USA's Top Model

Hello everyone this short story written here is a work of fiction. It is for educational purposes and is part of my Making Meanings assignment. 

My top wish is to be casted in one of the prestigious model agencies that ever existed. I want to be on the top. My name is Naomi Smith, I’m 22, and i have a plus size body, got a sun kissed skin,  short brown hair, 5’6 tall and my most appealing feature my round face and my green eyes. My friends keep on complementing me by saying that I’m beautiful and I grew up literally by listening to people complementing me despite my body size. For the past few months I’ve been making up my mind to actually look for a model agency and try my luck, I feel confident about my looks so why not try it out and soon over the internet I saw that there was an audition for the show ‘USA’s Top Model’ and the fact that it was not far from my town makes it more exciting. Without wasting much more time for such an opportunity I decided to announce my parents my decision, I sprinted towards the staircase and dashed into the kitchen where my parents were currently having their dinner

,

“Ah Naomi sweetie sit down and have dinner with us.”

I fidgeted slightly while taking a deep breath

“Eh mom dad i—I have an announcement to make.”

Both of them looked at me with a puzzled look, my dad glanced at me with a doubtful gaze

“Mimi you didn’t do something--- you’re not on crack or did a stupid thing right?”

I sighed and stomped the ground

“Dad no! What are you talking about! What I want to say is that this Saturday there’s an audition for USA’s top model and I really wanna try the audition so umm yea.”

Both of my parents looked like they witnessed a terrible incident as they dropped the cutlery on their plate, I guess mom was the first one who recovered from the initial shocking statement

“Mi it’s—I mean USA’s top model—sweetie isn’t it too much I mean come on! Are you even sure about it? It’s not like mommy is against the idea, it’s just that the people out there are critical and very specific about what sort of person they want for their show. Baby I’m not discouraging you it’s just that I don’t want you to get hurt in the process of you wanting to do that audition.”

My dad seemed to agree to whatever mom was saying but nevertheless he got up and advanced towards me, he brought his hand to my shoulder and squeezed it lightly

“Naomi this is a huge step for you. Mom and dad will be there for you but sweetheart these people are very strict about everything and the least thing I want to see is my daughter getting hurt over a bunch of crazy people who only look for specific type of people.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, I know my parents are concerned about me but I really want to do this audition, so with a firm stand I opened my eyes and determinedly said

“Mom and dad I want to do this!”

They both sighed but smiled and still gave me a thumbs up.

Soon It was the Saturday and I was really excited for my audition, for today I took great care of my appearance, I moisturised my skin, straighten my hair, got dressed properly and did my make-up. I glanced at the mirror for one last time, feeling satisfied with my appearance, I took my duffle bag, and went downstairs where my parents were already waiting for me. Even though they looked really aghast of me going for the audition, they maintained a neutral attitude,

“Ready mi?”

I nodded enthusiastically

“Yes let’s do it.”

And with that the 3 of us got in the car and the destination was the town where the audition was being held, I had high hopes about it! Hopefully everything will work out.

When we reached our destination, I was amazed by seeing the amount of people who came to meet the 3 judges and impress them, all over the town's streets there were huge billboards with the picture of the judges and clearly all this made me really eager to get in, demonstrate my ramp walk and await for their comments. And slowly I made my way to the long queue of people waiting to go inside. As I stood behind a girl, she turned around and looked at me, she snickered

“oh my god! Are you going for the audition?”

 And I nodded feeling a bit apprehensive towards her, she suppressed her laughter while pressing her hand over her mouth, still she took a deep breath and said

“Whoa I must say you really ridicule yourself inside huh! Sweetheart this is an audition for models not for a gothopotamus like you!”

What the hell! I tightened my gaze at her but nevertheless didn’t say anything clearly not wanting create a scene. After a few minutes the coordinator came towards us and began to ask us for our names and gave us a name tag with a number attached to it.

After what seemed an eternity, I was finally allowed to get inside while I was walking backstage to meet the judges I glanced at the people who already passed the audition, some were crying because they didn’t pass, some were clearly excited and were jumping up and down and some were completely neutral.

“Miss please come this way and get yourself ready! You’ll be on the ramp in 5 minutes.”

