Working with Tara Rice as both my pageant director and coach has been an incredibly rewarding and transformative part of my journey. Tara has continually encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, strengthen my confidence, and grow not only as a titleholder, but also as a woman, model, actress, and community advocate. Through competing in her pageants and working with her as a coach, I have gained valuable experience in interviewing, public speaking, stage presence, and representing my platform with greater purpose and authenticity. Her guidance has also helped me further pursue opportunities in modeling and acting and build the confidence to expand professionally beyond the pageant stage. I am proud to be a former Ms. Woman West Coast 2025 titleholder and to have gone on to earn the California state title in 2026.
Along this journey, I have also been honored with the Top Personality of the Year 2026 recognition by America Capital Magazine and nominated for Santa Clarita Valley’s 40 Under Forty for my community involvement and advocacy. Tara’s mentorship has encouraged me to see pageantry as so much more than wearing a crown—it has given me opportunities to grow, build meaningful connections, pursue my goals, and use my voice to make a positive impact in my community. I am incredibly grateful for her continued guidance, belief, and support, and I’m excited to begin my next chapter as Ms. Southern California and represent at the 2027 US Worldwide Pageant.
Alessandra Amato
State Titleholder
“My daughter,
Lana Elise Journet, has had the pleasure of competing in the Miss West Coast Pageant in the Teen division, and Tara Rice has been part of her pageant journey from the very beginning.
Over the years, I have watched Lana grow tremendously in confidence, poise, communication, and her willingness to pursue new opportunities. She has received the Entrepreneurship Award and, most recently, the Community Service Award, accomplishments that reflect Tara’s belief that pageantry is about so much more than crowns. It is also about service, platform, entrepreneurship, public speaking, commitment, and personal growth.
As a director, Tara creates an organized and supportive experience, communicates openly with contestants and parents, and is genuinely invested in the women participating in her pageants.
As a coach, she is incredibly thorough. Her coaching includes interview preparation, walking patterns, poise, stage presence, wardrobe, shoes, posing and more. No detail is too small for Tara’s attention. She also teaches young women to be thoughtful about how they represent themselves, including their social media presence. What I appreciate most is that Tara encourages authenticity and helps each young woman embrace what makes her unique while becoming more confident in who she is.
Then comes the glow-up. Each time Lana steps onto the stage after working with Tara, I see the growth. She is more polished, poised, and confident, but she is still unmistakably Lana.
I have also watched those skills extend far beyond pageantry, helping Lana get accepted into her dream college, landing her modeling jobs and scholarships.
Just as important to me as a parent is Tara’s character. She leads with transparency, professionalism, integrity, strong ethics, and respect, while holding the young women in her care to high standards and encouraging them every step of the way. Her coaching is honest and uplifting, and when correction is needed, it is given with kindness.
I would confidently recommend participating in a pageant directed by Tara. The lessons and skills Lana has gained through her pageant experiences with Tara will stay with forever. I am grateful that Tara has been part of Lana’s journey from the beginning, and we are excited for Lana to continue that journey as she looks forward to participating in the inaugural 2027 US Worldwide Pageant.
Katrina Carter-Journet
Proud Mom of Lana Elise Journet
I have had the pleasure of working with Tara Rice as a Makeup & Hair Artist since 2015, and it has been an incredible experience throughout the years. I have had the opportunity to work with her on many of her different pageant productions, and she is truly one of the most professional, organized, and dedicated pageant directors I have worked with.
Tara has an exceptional ability to create a professional and positive environment for everyone involved. She is highly organized, communicates clearly, and puts tremendous effort into making each production successful. Her experience as a pageant director and coach really shows in the way she prepares and supports her contestants.
I have always enjoyed being part of her productions and appreciate the trust she has placed in me as a Makeup & Hair Artist over the years. Tara is not only a great director and pageant coach, but also someone who genuinely cares about her contestants, her team, and the quality of every production.
After working with Tara since 2015, I can confidently say that she is a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to continuing to be part of her pageant productions for many years to come!
Celebrity Hair & Make Up Artist
Reyna Khalil
Being part of the Miss West Coast and Miss California pageants has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. For a decade, I have had the privilege of serving as a judge, sponsor, and supporter under Tara Rice’s direction. This experience has allowed me to meet contestants of different ages and witness them build confidence, discover their voices, and develop their potential.
What inspires me most is seeing how they turn their platforms into action. Beyond what they share during an interview, their dedication, consistency, and community involvement reveal the depth of their commitment. Watching them serve, raise awareness, and support others demonstrates the leadership and compassion they bring to society.
As a judge, I approach this role with care, discernment, and impartiality. Evaluating a contestant means considering her stage presence alongside her character, values, education, and the consistency between her words and actions. Selecting someone to wear a crown and represent California on a national stage requires recognizing a woman prepared to embrace that responsibility with integrity, purpose, and a commitment to service.
The professionalism, ethics, and transparency with which Tara Rice directs her pageants deserve my respect and recognition. Her commitment is reflected in an environment that equips contestants to grow, mature, and become more attuned to the needs of those around them.
I feel deeply fortunate to support these journeys and witness the growth and accomplishments of so many contestants who, with their families’ support and Tara Rice’s guidance, have reached new milestones in their personal, academic, and professional lives, as well as in pageantry. Tara is a woman who inspires through her example, leads with integrity, and encourages each contestant to believe in her potential and move forward with determination. Being part of this process has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.“A crown finds its true value when the woman who wears it leads by example and leaves a lasting impact through service.”
Olga Vargas
Judge & Sponsor
I have competed in many different pageant systems and I've always come back to compete for Tara! As a director, she dedicates so much
time to each contestant to ensure every competitor feels comfortable and confident on stage and after competing in her system. And she does this for ALL contestants!! As for her queens, she has connections with incredible sponsors and resources to best prepare her state titleholders for top placements at Nationals! Not only is she one of the best runway and interview coaches herself; she obtains sponsorships from makeup teams, hair salons, med spas, acting and modeling schools, photographers, and many others who provide discounted or free services to ALL who participate in her system! Tara is so genuine and really works hard to give her girls the best of the best. Her productions and events are always timely, organized, and beautiful! She provides everything a girl could need to be able to confidently compete in a pageant for the first time or the 10th time - from headshot styling and photo including hair and makeup, gowns, and jewelry (just for signing up!), to runway coaching, wardrobe selection, platform development, interview prep - Tara is supportive far before and far beyond pageant day and I truly value having her as a role model and mentor! I have grown so much through competing in her system and learned so much from her. If you want to truly get the most out of a pageant experience,
I will always recommend Tara and West Coast Pageant Productions to any age.
Shelby Waldron
Inaugural National Titleholder