I Got To Be a Model For a Day

El Paso Fashion Week kicked off this weekend and Latinitas hosted their annual fashion show, Inspiring Fashionistas.  Local Hispanic girls and women of all shapes and sizes were given the chance to strut their stuff down the runway and show off some fun clothing pieces from local boutique shops.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/news/local/latinitas-fight-back-against-...

I'm not one to shy away from the spotlight so when asked if I'd like to represent one of the college models, I jumped at the opportunity.  Hair, makeup, AND picking a sweet outfit to seal the deal?  Yes, please!  Sure, there were the underlying thoughts of potential disaster striking.  I've never modeled before!  I don't know anything about doing a catwalk down a runway in front of a crowd of onlookers.  What if I fall and end up fashion road kill?  What if my dress tears and I experience my own "wardrobe malfunction"?  I'll be honest, my love for playing dress up and getting all glammed up made all those possibilities worth it!  

I was relieved to find out that we would be having rehearsals and that someone would be teaching us how to walk the runway.  That someone was New Mexico's Runway Teen 2011, Ms. Katie Radecki.  I am very grateful that she sacrificed two Saturdays to help us prepare.  She lined us up, jammed some upbeat tunes, and had us practice our walk one by one.  She also took the time to demo the how-to's of posing mid and end runway.  I loved every minute of rehearsal!  I did feel a little silly and self conscious at first but Katie reassured us all that we were doing a good job.  After a few more tries I felt comfortable, and soon enough I was ready to take on Heidi Klum!  

I always secretly wondered what it was like to be a model.  I feel lucky that I got my chance to sparkle.  I think every girl- big or small, tall or short, young or old- deserves to know what that feels like.  I feel even luckier that I get to be a part of the Latinitas organization whose entire mission is to empower young Hispanic girls.  That is exactly what the fashion show did.  I could see it in the younger models faces.  The majority of them were quite shy at first, even a little unsure of themselves.  But everyone had their chance to shine and they did.