Does my breath smell?

Before  I begin let me say that some people might see this as kinda snarky lol so I'm sorry but it's really just something that came up again this weekend as I was watching another competition.  You all know about my contest experiences and normally it's not something I invest heavily in because well much like in real life I don't like losing.  That isn't to say I MUST win but not winning isn't as much fun lol.  After MEI wrapped I was exhausted and this summer/fall was kinda dead as far as booking shows or that kind of thing for me.  Partially I was out of the loop and partially I think the show count was down for my available time zones.  No harm no foul because I was still teaching and it's still fun for me to do so.

Fast forward to Saturday when the Miss Essence of Ebony competition started.  You should remember, if you were reading then, I tried out twice didn't make it either time and after some reflection decided I needed a break from being evaluated for a while.  As a contestant you never know what the observer is looking for and that became apparent in several conversations I had offline about what is considered attractive, talent, inspirational or entertaining over the last several weeks.  From knock down drag outs about why I think Jay Z looks like Joe Camel to why Jennifer Hudson doesn't appeal to me to how someone else can sing a song I don't like by the original artist and I'm in love with it.  I was all over the place and subjectivity was all that kept running through the conversations in total.  The same kind of thing is present in the messiness of Agency Report when model A isn't selected but someone that is disliked by another group is.  Of course we want to support our friends and sometimes it does look like there is some favoritism going on from our vantage point but there's that whole subjectiveness thing again.  Their friends, and yes they have them no matter how much you don't like them, are  thrilled for them.  As I was on Saturday for my student. 

So I'm in the audience to support a student, see several models I know well that were fierce--as was my student~big congrats to Lieffie Ruby for doing a stellar job--and then the other thing that always happens when I'm at events like these happened.  Questionable styling, crazy poses, and just utter foolishness in some cases.  I'll admit that some of it could be caused by lag and it was definitely laggy--show had to be moved and started nearly 2 hours later because of the lag.  However, other stuff could not be attributed to lag and it made me wonder well dang what exactly did I do during casting that I didn't make the cut.  Don't get me wrong I'm not the styling diva extraordinaire that expects to be picked at all times but I thought I did a good job at the time.  And that reminded me about the subjective thing again as well as my dislike of losing lol.  If I enter something I'm doing it with the desire to do my best.  If you don't make it past step one then it's hard to do that.  Last year I was intent on putting myself out there more and I did but I realized why I can't just do the contest thing for the sake of doing it.  It's a lot of work and time commitment to apply, compete and really work as hard as you can to perform well.  From perpetual pose checks, prim checks, finding the just right shoes/skin/hair/nails/lashes, making a look work from disparate pieces, etc.  And even though I talk a lot with my job, I'm actually pretty shy and reserved unless we are pretty good friends.  All that to say that some of the other things that people find enjoyable about contests just tire me out for some reason lol.  It's good experience, it does test you and your adaptability, but all in all I am not sure where my curvy booty fits into the typical contest :-)

Ahh well this is not a gripe just some realizations I'm sharing.  Please go the to Essence of Ebony site and check out Ms. Ruby and the other standouts from Saturday's show.

See ya on the grid,
Rouge

Rez Day and All that Jazz

Yesterday was my fourth rez day and I seriously don't think I logged on at all lol.  I wasn't feeling great but the passion for SL has kinda been sucked right out of me as of late.  No big reason as to why because I think I'm just in a funk overall.  Short of a few interesting shopping outings with the mom type person and a renewed sense of I must take care of myself there isn't a whole lot that is sparking a long term interest in me.  I'm sure it will past, it always does, as new avenues open up and I look at new experiences for myself.  Doing more vintage shopping with my actual dollars and not just my lindens lol.  I'm still enjoying teaching a lot but I gotta get back to firing on all cylinders.  I've had a photo project in my head for months and haven't pulled the trigger on that either.  I should stopping coming up with ideas and get back to it.  Anyhoo, I'm four whole years old now lol at least in SL and I look GOOD for my age ROFLMAO.  See ya later

Rouge

Quick Post Before Bed

This is mostly just going to be pics.  These are the dresses that Kimmera Madison-Fall designed for me to compete in for Miss Ebony International.  Diana is on sale as of a few weeks ago so please go snatch it up if you just love it.  Thanks again to her and for one of my students for reminding me that I needed to post these lol.  Good night all.

