Blogging has been light for the past week or so while I spent the majority of my in-world time thinking about and experimenting with different looks for the pageant on Saturday. (Apologies for that — I will be catching up over this week.) I just wanted to share my perspective of the event. There’s no question that any of the finalists would’ve enjoyed winning, but to be completely honest I would’ve loved to walk away with that tiara. Is it worth L$125,000? I don’t know — but I also don’t really care if it has any intrinsic value beyond the artistry that it shows in its creation.
On the Aspire Blog, Ryntha Suavage asked to see contest entry photos of finalists. Here are my three photos that I sent for consideration.
Skin by Lovey Darling, hair by Elika Tiramisu, outfit by DoC Eldritch, shoes by Lyra Muse, earrings by Lucas Lameth, pose by Luth Brodie.
Skin by Tete a Pied, hair by Elika Tiramisu, gown by Ginny Talamasca, jewelry by Caliah Lyon, pose by Luth Brodie.
Skin by Ambyance2 Anubis, hair by Lost Thereian, bikini by Mistress Midnight, necklace by Fallingwater Cellardoor, shoes by Lyra Muse, pose by Luth Brodie.
Throughout the competition, I took photos which you can see in this stream on snapzilla. They’re all tagged with “l’oreal”
The most hilarious part of the event for me was when my cable modem died at 11:45 am. (Remember that the event was going to start at noon SLT!) I grabbed my laptop and headed for the closest Panera Bread to use the free Wi-Fi. I have to give a major shoutout to Panera for that, since I sat in the same booth seat for four hours in skeevy sweats, frumpy hair and probably looking half crazed as I huddled over the laptop, typing furiously. I didn’t buy one single thing — not even a drink — and no one bothered me or said anything. Moral of the story: Live within 15 minutes of a Panera Bread if you have Comcast. (Thanks Comcast!)
The competition itself was a bundle of jitters and nerves — technical frustrations with Second Life itself aside — just driving your avatar across that runway and hitting your pose stops is hard work. Seriously hard work. I had no idea since I’ve always been in the audience rather than on the runway, but what an eye opener. And while I know every finalist wanted to win that title, there was a genuine sense of comeraderie backstage. If you could only see the chat log from our group IM sessions, you would know exactly what I’m talking about. Sure — the show ran to four hours — but in my experience everything in Second Life takes longer than you ever think it will.
As a participant, for all of the time and effort that Bianca spent on training, practice and planning, if there’d been of more specific direction in what the judges were going to score us on for each round, I sure would’ve appreciate that. The watch word seemed to be “glamour” and while I know that conjures up different notions for everyone, it would have been illuminating to hear what our judging panel considered glamourous. Although it’s obvious that my notions of glamour and the judges’ didn’t exactly intersect — I am completely thrilled that Isabella Sampaio walked away with the title of Miss L’Oreal Second Life. Congratulations!
Aside from a completely pleasant trip to Panera Bread, the best thing to come out of this pageant for me is a deepened sense of friendship with several of my fellow finalists. Long after everything exterior and superficial falls away, that’s still the most valuable thing about Second Life — connections with our fellow residents.
More coverage:
There was also an article on SLNN, but it looks like it’s gone now.
Bump: Bandana Day is tomorrow!! (And also the last day of the Hair Fair! So shop now if you haven’t, or regret it until next year!) 
