A New Experience

see all photos »

I never thought I'd say "I've been in a beauty contest", let alone a Thai beauty contest - but that's how I spent my Sunday!

The Loy Kratong festival was celebrated this weekend in Phon Phisai.  The festival gives thanks to the river by floating small boats made from banana leaves down the river.  A week long celebration was held at one of the local wats, ending with a beauty contest on Sunday.   Jack had asked me a few days earlier if I'd like to be in the contest and represent his new organization (Isan-survivor www.isan-survivor.org).  Anyway, I agreed.  So I am now the first white girl to have "graced the stage" at the Phon Phisai beauty contest :)

At the beauty parlor
see all photos »

It was by no means easy work!  I admit, I was a complete novice at all the work that goes into these things.  At 10a, I went with Jack and his mom to a nearby beauty parlor.  The place provided outfits, plus hair and makeup expertise for the girls in the contest.  We picked out a beautiful blue thai dress.  After a few alterations it was ready to wear.  Jack's aunt and a lady boy, who I think works at the shop, took me to an empty room in the back where I could practice.  I spent ages with them practicing my wei (bowing), and a sexy strut and turn.  Jack, who had left to fill out the application in town, phoned to ask my measurements for the application, plus what my talent would be - singing or dancing.  What have I got myself into!!  So, I now also spent my time practicing traditional Isan dancing.  I was not looking to win, but not to make too much of a fool of myself on stage, which let's face it was a challenge.

Pic with Jack's family
see all photos »

By afternoon the salon was getting rather full of girls getting dressed up for the competition.   When it was my turn I got into the patched chair and the owner quickly got to work teasing my hair till I had a giant ball of fluff on my head.  With the use of plenty of hair spray she next struggled to tame it.  A gold crown, with a black bun of fake hair was then attached to my head.  It looked a little odd at first, the dual color hair, but by night you really couldn't tell the difference (or at least that's what I told myself).  As you can see from the pics, I was also covered with makeup and looked very much like a painted doll.

What beautiful flowers
see all photos »

Around 4p we went back to Jack's home and took pictures and hung around.  I ended up standing around since it was rather difficult to sit in the outfit.  The little girls of the neighborhood found me immensely interesting, again probably like a giant doll.  They touched and felt all the fake gold jewelry I was wearing slowly and with care.  Each girl had a huge grin on her face.  Later in the evening we all left for the temple, Alex, Joe, and all the kids piling into the back of the truck while I was carefully placed in the cab.

see all photos »

The festival was a little bigger than I imagined, easily a couple hundred in attendance.  The stage, especially to my eyes, seemed huge.  With a bit of nervousness and the thought "what the hell am I doing" I got up on stage with the 14 other girls.  When it was my turn I swaggered across stage and made a wei to the judges.  As we all stood on stage people from the crowd came up and gave us red roses.  Jack's family, extended family, and neighbors were all there and I ended up with an armful of beautiful deep red roses.  Next came the singing/dancing part of the competition.  I was brought on stage, answered some questions on what I thought of the festival, and then the music began ... funny enough I've actually learned the basics of Thai dancing a while ago, so I knew many of the movements.  There I was, dancing on stage in front of the crowd, after the music ended I hammed it up a bit, blew a kiss and waved to the crowd - then sauntered off.  Can you believe a year ago I was in LA marketing movies, life is so strange :)

Alex, Sarah, and Jo
see all photos »

Anyway, I didn't win, but from the huge applaud from my exit I think I did just fine.  It was a fun, but very tiring day.