 Dear Diary,Most people
think a beauty pageant is about pretty girls in fancy dresses, with
big hair, but these girls are very tough to compete with. Everyone's
resume lists National Honor Society, scholarship awards, student
government and hours of community service. I already knew most of
the girls from school and around town, but this is the first time
I've seen them in this way. Everyone is so poised and comfortable
speaking on stage.
I'm seeing myself in new ways, too. The pageant is a lot more
work than I expected, and there is so much to remember! I'm doing
well, though, and I can feel my confidence and self-respect growing
at every practice. This competition is about so much more than a
crown to me. Not only does the winner get a scholarship, but being a
Fair Queen is a great selling point to colleges and potential
employers. It tells them this person has competed against the best
of the best and won. We all have a good shot at taking the crown.
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 In spite of that, we aren't super-competitive like the pageant
girls you see on TV. We have a great time together at practices.
I've laughed more in the last few weeks than I have all summer.
There's a lot of great girl-time talking about shoes, gowns and
swimsuits. The pageant has a "Contestant's Closet" stocked with lots
of outfits for pageant competitors, and we've all been able to find
things in it to wear on stage. My parents were certainly glad to
save a little money that way.
With only a few more practices before the competition, I hope
I can learn to remember it all. We've all worked so hard getting
ready for this; I hope the grandstand is packed full of people on
Aug. 4. I'm the most nervous about the pop question and evening gown
competition. After I answer the pop question, I have to walk slowly
in a figure eight. It's very hard to shift from thinking fast to
come up with a good answer and move right into a slow, graceful
walk. I tend to enter my walk way too fast, with my brain still
thinking about my answer. I'll get it right, though. Pageant night
is coming quickly, and I'm determined to enjoy it while it lasts and
do my absolute best.
Logan County Fair Queen Contestant 2009 |
