Pageant Lesson #5: Learning How to Walk

Anxiety and nervousness consumed me the night before this event. Not only was I attending the launching of ABS-CBN’s new Lifestyle Channel at the Park Plaza Hotel, but I was participating in the fashion show conducted by three designers. I was not fit to model, have never modelled, and don’t have training to walk on a runway. A nervous wreck was definitely an understatement. 

Two days prior, I had to get fitted. Initially, I was supposed to wear a beautiful pant suit with an oversized jacket. But at 3pm when I had arrived at the Park Hotel in Los Angeles, Jay Sario, the designer, pulled me aside and wanted to attempt to fit me in the most gorgeous leather/maroon dress that he had. Thankfully I had been dieting prior and I was able to fit it perfectly… except he had to see me walk. & I was in trouble. I had a lot of work to do.

Eventually, it got to a point where I was practicing and I had to definitely practice doing it. Makeup and hair was prepped. I struggled to slip into the gorgeous gown. What had once fit almost easily that morning, was more difficult to put on that night (perhaps it was because of all the gelato and bread I had eaten throughout the cocktail hour.. oopps)! After some major adjustments, it fit, I went in the hallway and started to walk. 

Just like an on/off switch it all started to come together. My tense body turned fragile, fierce, and eloquent. I wanted to make Jay proud. I wanted to make Mildred proud. I wanted to be proud of myself. I wanted to have fun with it and fun was exactly what happened. I did it!

Thanks to the help of our mentor/coach Anjanette Abayari, I pulled it off. I was ecstatic. Practicing relentlessly 30 minutes prior to walking on that stage, I turned into model mode for 2 minutes. It was soo much fun! I was so happy when after our walk, Anjanette specifically came up to me and told me her friend thought I was the best one. Practice does make perfect. Although I still have a lot of work to do on this journey, I’m learning to add AND cross off things on my bucket list one at a time. 


BucketList #283: Being part of a Fashion Show

(bonus: Televised. Photographers. Red Carpet, Goody Bags - the whole deal)