Exploring Life & Business with Vanessa King of Queen Nefertiti Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa King.

Vanessa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I competed in my first two pageant competitions in 1978 and 1980. I took a long break and began competing again in 1999 and won my first national pageant title in 2002. In 2003, one of the pageants I had competed in needed a director for Ohio and asked if I could have the position and was accepted, beginning my journey as a pageant director. I began getting offers to direct other pageants and began directing multiple pageants in 2009. In 2010, I decided to bring all my pageants under one umbrella and named my pageant business Queen Nefertiti Productions LLC.

After a major disagreement with the owner of one of the pageants I was directing, I resigned as their state director. One of my pageant contestants suggested that I should start my own pageant system since I had been competing in and directing pageants for several years. In 2011, I created and founded Ubuntu Pageants International.

Since becoming involved as a pageant director, I have received recognition in the Columbus community for my work in pageantry. I received the “Jewel Award” from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter, for outstanding service in the performing arts. I have also received recognition from local and state government officials, including Governors, Mayors, and the Ohio Senate. In addition, I have been recognized in several editions of “Who’s Who in Black Columbus” for my work in pageantry and my community service.

I currently serve as a member with the Junior League of Columbus, where I am a first-year active member (beginning my second year with the League). For my new member year (first year), I served as a member of the Planning Committee for the Kelton House Gala. This year, 2022-2023, I am serving as the Coordinator for In-Kind Sponsorship and as a member of the Nominating Committee to help select Board Members and Members of the Management Council for 2023-2024.

In June 2022, I decided to dissolve my LLC and create a non-profit organization, Queen Nefertiti Productions Inc. Queen Nefertiti Productions is now a 501(c)(3) charitable organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. We currently have seven pageant systems, including the one I founded, on the state, national and international levels that we operate. We will now be awarding scholarships to our pageant winners to assist them in paying for their education at a 4-year or 2-year educational institution and provide grants to those wanting to become business owners or expand their current business.

I still compete in pageants when I can find time and recently won my first international title, Classic Regal World 2022-2023, in July 2022, a pageant system based in the United Kingdom. I also judge other pageant competitions.

Many people ask why I spend money on competing in and directing pageants. Being involved in pageantry is not about wearing the crown, it is about the community service you do. Having a pageant title is a job. You become the spokesperson for the pageant you represent them, you speak on their platform, and you also speak on your personal platform. You aren’t just a pretty face wearing a crown. I have had several young ladies who have won my pageants who have gone on to start a business, start their own nonprofit organizations, run for political office, become attorney and doctors, and who are still active members of their communities. They learned skills such as interviewing, poise, speaking, sales, all things they need in everyday life. Sometimes it may be a struggle to be successful, but the outcome makes it well worth it!

I am also an Ohio-licensed wedding officiant, but I’ve yet to perform a wedding ceremony, a published international best-selling author, and a Christian Mental Health Coach.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. It takes a lot of funding to operate a pageant business. Sometimes it is difficult to get contestants, sponsors and even a hotel or other venue to hold your pageant competition. There are a lot of other pageants that you must compete with, and people tend to gravitate towards the larger pageants that have major corporate sponsors. You need upfront funding to cover advertising, a deposit or full rental fee for your venue, and other production costs. You may expect to have a certain number of contestants and guests and fall short on funding, and must downsize or cancel your event, which causes you to lose deposits that you have made. You even sometimes must use personal funds to cover your expenses.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Queen Nefertiti Productions Inc.?
As mentioned previously, Queen Nefertiti Productions Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that produces pageant competitions. We currently produce the Miss Black Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant, Ubuntu Pageants International, the Ms. Ohio Senior America Pageant, the Ohio American Women Pageants, Teen Universe Ohio Pageant, Hope Journey Pageants USA and Canada, and the Ohio American Royal Miss Pageant. I began producing pageants in 2003, brought the pageants under an LLC in 2010, and then create the nonprofit organization in 2022. We provide scholarships to our winners to continue their education or start or expand their own businesses. We pride ourselves in producing events that the entire family can enjoy.

We have competitions for girls and women ages 0 and up and one pageant that includes boys and men ages 2 and up. Some of our pageants are ethnic, but the majority are open to anyone who meets our age and resident requirements and to those of all sizes. All our pageants have a focus on community service, some more than others, and some have talent as a required area of competition, some have talent as an optional competition, and others have no talent requirement.

What sets my brand aside from others is that we offer every contestant an opportunity to earn commission on any funding they bring to our pageant through ad sales and sponsorship donations. These funds can be used to cover any outstanding fees to compete in our pageants, and any excess funds puts money back in their pockets! So, everyone has an opportunity to compete in our pageants at no cost if they work hard. We also help our winners to raise funds to cover expenses for the next level of competition that are not covered by them winning one of our titles. We believe in giving back and working together; if you help us, we will help you! This is also what makes me most proud of our brand.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I feel that perseverance, determination, honesty, and love for what I do are important for my success. I have not let anything, or anyone, interfere with my business and always find alternatives. There have been many obstacles along the way, but I’m still standing. Love for what I do drives me to continue and work through to comb back out on top!

Pricing:

• Contestant Entry Fee – $125 to $500
• Pageant Program Book Advertising – $75 to $300
• Sponsorship Fees – $75 to $5,000+
• Pageant Event Tickets – $30 to $75
• Vendor Fees – $50 to $100

Contact Info:

• Website: https://queennefertiti.wixsite.com/queennefertiti
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenNefertitiProductions

Image Credits
Laura Neely
Nicole Bergman