I nodded and looked out for my mom, she was the one who had my bag, and soon I spotted her in the far corner amidst the crowd, I guess she couldn’t spot me, so I signalled the coordinator to call my mom, she grumble a little but did it nevertheless, in the next few seconds my mom joined me and huffed

“Whoa what a crowd! I already feel suffocated! Ah Jesus you get ready and smash it sweetheart.”

And soon I got changed and readjusted my name tag and did a touch up of my make-up.

“Miss are you ready? You’re going in there in 5 seconds!”

I nodded and held my mom's hand and squeezed it tight, I took a deep breath

“Come on sweetie you can do it. Mom and dad are rooting for you. Remember this is something you really wanted to do.”

I nodded, yes this is something I really wanted and now it’s time for me to shine and show my capabilities. I followed the coordinator who was talking in her microphone,

“Okay! In 5 seconds you start moving okay! Do your thing and listen to the music! All the best. Now get ready!”

I nodded glanced back to look at my mom she was smiling and gave me a thumbs up, I took a deep breath and then waited for the music to start and the coordinator to give me the signal

“Okay 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Go!”

And soon a song blasted the speakers and I confidently made my way on the front stage, I put my hands on my hips and started to walk confidently on the ramp. I glanced at the judges they were analysing each body movement, my face expression and then they began to whisper with each other. After I did my ramp walk, the lady judge raised her hand up and the music stopped all together, another coordinator handed me and mike,

“Hello Naomi”

“Hello ma’am”

She had a scrutinize look on her face,

“Naomi tell me one thing why are you here?”

“I—I grew up confident about my looks and all my friends and parents always told me I’m beautiful so I wanted to be a model! And this one of the main reasons why I am here I wanted to try my luck so yea.”

All the judges had a smirk on their face, Mitzi the lady judge chuckled and said

“Naomi sweetheart this an audition for models! And I can’t deny the fact that you have nice features and everything.. But sweetheart it’s your body size. Honey here for USA’s Top Model we have a particular standard we look for girls with a nice body when I say nice I mean narrow shoulders, flat stomach, and slim thighs. And honey you’re the complete opposite of it”

Whatever she said was cutting my self-esteem and my confidence. I grew up thinking I was beautiful and everything was a blatant lie! I could feel tears pricking my eyes,

“Naomi! I didn’t tell you that you’re not selected you can be! You can be in USA’s top model only if---“

I glanced up and looked at them,

“You can be with us only of you are willing to follow what we tell you!”

“What are the conditions Mitzi?”

She sighed and said

“It can be difficult but if you want to be in our team all you have to do is first, we’ll give you a nutritionist for your alimentation and the amount of food you intake, second we’ll give you a coach for the physical exercises so that you can drain all that fat from your body and least but not the last you’ll have a complete make over! Do you agree to all these conditions?”

I began to weight down the options, I knew I wanted to be here, in this team, even if it means I’ll have to lose so much I’ll do it. I held the mike tightly in my hands and while closing my eyes I whispered

“I want to be a model! I want to be part of USA’s top model, it is my dream and now I have a chance to make my dream come true I’ll do anything for it even if it means I’ll have to sacrifice many things for it. So yes I’m willing to abide to these conditions. I want to see myself in billboards, to see myself in magazines and advert shoots just like the others. I really wanna see myself walking on the ramp and display famous brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Elie Saab or even Armani. So yes I’ll do it.”

The judges seemed pleased about my answer, Mitzi then spoke again

“Naomi I’m happy with your decision, know that the path that you’ll undertake will be full of difficulties and mockery, there’ll be moments that you feel like you’re gonna crack up and decide to abandon everything but remember that from the start you’re the one who chose this path so just assume your decision and take responsibility.”

“Yes ma’am I’ll remember this.”

“Okay good honey! Welcome to USA’s Top Model! Hope you enjoy your enriching experience.”

 I nodded and walked off the stage, my mom was with dad backstage, and they looked appalled but nevertheless smiled and soon engulfed me in a tight hug, from their looks I understood that they were not pleased with the idea of me losing my real identity to abide to a new one but just because I wanted it they decided to stay mum about it.