I honestly don’t know what got me started on it.

I wasn’t one of those little girls that grew up dreaming of being Miss America.

I wanted to be Wonder Woman.

Or Princess Leia (minus the kissing my brother part).

Or on Broadway would suit me fine.

All I know is that I ended up signing up for the Junior Miss Pageant (the ONE year they tried to ‘dignify’ it by calling it ‘Young Woman of the Year’). And in the same year I signed up for the Miss Indianapolis Teen pageant.

Two pageants, one year.

I didn’t win either of them.

I won secondary awards. Fitness, presence and composure, finalist talent, non-finalist talent. I made it to the finals of one, 4th place over all.

I have to say…

I had a crap-ton of fun doing them.  I knew I’d never do another one, I didn’t care to. I’m so glad I had that experience.

From the pressure of performing at the top of my game and being quick on my feet to the answers. To the endless rehearsals for the silly little dances they had us do.

The camaraderie of the pageant brought me friends during my senior year I didn’t have the rest of school.

The general stand-offishness of everyone in the other pageant that led to me just glad it was over.

I learned a lot, and I gained a lot, and I look back on it with immense fondness.

And yes, I kept my plaques.