This past semester, I did something I never thought I would do. I participated in a scholarship pageant. I decided to make senior year a year of trying new things and branching out of my comfort zone.
When I was younger, I watched Toddlers and Tiaras and always wondered what it would be like to be a pageant girl, not knowing I would eventually become one. There are many stereotypical assumptions about pageants especially on HBCU campuses. Some people assume that students who participate in pageants at HBCUs want to pledge Greek organizations because a majority of the pageants are sponsored by Greek organizations. But many people do not realize how it is a journey of self-discovery and helps build relationships with others.
My pageant sisters and I began practicing during fall semester for two to three hours a few nights a week. We learned the basics of how to walk, talk and stand. I personally do not enjoy walking in heels, so it took a lot for me to get more comfortable, although I still have a strong dislike for it to this day.
We did T-stances until our muscles ached and soaked in part of the introductory dance. I didn’t know the other participants very well and it was clear by how silent practice was except for our coaches giving us critiques. But as second semester rolled around, we began to bond through our bumps and bruises from learning the dance, tears through critiques and exhaustion from four-hour practices.
Through it all, we encouraged each other and figured out how we all tick. We heard each other’s introductions so much that we could recite them by heart; we did whenever we saw each other outside of practice.
When we practiced our swimwear routines, we hyped each other up and helped each other out with our dance moves. Even during dress rehearsal, we would do little things, such as tucking in a tag or fixing a stray curl.
The bond my pageant sisters and I created is a bond that I believe will last for a long time. We saw each other in pain and laughs, in tears and goofiness and none of us cared who took the title.
Creating a relationship with these ladies has been one of the best parts of my Hampton experience and I wouldn’t trade any of these girls for anything.
I saw how determined I can be because of this experience. If I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything. I learned how to dance, walked in heels for hours and strutted across a stage in a bikini without being self-conscious of myself or my body.
People may think that pageant girls are self-absorbed and only care about winning. Yet, through this pageant we all wanted to prove to ourselves that we could do it and overcome fears we had within ourselves.
We created a bond that cannot be broken, and I hope that anyone else who participates in a pageant has similar experiences because I was able to add seven more heartbeats to my list. Hopefully, others will be able to do the same. Long live the Tasty 8!