

I didn't see a thread on this so I thought it might be helpful. I thought it would be nice if there was a checklist for packing when travel to contests posted in here. I have a personal one that I print off and use just to make sure I don't forget anything. I try to pack most thing that I can't buy or that I think would be a pain to try and find if my checked luggage gets lost in my carry on. I pack everything else in checked luggage.

Carry-On
Id/tickets/cell/money
Suits: (One)/two pc & routine or prejudging/night show
Make-up & Vaseline
Bronzing powder
Pro-Tan/Jan Tana
Curl iron
Flat iron
Blow dryer
Hair: Clips, rubber bands, etc.
Jewelery: Earrings, bracelets
False eyelashes
Bikini Bite, adhesive
NPC Card
Camera
Cell phone charger
MP3 player
Resistance bands
Mirror
Routine music (bbing, fitness)
deodorant (I got some fantastic stuff from Jan Tana!)
Cooler w/food in ziplock bags
Vitamins/thermos/etc.

*Make sure anything that is liquid or gel is in a baggie that is to airport standards.

Checked Luggage
Spare towel-dark, face & bath
Spare sheets & pillowcases-dark
Extra sponges
Comfortable clothes - Dark
Comfortable shoes, flip-flops
Make up remover & loofah
Shampoo/conditioner
Hair spray, etc
Sewing kit: thread, needle, scissors, glue, safety pins, extra rhinestones
Nail polish
Plastic container(s) for heating food
Back up suits
Back up routine music
Lotion to even out streaks
Latex gloves
Change of clothes for after the show
Clothes for photo shoots
Razors
Shaving gel

Usually I pack my gym bag essential bag that has things like q-tips, contact lens solution, extra contacts, contact case, toothbrush, toothpaste, rubber-bands, face moisturizer, tweezers, etc in my checked luggage.

Id/tickets/cell/money: I put these usually in a front pocket of the carry on, easy to find. I bring some money to buy water after you get through security

Suits: I like to put mine in big ziplock bags to protect them from anything spilling. Same with any tanning lotions, etc. (I actually put most stuff in baggies. )

Bronzing powder: In case you need to darken your face to match your tan

Comfortable clothing: Make sure it's loose enough so that it doesn't leave marks on your skin or rubs off your tan. Make sure it is NOT a pullover. I made that mistake and was worried about messing up my makeup/hair every time it took it on or off.

Towels: I bring one large and one small. The small one is for when I'm wash my hands, large is for when I shower the tan off.

Spare sheets & pillowcases-dark: The hotels might charge you if you sleep on their sheets with your tan so I bring a set with me. Dark or a set of old sheets can do the trick.

Extra sponges: The ones that come with the tanning product sometimes are not enough and they get raggy after a while. I now look to see if there is someone there doing spray tan, it is soooo much easier!

Resistance band: I bring my own with my name written on it just in case they don't have enough backstage. I don't take it out unless I have to.

Latex gloves: I bring some in case something goes wrong with my tan and I have to fix it. This way my palms don't get black.

Cooler w/food in ziplock bags: I cook, weigh, and package all my food before I go. I also pack some goodies for when I'm done.

Clothes for photo shoots: You never know when you might be approached even if some has already set up a shoot with you.

Camera: We have a pretty nice one that my boyfriend uses in the audience but I also like to bring disposables backstage to take pictures with the people I meet.

Well, that's all I can think of right now. Hope this can help someone. Also if there are other ladies that can think of things that I forgot maybe they'll add to the list.

[Italianangel]

I could have sworn I had posted that here, I wrote an article about it:
My Backstage Bag
I have a few lists I keep for the night before contest. One is a List I make up the day before with all the last minute things I still need done on Friday which are outstanding such as painting toenails (shave, eyebrows, manicure, hair, tan), prepping food to pack for contest day and meeting night, prepping for the contest meeting on Friday night with a list of what to bring, printing of the itinerary and meeting info sheet and so on. And the last one is a list of what to pack Friday night for the morning of contest since I have to stick on nails and do the dream tan the morning of contest leaving me no time for much else. I also like to do my make up the morning before I go, then bring it with me for touch ups. Many times there will not be mirror space so it’s best to come ready.
Your bags’ needs and contents may vary, for example if you wear contacts you need some things I would not be listing or you may have different suit requirements than I do and different color suits most likely. You may have an iPod which I do not but if I did it would be on the list. I use my gym bag but many ladies use suitcases with wheels. I have broken it down into categories:

Hair
Elastics, bobby pins, brush, sparkle hairspray and accessories such as fancy hair comb/barrette to hold an up do or bun. (Some gals bring curlers or straighteners but I think that gets too complicated and takes up too much time.)

Face
Eye shadows, lash glue, glow powder, lip gloss/stick, blush, liner, mascara, shimmer dust and make up brush set.

Body
Spare nails, nail glue, dream tan, latex gloves, bikini bite, earrings and bracelets for rounds which allow jewellery, and posing oil.

Fitness Attire
Competitor button, platform clear heels, 2 pc bikini, fitness routine outfit, socks and shoes. (Props are also in the list if it applies.)

Figure Attire
Competitor button, 2 pc black bikini, 2 pc green bikini, 1 pc blue swimwear, black full heels, and clear figure heels.

Food
Raw almonds, sugarless gum, chocolate for pre stage, banana, yam and a small bottle of water. (Other items I have seen other competitors bring are grilled chicken, booze, rice cakes with honey or peanut butter, oats or oat cakes with peanut butter, distilled water, protein bars and shakes.)

Specialty (Meds and Other Odd Items)
Towels, camera, spare batteries for camera, business cards, cell phone (charged night before), asthma inhaler, Advil migraine, spare safety pins in case of suit issues, backstage pass, spare change/cash, extra CD’s of my fitness routine music ready labelled, itinerary, a highlighter, spare paper or small note book, magazine or newspaper for the waiting times and a pen.


***Don’t forget those competitor buttons you got at the meeting!

[Italianangel]

I like to pack minimal, I usually end up carrying my own bags etc.
Thanks for pointing out that this was not included here, I thought I had posted in a few yrs back but seems I did not.

[MeredithB]

Originally Posted by Italianangel

I like to pack minimal, I usually end up carrying my own bags etc.
Thanks for pointing out that this was not included here, I thought I had posted in a few yrs back but seems I did not.

I'm just so new I didn't find it, I could have accidently overlooked it.

I have a 3 pc luggage set with rollers and I use the smallest for carry on use the cooler as my "purse" and check the largest of the set. On the move the small one can hook to the largest and I can put the cooler on top or carry it like a messenger bag. I just have to make sure the luggage doesn't tip. Oh and I use a small to medium cooler that collapses so that way on the way home I can fold it and put it into the luggage.

I wish I could make myself pack less. I'm a total loser that way. It seems I always pack too much clothes/shoes. I end up in baggy sweats for most of the time anyways. I should learn. Lol!

[Italianangel]

well I think that the variance between lists shows a nice range, we are not all the same as women and how we pack or what we need. We are not all minimal or max.....so this is a good way to cover all aspects between the 2 posts.
Turned out very well and gg should post her lists too! This will help others more as it will apply more widely!
Linda

[Italianangel]

thank liz, forgot, I stuck it, it was in stickies!