You wake up when you want at the hotel and hopefully your roommate and you have talked about it beforehand so one is not loudly getting ready when you're still sleeping. Do what you need to do but you'll probably have to be ready (in curlers, maybe cocktail dress, make-up 100% done) including eating. We didn't have enough buses so we spent a lot of time in the lobby but that's okay. We got to know each other better and on Day 2 with all the stress wanting to know the top 20 and the unknown you need to find distractions, like talking to all of the amazing women there!
We had rehearsals that morning to practice our parades and what do when people were announced and are the top 20. I was a practice top 20 which was nice to pretend for the morning :) Afterwards we waited while things got set up, ate lunch, we nervous! It was a perfect selfie opportunity! Then there was the performance! We were flawless or it felt like it! It was so exciting to hear my dad whoop when I announced my title. There is nothing like being confident on stage and hearing a the cheers from those that mean most to you. Then Top 20 was announced and as much as I wanted to be Top 20 I also knew that it wasn't going to be me. I had so much to learn and grow to be up there with those amazing women. I was incredibly proud to see all the women I had met and talked with about their accomplishments and admired their poise and confidence be announced. |
The rest of the show was a blur because it didn't particularly matter so personally anymore what happened. I just enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement. I walked confidently on stage as I twirled in my bikini and smiled with joy as I glided in my evening gown. I was sad to know that my dad came for pretty much nothing. It was thrilling watching the finalists compete. In the down time I just hung out and took pictures with the rest of that weren't going through crazy finals moments.
After a judging break we all went back on stage and my feet were fine (thank god for my kitten heels!). Even I was racked with nerves as I watched them call out Top 5 and eventually the winner!
The whole time I couldn't figure out how I felt about the whole pageant scene. I was upset I didn't make it farther (although understanding) and felt like I could have gotten so much more out the experience than I had. After deep consideration I realized I was disappointed that I didn't do better for myself and that being on stage was wonderful and I loved celebrating womanhood, my success, and every woman! Pageants may seem archaic (the bikini portion, let's be real...) but what other opportunity do we have to be so glamorous other than our wedding day? I can't wait to do another pageant and already have big plans!
After a judging break we all went back on stage and my feet were fine (thank god for my kitten heels!). Even I was racked with nerves as I watched them call out Top 5 and eventually the winner!
The whole time I couldn't figure out how I felt about the whole pageant scene. I was upset I didn't make it farther (although understanding) and felt like I could have gotten so much more out the experience than I had. After deep consideration I realized I was disappointed that I didn't do better for myself and that being on stage was wonderful and I loved celebrating womanhood, my success, and every woman! Pageants may seem archaic (the bikini portion, let's be real...) but what other opportunity do we have to be so glamorous other than our wedding day? I can't wait to do another pageant and already have big plans!