We are ,for the most part, just ordinary people

Glamorous. Perhaps Fergie Ferg's G.L.A.M.O.R.Ous would have been a befitting song for the night. I LOVED my wardrobe from Parkson that I myself chose. I say this only because the other beautiful girls I stood with did not get that same opportunity of choice. I was grateful nevertheless. Beautiful green dress with wire structure underneath, falling just before the knee. I was tempted to shorten it,
BUT no no, Thou shalt not covet thy sponsor's wardrobe, especially since I had to return it...

Amidst the sea of cameras and well dressed ladies and men, my attention was turned to catching up with the girls.

Yes we were in a pageant together, and yes we were competing with each other, but I wanted to really catch up, and see what they were up to four months after those weeks of mental stress and physical torture. Not that I minded it at that time. I refused to allow miss "Tina the talking tummy" to blab to the world about my ultimate love for rich smooth chocolate cake, and cold milky bubble tea, which i had religiously almost everyday of my happy life.

But, no. I bid farewell to my dear calories of happiness and made the treadmill my new best friend.

Four months later, after life resumed, it was absolutely lovely to catch up, the little that we could. But who could complain about not having enough talk time when champagne and wine flowed like the river Nile and white spoons cupped the walnut size servings of food. Bliss.

I must say, some ladies looked stylishly dressed, while others could have needed a little more this or a little less that.

Sadly, while Nadine the reigning queen whose experiences thus far this was for, was giving her speech, it was not heeded by the guests who were perhaps forgetting that they were far away from an actual market place. Nevertheless, the national director and her fellow former pageant-ees cheered her on.

One thing that I noticed among my friends was a glow. A glow that told me that they were content, happy, and satisfied to be living their own lives, dictated and lived out by themselves. They returned to their jobs, their families, and true friends and were happy to be away from those who criticized them with just a look... or worst still, insulted them by not caring to even see them as they looked.

We live in one world but people are often worlds apart; our wants, desires, priorities, and values vary accordingly. What ever happened to Perennialism? People whose desires are written in stone turn Existentialist. We do what we want, act how we want so long as we want what we want. Yet, while fully conscious of this, we strive to be accepted by this world we choose to be part of. Yes, we choose to be part of.

The night ended in higher spirits than was anticipated.

Surface relations rekindled while others deepened. Snap shots were taken to commemorate the night of "smile and look happy when the camera is on you".










But I was glad I saw the girls again, and to be reminded that we are, for the most part,

just ordinary people.

All photography by AndyKho. Visit andykho.com for more!