Hi, everyone! I am back! I finally posted up the Nationals post and now I am going to discuss the 2017-2018. My prelim I did for that season. As I mentioned, this is the only story I have for this season-spoiler, I qualified but was unable to attend due to personal reasons. Anyhow, I hope whoever reads these, will help them understand me, as a performer, a diva, and more importantly, a human being. Please understand that some things are not in as detail because it was a few years ago (already). Trust me, once I am caught up to current times, there will be more to reveal. And more to see. I am also outlining a frozen fanfiction as well. I will be posting on here and on Wattpad. Let’s begin now, shall we?
After Nationals, I started preparing for the new season. I read my critiques and started my next plan of attack. I had not decided on what I was going to do for talent (yet). In fact, this season I wasn’t going to wait till November to compete for Texas. Texas is typically mid-season for Diva. I wanted to compete earlier than November, so when Missouri announced their prelim in early October, I knew I was competing at Missouri. Also, if something happened where I did not qualify at Missouri-I could always do Texas as a backup. My ex Levi also was going to do MI Classic and I would support him, when it came time do so.
Presentation for Missouri was “Spice Up Your Life” for Diva. From what I was told, you were to create your own Spice Girl. Which I did. I wore big red hair and a black dress, fully stoned-that I did myself. Jackie told me that I was a mix of Posh and Ginger. Sara De La Hoya made my presentation hair, evening gown and jewelry, and evening gown and talent hair. For my evening gown, I finally did my “fire” themed gown and I bought shoes that I stoned myself to match. I typically buy one, two inch heels, because 1) I want to be able to walk comfortably 2)During Crowning you will be standing a while, so may as well my comfy 3)You’re not judged on how high your heels are.
For talent, I did Listen for talent by Beyoncé. Originally, I was going, to do a I am changing/I am telling you mix that my drag sister had, but I realized it didn’t suit my emotions at ALL. But when I did Listen, something happened when I performed it. It became magic. I related to the song and found something in that song. Sometimes you find what you shine in by accident, and it was a good thing. You never know when you’re next inspiration or talent would be. I wore a black and gold dress, and I added gold stones to the front of it. And huge brown hair.
For interview, I bought a pink dress (yes pink) and pink flats and wore my hair down. It was short at the time (bob length) so I didn’t have in a bun or ponytail.
As far as travel goes, it takes about 14-15 hours to drive to Missouri. We got there in reasonable time. We left Thursday morning and got there late that night. Levi had his pageant Friday and Saturday I’d be on stage. We made a huge stop in Tulsa to pick my gown, hair, and jewelry for the pageant. The plan was to hire her for Missouri, but due to last minute bills, I was unable to have her as my makeup artist. My drag sister, Jackie (and dresser) stepped in, as she always has done. Now, whether she can admit that she can do it or not, that’s on her, but trust me, she CAN do it. I say it all the time.
Friday Levi competed, and I didn’t attend his pageant because I wasn’t feeling well, and I had a nasty migraine. I wanted to focus on resting for my own pageant. He didn’t qualify but it’d be my turn and I knew I had a good chance to win. I had a great experience the year before, and wanted to come back.
I woke up about 10-11 am to get ready for interview. I slipped on my pink dress, flats and necklace. I was feeling good, excited, ready to win.
“You seem a lot more confident and comfortable. Let’s hope that it translates to the judges.”
I had a feeling I was going to qualify. As I said before, you just know when it’s going to happen. You feel it. And when you feel it, it happens. I was ready for this and the contestants were,
Karma Marie Lee (last year’s runner up), Eva Nichole Destruction Gladiatior (she competed last year), Kymber Koi, and me. I drew contestant number two out of four. Karma and I were leading off the pageant. I have never liked being the “first up” but I’d deal with it. I’ve consistently drawn the end of the middle of the pageant. I’ve only be contestant number one once, and that is much later on.
