Me and MAO A chronicle (sort of) of my preparation for and experiences in a Miss Alaska local preliminary.

Why not?                                12/3/2001  It suddenly occurred to me tonight, while paging through one of my older sister's websites and links, that it doesn't say *anywhere* in the guidelines or contract for Miss America (and prelims) that I *have* to wear the standard swimsuit that everybody sees on tv. If I wanted to, I could wear a victorian style getup that covers everything! Well, I won't go that far, but what's to stop me from wearing my swimsuit with a skirt to match? Not a short one like is usually paired with a swimsuit and doesn't cover *anything*, but one that is at a length that I'm comfortable with, that is flattering and pretty, and that (most importantly) makes me feel OK with being onstage in my bathing suit. Swimsuit is only 15% of the scoring, leaving 85% to be covered by areas that I'm relatively strong in - talent, interview, and eveningwear. So if a longish skirt on my swimsuit hurts my score, it won't affect my overall score too badly. And let's face it - chances are that I'm not going to manage any extremely dramatic changes in my weight, which means that any points I earn in swimsuit are going to be given for confidence and poise. Two things that I will have considerably larger amounts of if I'm not baring my thighs to an audience and (ugh) a panel of judges. Ha. I've decided. I'm going to go against the flow, and wear something that I'm really okay with. What does this mean? It means the biggest scary thing about doing this pageant has *poof* gone away, and if I can get my entry together and my costume for talent and my skirt for swimsuit all ready in time, there is no reason why I shouldn't enter the next preliminary, in January. Wow. I feel really good about this now.