It's all over now, whew

Okay so I've been MIA a lot between classes, RL and Miss Ebony International.  As of yesterday, two of those things have been taken care of a bit lol and this weekend will see another great crop of graduates leave MIOS before we take a break for a few weeks.  Yesterday, the Miss Ebony International finals were held and four hours or so after it all started it was over.  Congratulations are due to all the girls because it was a long grueling experience from start to finish in that the challenges were more time intensive than I could have ever thought and waiting patiently through 3 hours of questioning was slightly traumatic.  However, I made it all the way through my first contest that was at least partially based on my own skill set and appearance.  I mean I did Miss Fashion last year but that was mostly based on the ability of my designer and my styling of those designs.  I came in third then, I did not do as well with MEI.  Crashing as I'm answering a question probably didn't help and I'm not sure that I totally answered my next question from Frolic Mills but I did make the top ten and was happy and slightly stunned by that.  My designer in this contest, the always great Kimmera Madison, was happy with how I presented her work so I can't really ask for more than that.  I'll take photos and plaster the blog with them in a few days and then both dresses will be up for sale at her shop.  Thanks to all that came to support me yesterday--I seriously appreciate you all waiting it out with me.  I get the grind of what a major contest is like now and while I am SOOOO not ready for another right now I might sign up again for one in the future.  I'm glad I had this experience and will continue to try to push myself every chance I get but for now, I'm enjoying the nap I have had for the last 24 hours. 

2 Posts in the Same week? Madness I say

Well not really but I was flickr perving today and came across something that I apparently had managed to miss for the last three months.  EmeraldEyes Honi, who was most recently Miss UK in the previous cycle of Miss Virtual World, has left SL.  I'm not sure why I missed it, I can't say I was working or casting a lot in April, well anymore than normal, but I think I go off into my own world sometimes and just don't see things.  But as I've been saying to people a lot lately, sometimes things happen at a certain time for a reason.  Maybe I wouldn't have been as effected by it a few months ago, maybe I would have gotten angry.  I'm really not sure.  But right now it's just made me a little sad.  I can't say I knew her well because I didn't but she felt like a kindred spirit and I respected the work that she and other Black models had done on the grid.  In general, I hate to see people that I know walk away  from SL, unless of course they are a flaming psychopath, but this news--delayed though it may be--feels like even more of a letdown that someone as talented and open is gone as well.  I don't really need a back story but I did want to wish her well on the off chance someone sees her or she sees this.  Our worlds keep spinning, virtual and otherwise, I just hope to see her and those like her before the rotation stops for me.

Damn it's Hot

The weather here is making me stay inside more but it's also making me sleepy.  So when I'm not busy with scheduled activities in SL I've really not been on as much as I could have been.  The Miss Ebony International pageant is winding down and I have to say that regardless of what happens it has been an interesting experience that has pushed me to develop new traits and handle lag is new and exciting ways.  Next Sunday is the final competition (which will be held at the same stage as Mister Virtual World was) and I have to say being backstage at Patch was an interesting experience.  The backstage area is gorgeous by the way but it is mildly intimidating to know the caliber of models that have competed there but at the same time it felt totally natural to be there and the girls were great as normal.  I hope that I do Senegal proud in great outfits that Kimmera Madison designed for me and let me preview a few weeks ago.  Both make me look like a regal African princess and it will be an honor to rock our final challenge in them.

Normally I'm not super tardy with pictures but my brain was having styling block with the photos for the Argentine tango challenge that is due later today.  Thankfully my partner was willing to dance with me and take my photo so as soon as he can finish editing it I'll post it to flickr.  I have a few others to add from the other runway challenges and I'll upload one of each of those to this as well.  I'm afraid my sexy edgy military costume started to look like a campy futuristic airline stewardess but ehhh I liked playing with so it wasn't so uniform like.  And I went all burlesque for the music challenge since my original thought probably wouldn't have made much sense.  But for those of that remember the early 90s and George Michael he had a video that he wasn't in at all--which at the time was groundbreaking apparently--but it was populated with runway models ( Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, Cindy Crawford, and male models John Pearson, Mario Sorrenti, and Peter Formby).  It wasn't the first time music and fashion mixed but it always stayed in my mind.  Both my partner and good friend said it would be too random especially since the video wouldn't play along with it.  Regardless, love the song and I'm gonna include the video along with the photos.  Have a great weekend and for those that I'll see next Sunday good luck, thanks for your support and woot.

