Mission: Rip the runway... (Part 3)

Scene III: Game Time!

The final days leading up to the fashion show were kind of rough. The last rehearsal was longer than usual, last minute changes and even last minute model cuts! Being the realist that I am, knowing the nature of business in general, it really didn’t startle me much. Although this was my 1^st modeling experience, I still know that business is business. The good, the glamour, the bad & the ugly… it’s all apart of the business, any business.

I felt I had put my best foot forward with everything expected of me, by me and by the show’s owner & promoter. I was committed to working out a minimum of 3 days a week. My goal was to loose 10lbs & drop back down to 205, meet my required tickets sales by week one, and practice & promote the show to ensure another successful year! When the show is prosperous, we all prosper. I figured if I did everything I set out to do, then regardless of the things I couldn’t control, I would have set the pace for my successful first run. In my mind, I wanted to be the rookie of the year, so that was my mindset & how I approach to my goals.

The week of the show (a month & a half from when we started), I weighed in all week between 203-206lbs. I sold my 20 tickets the first week & went on to sale another 35-40 in the 3 weeks to follow. I felt I was making progress at rehearsals, but there were still some last minute kinks I needed to iron out. Be more relaxed, less-tense and tweak my pose & return sequence. Nevertheless, after all the effort, I was just READY FOR SHOW TIME!

The day of the show we all had to meet at the venue 6hrs before the start. By 3hrs in everyone was hungry, antsy & ready to rip the runway!  An hour before show time, we all got dressed in our designer clothing & waited for our cue. Finally the time came for the guys to line up and prepare to tear down the runway! I was excited & ready to go!! No last minute butterflies or anything, I was just amped up --- until it was my turn to walk out…

…I swallowed once, sucked it up, walked out on that stage and with each step those butterflies fluttered no more! Luckily, I was warned that about potential screams, yells, or comments that I could hear when walking out, because as soon as I made my 12^th step, I could see my mom standing up yelling to the top of her lungs “THERE GOES MY BABY!!! AAHHH!!!” I glanced over and saw my family yelling like the Arsenio Hall audience!!  ..But I proceeded down the runway & didn’t break character! You talking about funny?! After the show I was like “Mom.. You are soooo wild! LOL!”

I went on to grace the runway once more and then just like that, the show was over.  A packed house, a successful 3^rd year & I think I didn’t do too-too bad either. I’m still critical, there were some things I could have done better (and will the next time). But the most important thing I took from the show, other than experience, was a plaque presented to me for the “Rookie of the Year”! I was SO pleasantly surprised! Just to think, those we the exact words that I spoke when starting this mission… “I want to be rookie of the year” – which was all said WITHOUT KNOWING that this was an actual plaque or reward! That was a proud moment and I definitely look forward to the next!!

Much success & thanks to Kenyetta "Sway" Smiley & designer Perry Varner!

..God Bless!