These words of wisdom were our only comfort before we took the stage before an audience full of photographers and fashionistas. How did five non-models end up back stage at a fashion show? Well, I am still not entirely sure!
Early last week, a friend of mine from the consulate asked if I would be willing to participate in his friend's "hair show". I told him that I would love to! It wasn't until a few days later that I heard from the show organizer. His sassy personality hooked me right away.
Me: "My friend is in town, can she participate too?"
Sunil: "Is she pretty?"
Me: "Of course!"
Sunil: "You're a blond, right?"
Me: "No, I am a brunette."
Sunil: "Humf. Could we give you highlights?"
Me: "No, I don't think so..."
Sunil: "Ok, well, we'll see."
I had visions of bright white streaks running through my decidedly natural hair. And only two and a half months before Matt and I celebrate our wedding with everyone we know! Needless to say, I was a bit worried. The only information I had was that I needed to call the clothing designer and that I needed to be at the Russian Cultural Center three days later. Not much to go on.
I didn't get a hold of the designer, Raji, until the day before the show. This meant that we had no time for alterations. My work schedule also posed a problem. All of the other girls were going to be there at 10:30am for a 4pm show. I had to be at the consulate until 1 and Sunil wanted us at the venue at 1:30. In that short window, my friend Jamie and I crossed town to try on dresses at the designer's apartment.
We didn't have many choices when it came to outfits. Neither of us fit in the long black skirt with an embroidered bottom. Jamie wasn't so sure about the dress she rightly thought made her look like a mermaid. Finally I settled on a simple, high-necked black dress and Jamie chose a tube dress emblazoned with a bedazzled peacock. We were a bit apprehensive about our choices.
Clothes in hand, we rushed to the Russian Cultural Center where we had no idea what to expect. I told Jamie that I had no idea where they were going to do our hair because as far as I knew, the building had a library, an auditorium, and some classrooms. I was mistaken.
We were whisked upstairs to a section of the building I had never seen. Behind a non-descript, humidity-warped door was a fully-functioning hair salon! The room was filled with tall, beautiful Indian women patiently enduring hair pulling and eyelash curling. Jamie and I sat down and waited our turn for our makeovers. We quickly noticed my friend Natalie and her sister Melanie. Thank goodness! We were not alone in our confusion. No one knew what was going on. Did we have choreography? When were we going to do a run-through? How many people would be there? How long would the show run? Who were all of these other girls?
We quickly decided that we were the only ones who were not professional models. Uh-oh.
Six different people worked on my hair: one straightened, one teased, one consulted, one curled, one pinned, and one watched. I am luck that I do not have a tender head! The make-up crew was much smaller but no quicker in their work. Eventually I was ready with at least fifty pins in my hair and three layers of color on my face.
...
Waiting backstage, the four Americans and one Estonian giggled about being so utterly unaware of what we were supposed to do once we got out on stage. Sunil then gave us brief instructions and moved on to the professionals. We were on our own.
The emcee announced Raji's collection and warned the audience that, unlike the previous group, we were a group of amateurs representing the international community. Their expectations were low. I went out first and my inner ham quickly emerged. I remembered practicing my model walk in Shafor Park circa 1998.
I told myself not to smile but to put all of that effort in my eyes. My friend Anandaroopa yelled "You go girl" from behind the flashing lights of the media. I was having a blast! At each corner I threw my hands to my hips and posed for the audience. When I noticed that Jamie's shoe had broken and that she was barefoot I tried my hardest to stifle a laugh. It was a classic moment.
While I had been uneasy about not knowing what was going on, I let go of my American (and as Jamie pointed out, Scorpio) urge to have a plan and had a great time! While I hope India can teach me to do that more often, I still have a way to go.
...
Two days later I received a phone call from the Consul General's wife:
"Abbie, I think you are in the paper! Well, at least I think it's you!"
The source of her uncertainty? The caption next to my picture read "This Russian model stole the show!"
-Abbie