Oh and there is another surprise coming but until it's set just let me leave you with man it's so amazing.

Updates and all that

So I just got through eating dinner and trying to recover from a week of being on emergency call which always makes me more tired than I imagine even when I don't get calls.  I just went through week two of our challenges for Miss Ebony International as well.  Week one was a runway challenge taking our lovely Hucci asymmetric swimsuits but with a Lion King theme as the unifying thread.  So we had to choose a character from the story to portray.  For some reason my brain leaped to Scar and I did everything I could to pull it off.  I have pictures below so you can tell me how I did.  They haven't been touched up at all because I wanted to get these up before I came up with a reason not to do so.  Week two's challenge was a photo one in which we display our style and what we are comfortable wearing. I did a vintage look circa Amelia Earhart because I didn't to recycle anything in my vintage folders and also didn't want to stray too far away from who I really am as a model or SL resident.  You can see it on my flickr page if you want to check it out but I didn't snap any new ones specifically for the blog.  And great big shout out to Kimmera Madison and her totally kick ass store for 1) providing me the lovely furry type collar from a dress at her store and 2) agreeing to help me with the outfits for Miss Ebony International.  She's such a treat and friendly and for some reason we're on the same page with the design thoughts so yeah Kimmera and Tres Beau.

Let's see, what else do I need to tell you?  Maniera's academy is still great and I love being able to teach with them as it does keep pushing me to reach beyond my normal boundaries and be creative in how information is relayed.  And they are just a great group so it's easy to go to work.  I submitted again for Miss Essence of Ebony, I think I may have mentioned that last post, and was notified yesterday that I made the cut for the next casting and will be searching the grid for a look that screams this month's country.  Thankfully I get a few weeks to pull it together since the holiday will make me more likely to just forget about everything.  That weekend is the third challenge for MEI too so it will be busy busy.

Without further adieu, here are the photos and you guys have a great day. 

Swimsuit: hucci
Collar: Milea from Tres Beau
Boots: J's Long Boots
Jewelry: Miel
Hair: Iconic emkay
Face Tattoo: Coca and Wolf
Scarification: >>Adrenaline Rush<< heqet
Lashes: Glow Hollywood lashes Black Dahlia

So far, So pleased

I swear life is never ever quiet around here.  The last thing I think I updated you on was Miss Ebony International and that casting.  Still moving through that process now.  The finalists have all been chosen and I'm competing with 27 other gorgeous and well spoken, funny women.  Last weekend we had a quick photo shoot so the world could see all of us in designs from Sonj!a's.  I think I channeled my inner Beyonce and pinup as best as I could lol, I liked the looks overall. 

We had to pick our country to represent both in this contest and in Miss Virtual World if we win this whole thing.  After doing my standard nerd thing, I narrowed down my choices to Senegal, Mali and Swaziland.  All of the countries that I was really interested in were in West Africa and most had some French colonial tie to them which was unexpected for me.  Maybe my ancestors originated from that region, who knows?  I need to brush back up on my French but it's just part of a mix of languages spoken in the country I was given to represent, Senegal.  Much more interesting place than I think many may know if and it will be a pleasure to do my best to honor its cultures and traditions.  Tomorrow is the first big event for us as finalists and just because the week has been uber hectic I get to go home tonight and try to pull together something FIERCE!  But with all the random shopping I've been doing I'm sure there is something in there that will work. 

I entered and made it to the casting for Miss Essence of Ebony but did not get chosen as Miss Kenya.  And honestly I've been so busy since then I missed the last casting all together.  I resubmitted and will do my best if given another chance to audition but I have to be careful about overscheduling myself.  Second Life has to be fun or gotta turn it off and go have fun. 

We just had a rocking 80s graduation for a nice chunk of the class that I helped teach.  And in a blink of an eye we have started the next term.  I'm doing more classes and had a full class last night which was both challenging and fun at the same time.  I'm glad that I decided to go for this experience and more pleased that I got it.  I'm looking forward to what the next seven weeks has in store and just hope that I don't fall totally flat on my face as an instructor this go round. 

