Miss Washington is a crazy long day but I'm going to break it down for all of you who want to participate in such a competition.
You arrive really early in the morning. Your face is set and your hair is in curlers. I spent almost 2 hours on my hair and make-up because I'm really inexperienced. I made sure to wear a button up shirt so I wouldn't have to pull it over my head and smear my make-up when it came to get changed and leggings because Day 1 is final rehearsals!
I took a Über to get there on time and I promise you that 9am check in time means, 9am we get started and you should arrive EARLY, I was middle of the pack by arriving around 8:35am. Being there early provides and opportunity to hang out with the girls and if you don't know anyone really you can get to know your pageant sisters! When I arrived, there were girls rolling in their clothes and lining up through the double doors to check in and get started. The check-in process is super simple and we received the program book, cd, and make-up from IT Cosmetics (cruelty free but not vegan).
I was incredible nervous to be there and I wasn't a part of the Facebook group (didn't even know it existed), only went to one rehearsal, so my arrival I felt like a loner. This was okay because it forced me to get out there and literally sit myself in a group of girls I remembered from rehearsals. They were awesome and it was wonderful to talk to others who were obsessed with the pageant like me.
Then there was the first explanation of the day that included parents. It was pretty inspirational and I will keep the message David gave us close by because he spoke the truth very powerfully. The parents didn't quite appreciate it and those stage moms were not inclined to leave easily despite the pageant DIRECTORS giving them a count down to leave, like preschoolers. Afterwords rehearsals started and even with padding in my heels my feet became numb and very quickly. Rehearsals ran so long that I ended up only having about 15 minutes to prepare for my interview!
You arrive really early in the morning. Your face is set and your hair is in curlers. I spent almost 2 hours on my hair and make-up because I'm really inexperienced. I made sure to wear a button up shirt so I wouldn't have to pull it over my head and smear my make-up when it came to get changed and leggings because Day 1 is final rehearsals!
I took a Über to get there on time and I promise you that 9am check in time means, 9am we get started and you should arrive EARLY, I was middle of the pack by arriving around 8:35am. Being there early provides and opportunity to hang out with the girls and if you don't know anyone really you can get to know your pageant sisters! When I arrived, there were girls rolling in their clothes and lining up through the double doors to check in and get started. The check-in process is super simple and we received the program book, cd, and make-up from IT Cosmetics (cruelty free but not vegan).
I was incredible nervous to be there and I wasn't a part of the Facebook group (didn't even know it existed), only went to one rehearsal, so my arrival I felt like a loner. This was okay because it forced me to get out there and literally sit myself in a group of girls I remembered from rehearsals. They were awesome and it was wonderful to talk to others who were obsessed with the pageant like me.
Then there was the first explanation of the day that included parents. It was pretty inspirational and I will keep the message David gave us close by because he spoke the truth very powerfully. The parents didn't quite appreciate it and those stage moms were not inclined to leave easily despite the pageant DIRECTORS giving them a count down to leave, like preschoolers. Afterwords rehearsals started and even with padding in my heels my feet became numb and very quickly. Rehearsals ran so long that I ended up only having about 15 minutes to prepare for my interview!
We did opening number, then swim suits, and then evening gown. There was this weird sense of rushing to get ready for the next event while still having time to relax because there were so many of us (76 in total!). I was number 107 which meant I was right at the beginning of each event, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We didn't know everything and I wish there was documentation of our confused faces as we tried to remember our places for the final walk after evening gown. Luckily, there was also someone there who knew and could give advice and comfort.
At the end of Day 1, we got dressed and waited for the buses to take us home. There were no visits allowed from friends and family except at the hotel lobby. That was for our safety and for fairness. There we roomed with a fellow contestant and it was nice to get to know another person from the pageant as more than just a fellow competitor :)
I only had one problem and that was food. I could eat almost nothing because of my vegan diet. I was reassured that there would be food for me to eat but at dinner on Day 1 that wasn't really the case and I ended up eating a cliff bar and lays potato chips at the hotel for dinner that night. I don't blame the company because I don't think they really knew what it was to be vegan. I should have known from experience to just bring my own food. In fact I strongly suggest bringing your snacks (fruits and veg) for the pageant because meals are long in between because of the amount that has to be done to run the show!