Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Hill.
Hi Annette, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Creating Universal Royalty® beauty pageant came from a place that was very personal to me. I had spent years around pageantry and saw firsthand how much it could impact a child’s confidence and self-esteem. I loved seeing children walk into an event feeling nervous and leave feeling stronger, happier, and proud of themselves. I knew I wanted to create something that was about more than crowns and titles.”
“I wanted families to feel welcomed, contestants to feel celebrated, and children to have a place where they could truly shine and create lasting memories. What started as an idea eventually grew into something I poured my heart into. There were long hours, challenges, and a lot of hard work along the way, but I kept building because I believed in the vision.”
“Today, Universal Royalty® beauty pageant has grown into one of the most recognized televised children’s beauty pageant brands worldwide, and seeing how many lives have been touched through the journey is one of the most rewarding parts of it all.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. Building something from the ground up takes a lot of time, sacrifice, and patience. There were times I had to wear many hats at once, business owner, organizer, marketer, mom, and everything in between. One of the biggest challenges was constantly evolving with advertising and finding new ways to keep growing and reaching families and contestants. The world changes so quickly, and I had to continue learning, adapting, and finding creative ways to keep Universal Royalty® beauty pageant visible.
Bringing television exposure to the brand was another part of the journey. Expanding awareness and creating opportunities for more people to see and experience Universal Royalty® pageant took a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Then COVID brought uncertainty, there were definitely moments I did not know what the future would look like. But I stayed focused, kept pushing forward, and continued building instead of stopping.
I’ve always believed that when challenges come, you either give up or find a way to make it happen and keep moving. One of the things that came out of that mindset was creating my own inspirational song, ‘Make It Happen,’ for Universal Royalty® beauty pageant. It became more than a song, it represented determination, believing in yourself, God and continuing to push forward even when things become difficult. and defiantly a tribute to my Mom Betty Hill who made it happen with four kids and she never gave up.
Looking back now, I realize the struggles didn’t stop my journey, it helped shape it. Every challenge pushed me to evolve, and continue to grow my trademark brand, business and to continue to provide quality professional beauty pageants for children and adults of all ages.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Universal Royalty® is much more than a beauty pageant, it’s a brand and experience built around confidence, memories, and creating opportunities for children and families. While pageants are often associated with crowns and titles, I’ve always wanted Universal Royalty® beauty pageant to be about something deeper. We focus on helping contestants build confidence, talent, step outside of their comfort zones, create friendships, and feel celebrated for who they are.”
Over the years, Universal Royalty® beauty pageant has grown into one of the most recognized televised children’s beauty pageant brands worldwide from right here in Austin, Texas, and I’m incredibly proud of that growth. But what makes me the proudest isn’t the visibility, it’s seeing contestants who once walked onto the stage shy and nervous later grow into confident young people and adults. Watching that transformation is priceless.”
What sets Universal Royalty® beauty pageant apart is the experience and the glitz and glamour atmosphere we create. We want families to feel like they’re part of something special and part of a pageant community, not just attending another event. We continue to evolve, create unique opportunities, and bring exciting experiences through our pageants, television exposure and brand partnerships.
Brand-wise, I’m proud that Universal Royalty® beauty pageant has grown while staying true to its heart for 31 years. We’ve built a recognizable brand, but we’ve also built something that represents encouragement, dreams, and believing in yourself. If there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s that Universal Royalty® beauty pageant is about helping children shine from inside out, creating lasting memories for families, and showing people that sometimes a dream that starts small can grow into something much bigger than you ever imagined.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that surprises a lot of people is when they find out I’m 61 years old. Usually, I get shocked reactions because people don’t believe it. (they think I am a lot younger) I always tell people age is just a number, and I believe in staying active, passionate, and continuing to do what you love. And I still feel like I am 25 in my brain. (hahahaha)
Another thing many people may not know is that I’m also a photographer and own Annette Hill Photography LLC. Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was a little girl. and honestly not much has changed, I still do. (smiling).
I think photography taught me to save life moments. Whether through pageantry or behind a camera lens, I’ve always loved capturing memories, creativity, and the beauty in people’s stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.universalroyalty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universalroyalty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniversalRoyalty
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-royalty-beauty-pageant
- Twitter: https://x.com/urpageants
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UniversalRoyaltyPageant
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/universal-royalty-beauty-pageant-austin-5
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missannettehill