Honestly, I think that's it.  I need to get something up on the Maniera blog this weekend, I wrapped up classes with Asymetrique, and I need to do some work that I've been neglecting but you're all caught up.  See ya soon.

I got bubkiss so no title

There's plenty to say but really got nothing in the way of smart catchy title tonight.  Sorry for the gap in posting.  I was working on some posts for the Maniera blog and got super distracted then RL work kicked my cute little butt and let's just say if the people we interviewed don't take the job I'm gonna hunt them down and kill them for disrupting my life so much and making me have to do it again in the near future.  Anyhoo, SL has been interesting to say the least. 

I've been doing classes with Sabine at Asymetrique which have been very interesting, especially since it's mostly been one on one due to the schedule.  This last week we covered a ton of information and what she mentioned during the class was true.  It helps to teach someone else because you never know what tricks you might pick up from them and it helps you focus on what you do in a different way.  It's a good learning experience all around so that is becoming a very enriching experience. 

Classes at Maniera will be on hiatus for the Easter holiday but have been intriguing for the same reasons my own classes have been.  Remembering what it's like to be at the beginning of the career, trying to sort out your style and your skills as a model, being desperate to learn but not wanting to appear overeager.  The students I've had have been a great delight to work with and it still feels a little weird that I would be a go to person for information but at the same time I enjoy the sharing of knowledge so it's great.  And joy of joys I get paid to do it too.  It's another of those good experiences I hadn't planned on having. 

In my last post I mentioned Miss Ebony International, and the fact that I hadn't made the casting cut in my love Serafina gown from Purple Moon.  I though the next round was on the 24th but it was moved to today which in the middle of styling two outfits for my class seemed like an impossibility.  Due to some unforeseen things, class styling was delayed and that let me pull together not one or two but three different potential looks for this month's theme of Pop Star.  I'll admit that seemed a little nebulous to me so it took a while to pull a solid look together that I was enjoying because skin tight and super short is not something I pull off well--mostly because even in SL I made myself thicker than most prim shorts enjoy lol.  Instead I went to all my favorite edgy stores to look for something new and came up empty.  I hit the feeds and through a random stroke of luck found about 6 things that could work for different looks which started from my Dressing Room exploration (if you don't go there often you should).  Anyway, I created a boho hippie/Erykah Badu kind of look, a club hopping diva kinda of look and a chilled out dance queen pop star look just in case someone was in any of them that I could switch to something else.  Which turned out to be a good idea because there were a few people in the same general outfit which is just awkward because you're all shaped differently with a different sense of style all of which is reflected when you do your strut.  There were a ton of strong looks throughout the assembled women so I wasn't feeling super confident that I had done something that stood out from the rest.  I had a clean walk this time and took my time to show off what I had put together.  After that, it's just a waiting game.  I will say they don't make us wait very long and much to my surprise I made the cut.  All I can say is I think I was much more relaxed today and accepted all I could control was what I did on the runway.  Oh and thanks to Sabine I was able to find a few new walks, one of which I used today because it didn't distort my outfit when I walked.  I have a questionnaire that I need to complete but we have a week to fill it out and I want to take a few days to appreciate what has happened.  But because I normally do this for big castings, here's what I was wearing without editing because I'm on call and want to try to get some sleep before the random I am just having a moment phone call happens.

Top: Baiastice One Shoulder Sweater @ LeLook
Tights: Emery Roxe Slash #2
Shoes: Slink Mia Wedges
Hair: lamb DIY cut
Skin: LAQ Claudia in Ebony
Lashes: glow studio
Gloves: Emery

busy bees buzz

Don't you love alliteration?  This won't be a super long post.  I got tired before I was able to set up the photos I wanted to take in some new vintage lingerie I ran across BUT I will try to get to it before the end of the week because RL explodes after that and I will be too tired to care lol.  I had a great week other than that though.  I didn't make the first finalist cut for the Miss Ebony International contest but wasn't super surprised by that.  The next opportunity is April 24th and RL still may be nuts around then so that may not work either.  We'll see, no need to over think things right now.  I taught mostly by myself for the first time at Maniera and while nerve wrecking it was fun and the girls seemed to appreciate it.  I also styled six outfits and walked in the Bella Donna show that went well and the designer was excited.  All in all, made a bit of shopping money as a result of those endeavors and it was great great great lol.  Okay I told you it wasn't gonna be long.  Back to the Simpsons.