i find myself thinking quite often about a question tangobaby asked me when she interviewed me last month. she asked, "As a former almost beauty queen from SD, what in your childhood prepared you for your life abroad and your years of travel?" and i gave a rather serious answer about growing up knowing there was an outside world. i think i answered seriously because it was where i was at the moment--the mood i was in. i had a need to take the question seriously. i think part of me is also vaguely embarassed by my whole pageant phase, because it feels so distant from who and where i am now, and so i wanted to put on a serious face about it. but of late, i've been thinking about it again in a slightly more lighthearted way.
things i learned from my pageant experience:
- how to tame my unruly eyebrows.
- judicious application of eyelashes is always a good thing.
- a bit of powder and strategically-placed duct tape can be just as effective as plastic surgery (but not that much less painful).
- i am motivated to exercise by the threat of public humiliation in a swimsuit.
- the art of walking gracefully in high heels.
- no matter how smart you are, no one will realize it if your bleached blonde bangs are hairsprayed eight inches into the air (it was the early 90s) and you're wearing a spangled evening gown.
- it's who you know, not who you are.
- the best person doesn't necessarily win.
- if your dad is a moderately famous democrat in a republican state, you were never going to be miss SD.
now, i realize that not all of these prepared me for my life and travels abroad, but they definitely formed me as a person and the knowledge of 5-8 have served me well. i still use #1 on nearly a daily basis and as for #2, eyelashes are totally back. not much duct tape goes into my dressing these days, but i have it to fall back on, should the need...er...ahem...arise.
thank you, tangobaby, for the interview that keeps on giving. :-)
5 comments:
Tangobaby certainly is a gifted interviewer:) While I really enjoyed your first answer, I must say I enjoy your current lighter view. Good Lessons- I understand how #1 can have more of a profound effect on daily life than one would initially think.
I also have been meaning to tell you that I think having freckles on one side of your face is AWESOME:D
First off, I have to say that not having read your other five posts for February (yes, I suck, I admit it) that I can tell this one is my favorite (I don't know ANYTHING about Albania--yet.)
***
Now that the confessional has taken place, I must beg you to PLEASE PLEASE send me photos of you in the Pageant Phase. I have to see your BANGS. All I can picture is that you looked like Tina Sparkle from Strictly Ballroom.
I also want to hear more about the duct tape and your theories on eyebrows, because I am a staunch supporter of eyebrow grooming.
ps. I think Items 7-9 also apply to the Academy Awards.
pss. I did not know that your dad was moderately famous.
psss. Hi Moonshark! xoxo
This was completely fascinating. I'd never have guessed such a past!
This was great...I could use a little uhhhh guidance in the eyebrow grooming dept. Mine are very light and hard to see, but unruly they definitely are!
I don't like pain...this is my problem.
:)
Duct tape? Where do you put it? can you get flesh coloured duct tape (or as it is known in South Africa...printed on the lables...duck tape). Would you need a parental guidance rating if you explained what you do with it?
Obviously, I was never in a pageant.
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