Ok, so Miss Maggnifica 2018… Where do I start?
It was a very very long day yesterday and today everything hurts, from my toes to my head.
I didn’t win anything obviously. I expected that but it does sting a little that even in a contest designed specifically for people like me I still fall short. Well, I do it for the fun anyway.
But yeah, no win. Not first, not maid of honor, not congeniality, not photogenic. None of the prizes. Although I did deserve Congeniality at least because none of those girls knew how to be on stage, I taught all of them, I talked to all of them, I helped all of them with makeup, made them laugh, distributed water, and many other things… They even called me a muse just for being able to handle huge heels and for teaching them stage tricks and calming them. But the vote was done too early in the day, most girls didn’t know anyone well enough so they just voted for whom they knew at the time. Nobody’s fault really and the winner was indeed a wonderful person.
And I’m a little surprised about miss photogenic since the official photographers were the judges and they were the ones that pushed me into the final and kept saying I was the only one relaxed, experienced and interesting in my poses but I still didn’t win that. I'm not saying I deserved to win, I'm just saying that the winner was so much the opposite of me that it's surprising. Winner short and very cute and cheerful girl though.
Did give the best speech for the project though, if I do say so myself, so I’m pleased with that. But then again it’s not hard when you’re the only one there used to the stage. Still, the two first winners did had big groups of friends and family cheering on them and making noise so that “popularity” might have helped them out usually does, but idk. Nonetheless, the first place was well deserved, she had excellent poise and character and stood out brightly, it was a good choice.
Yet, as support goes, I had nobody at all except the other contestants (all really sweet, made friends) so I just tried to have fun, nothing else. I’m not blaming anyone for not supporting me though! Some had to work, my mom isn’t even here and my sister just… Couldn’t come.
What else? Hm…. Makeup artist botched my makeup, I there was a great artist there but I ended up with the rookie, she couldn’t work well with my eyes and dress color (I warned her hooded eyes are harder than average, even I have a hard time doing my own makeup but the organization wanted us to be pampered by the artists), anyway I had to hastily try to change it into something decent but it ended up heavy. Oh well, not the first time.
Got a pair of earrings for free, got a decent goodie bag, lots of sweets (sugar dick, cavacas/beijinhos, pastéis de bordallo), a bottle of cherry liquor (Ginjinha), a t-shirt, flowers, a handmade ceramic rose, magnets, clothing and spa discounts (that I’ll probably never be able to use, sadly), etc.
We spent the morning touring cock city (Caldas da Rainha), a place known for its colorful creative pottery, socially eccentric statues, sulfur hotsprings, and LOTS AND LOTS of comical penis imagery. I’m not even kidding. The morning was spent taking photos and seeing the sights, they offered us a really nice lunch with live music, and luckily it wasn’t overly sunny and there was wind to cool the day a bit. It was an ok day, tiresome because I didn’t sleep much (an hour) and painful because of I was sabotaged by my baby box (needed three painkillers at once) and I was lonely af because I was the only one without supporters but it was still a nice day… Also, all the clothes and bikini we wore we’re from the main sponsor’s store (a project designed specifically for plus-size women only) and my evening dress was a 160€ blue dress tailored to my size, they let me have it for 45€ instead that I can pay whenever I actually have money so that was sweet (discussion because I’m super broke right now). But I admit it still makes me worry, I always feel guilty when I try to treat myself or just get something pretty for no other reason than I like it.
Did get a lot of tattoo compliments though, that was neat. And made friends, turns out since of these girls are actually for places really close to members of my family.
The amount of public support was staggering though! The event too place at ExpoTur, a food and culture festival (wish I had photos), the red carpet stage was decked very professionally, the organization was very good, we had many more sponsors than expected, the whole thing was covered by a TV channel and hosted by a radio station, live dancers, live music (we finished off by dancing to a cover of Mika’s “Big Girls”), plus it was packed with audience supporters, no judgement or hate in a contest aimed at fat girls, which was refreshing.
I don’t have much in terms of photos because I didn’t have anyone to photograph me personally but as soon as I have the coverage photos and videos and the professional photographers photos I’ll share. I will share photos of the goodies soon though.
That’s pretty much all the is to it, I think. People have been asking so I thought making a post was easier.
