We tried something new.....

A Pageant.

A Cinderella pageant to be specific.

I honestly didn't know if I would blog this or not. I was not totally thrilled with the whole experience after last Saturday for many reasons. Being new to the entire pageant thing, we really went into it blind. We were under the impressions (from information put out) that you could wear anything in your closet (no fancy stuff) and that it was very friendly to newcomers. We went in with no practice to just have fun and see how she would do.

We definitely learned a lot. We learned that even the three year olds are practiced in how to walk, talk, smile, where to hold your hands, how to stand, and what to say. We learned that I will have to purchase some special items like the white shoes that is apparently an unpublished mandatory item for this age group. And I learned that this is like anything else, softball, soccer, gymnastics, etc. you have to practice, you have to be prepared and you have to be polished and ready to perform and you have to portray your age at the same time. You can't act too grown up.

But I am so proud of my Ladybug for trying it. And I am biased but I do believe she was the most beautiful little girl out there. Although, this padgeant is not based on beauty but personality, interview and poise as well.

Our arrival.
The girls watching the toddlers during their interview/playtime with the judges.
Ladybug getting ready to go in for her interview. She is considered a "tot" which is the 3-6 year old range. You can't tell it here but she was very unsure here. The whole thing was new and there was not much direction given to us from the organization. (Notice the white shoes lol)
But here was her smile when she got out of interview. She was so excited.
And another.
Interview dress.
Lol. Here is how you tie a bow on a girls dress. Once you untie it after you buy a dress, it never really looks the same. Thank goodness for you tube for posting how to tie a bow!
This was her casual wear outfit. She picked it out. But the judges felt she looked "too old" in it??? So we have to go for something younger looking?
My sweetie.

During casual wear you get to introduce yourself and say your name and age.
Daddy's girl.
Daddy and Batman were troopers all day during the event.
We had to compare boo boos while in line. lol.
Getting ready to walk out for formal time.
Pretty feet. We did learn that one.
I thought she looked beautiful.
But apparently, when they suggested something you would wear for Easter or to a wedding, they meant... Please wear a light or pastel colored dress preferably with some embroidery on it and you must wear white shoes and white socks or tights with ruffles. I am sorry I do not own any of those things!


Here she is getting ready for her interview on stage.
A current tot winner walks her out.
Her interview on stage.

I think this was her favorite time. They do a Cinderella dance that all the girls knew and Ladybug loved getting out there and dancing.
Time to bump hips.


And the winners.
She got a trophy. Which she was extremely proud of.
As evidenced by her smile.
Here are all the girls that competed in her age group.
And all the girls that completed that day.

So you want to know how she did.

She officially got 1st runner up to beauty winner. They award a winner in four categories. Overall, personality, beauty and photogenic (based on a photo that you provide.) But that placed her in the category to go to "state" in June.

Two of the girls were what they call "honor roll." They already have a title so they were just there to practice and receive the judges feedback. So that left 5 girls. So basically she came in 5th or last however you want to look at it.

If you ask Ladybug she says she had fun and wants to do it again.

I am struggling with it. I think that it can be a really good thing. There is a lot of good things that it can teach her. I am struggling because you have to teach her, scrip her but at the same time let her own personality show through. Is that too much to put on a little girl.

But then I think at the same time about teaching her softball. We tell them to be softball ready, don't play in the dirt, watch the ball, pay attention, stand this way, hold the bat correctly, swing level, you have to listen, work together, but have fun etc.

Now that we have a little experience with it, I now know that she needs to be taught how to perform. She needs to learn how to walk, how to hold her hands by her side, don't fidget, look at the person you are talking to, she can't talk with her hands around her mouth, she needs to know how to bring her personality out on purpose where as we just let her be who she is. Is it too early to begin teaching her how to do this, or will it actually help her in other situations as she grows.

So the jury is still out. Even though she "qualified" for state, we are deciding if we are going to do another preliminary on Feb. 5th. I will let you know.