1. EXQUISITE POISE By Carli Eubanks, per. 3, 11-16-11

2. When I was a young girl I would watch America’s Next Top Model every night with my mom. Tyra Banks was my hero and I always knew I wanted to be a model from the day I started watching America’s Next Top Model.

3. One summer when I went to check the mail there was an envelope with my name on it. When I opened it I saw that it was an invitation for me to audition to be in a beauty pageant. I was so excited, I begged my mom to let me go until she finally agreed to take me.

4.  When we arrived at the pageant I was extremely nervous. I had spent an hour picking out my dress and getting ready. I felt ugly compared to all the other girls they were so much prettier than I was.

5. I felt ashamed that I had even entered the pageant try outs everyone else was so beautiful and intimidating. When I finally built up the nerve to talk to the girl who was sitting next to me she actually said she liked my dress. I was so happy she liked my dress that I had a giant grin on my face up until we had to go to our interviewers.

6. When it was time for the interviews I sat down at a round table that one of the woman was sitting at it. She asked me all sorts of questions with a never ending smile. I couldn’t help but look away I tried to look her in the eyes when I answered her but I couldn’t.

7. I answered all the questions I was asked and tried my hardest to keep eye contact. Afterwards we lined up for our pictures to be taken, thankfully my new friend was waiting for me. When it was my turn I had trouble doing the pose the cameraman wanted me to do.

8. About a week later I got a call from the beauty pageant people saying that if I wanted to I could compete in the beauty pageant. I was ecstatic but I had to decide if I should join or not.

9. I had to decide if I wanted to go through the same stress I had that nigh or just forget it and be able to relax. It was a really tough choice because they actually believed in me but then again I didn’t like to be under that pressure.

10. In the end I decided not to be in the beauty pageant it just seemed like to much stress and extra work for me at the time because I was already struggling in math and didn’t need another distraction. I was also too afraid that I would lose.

11. As a result of that day I became more confident in myself. I still practice so that if I ever have the chance do something like that I can. I learned that meeting new people and trying new things is not as scary as most people make it out to be.