In this video, I elaborate on a question left on my page by Jordan Elizabeth about whether it's preferable to answer multiples judges' repeat question with the same answer, or to offer up some variety.

It's actually quite common to get the same question from more than one judge, especially if your pageant has one-to-one interviews in a round-robin or "speed-dating" style. If you are having a conversation with one person at a time, you're bound to get some of the more common questions, like "What makes you different?" or "What drove you to enter this pageant?" That's because judges are lazy (true) and there's no reason to get creative with questions when a few good ones will do. Strong contenders find a way to impress no matter what the question is.

This format of 1:1 interviews has its advantages. It can be a lot less stressful and give judges a more intimate look at how a contestant carries herself in a more personal setting. But it could also lead to a Twilight Zone effect of feeling like you're having the same Groundhog Day conversation over and over again.

To keep it fresh, I suggest answering open-ended questions with some variety and switching up the anecdotes. For targeted and more specific questions, stick to the same story to reduce complexity and protect your remaining time for other questions.