After interview started, I was pleasantly surprised that I knew pretty much my entire panel, except for two local entertainers. I was very friendly and energetic and said,
Literally the dorkiest thing I’ve ever done in a pageant. In fact, I don’t think anyone deducted me for that AT all. But I shook everyone’s hand and greeted almost everyone by name.
Where in the Texas pageant hell did that come from?
Another thing I noticed was I was the only who wore a brighter color. I wore pink-everyone else wore black or darker colors. I’ve learned that while yes, you need to wear professional clothing, it’s not all about what you wear, but how you wear it. So, wearing pink or wearing a dress (and flats) was far more comfortable and natural for me. One of the questions they asked me, was “Why Missouri? When Texas is next month?”
I answered honestly and sincerely,
“Because last year I had a great experience competing here and everyone made me feel welcome, being from another state. And Tawny is a great promoter.”
And yes, none of that was ass-kissing by the way. I actually did think that because I had no negative about Missouri. Period. I liked it there.
Another question they asked me was,
“How have you changed since last year?”
“Well, first of all, I feel like I am a bit more together than last year. More things have fallen into place for me. Second, last year, I think, I was trying to too hard to be what I thought a pageant girl was supposed to be. And that was not right. I needed to be more myself.”
Shocker. Huh. Me being sincere in a interview without it sounding fake or forced? I wasn’t giving the “proper answers” I was giving my own.
Another question that was asked, was,
“You used to be famous on Youtube and you performed at show and it got shut down. Why do pageants, then?”
Dear God…that again. I honestly didn’t want to talk about it. But I knew how I’d respond.
“Well,” I began, “When I did all that, I didn’t know how to do drag, do makeup, and dress appropriately. While yes, it was brave, etc, I was younger, in college and didn’t know any better. Now I know how to dress, do makeup, and perform other things. And that is not who I am on stage anymore. I can do other things, too.”
I don’t remember much else of the interview, but that’s most of it. Before I knew it, my seven minutes were up and Seduction whispered to me,
“That was awesome. Really amazing for you.”
I walked out of that interview, jumping up for joy. Like I never thought I’d nail interview.
Jackie seemed surprised. And she asked,
“I think I won Interview.”
After interview, they had food for us. Southern cooking…. yum yum. I ate a bit then we headed back to the hotel where I had to get ready.
We packed up and dressed for the pageant. I had to be there at 8 pm and Levi made sure we were on time. He is the time police when it comes to that. But I hate being late, too.
My first category was presentation and I looked good. Or I least thought I did. I said to myself,
“Let’s get this show on the road!”
I walked out there, smiled, did my pose and went backstage to get into evening wear. Gown was pretty uneventful, and everyone seemed to have some creative elements on their gowns. It was going to be tight in this category.
Finally, it was talent time. Karma did her talent from last year-her “I wanna be a rockette/look at my body/get on up” talent. It’s extremely funny when she does it. There’s a reason she made top 12 in 2017. I came out and did Listen and it was emotionally charged, my hair was huge and I felt like a Texas drag queen. I came to win. A few people said, I’ve should have done Adele dressed the way I did, but I truthfully do not like performing Adele. I honestly don’t relate to her music that much. Why would I perform something that I’m not into? Come on now. Just because I look like someone or have that look, does not mean I HAVE to do it the WAY they did it. All performers interpret music differently. One person could do Listen completely different than the way I did it. I don’t limit myself based on appearance. Nope. I do what I want to do and feel. That’s the difference and probably why I perform well when I am completely emoting what I performing.
Then it was time for the results. They did categories first.
“Winner of Interview….Shannon Paris.”
I won interview? I was shocked, but I knew deep down that I had. I won a category at state level. I won the category I struggled in all season last year. Wow.”
Karma won Evening Wear and Talent. And then they announced the placements,
“Our first alternate, Shannon Paris from Texas!”
I placed. I got first alternate. I qualified on my first try…..yessss…so much emotion.
Karma ended up being the winner and I, of course congratulated her.
It was a pretty quiet trip home and I started to get ready for Nationals.
Scores 56 Interview (out of 60), Gown 51 (out of 60) , Talent 104 (out of 120)
