Miss Cable Beach

So besides the insane amount of nerves all day leading up to the Miss Cable Beach competition.... how did it go?

Considering all week everyone had been telling me "oh, you will for sure win!" and I continually came back with "but watch, there will be a 6ft-something blonde girl, and I guarantee you she will win"... of course it was just my luck that I was the first one to arrive to the venue... followed by two girls who fit that very description. 

When you are paying really close attention to the director, who is nonchalantly telling the directions for your catwalk and where to stop and pose, it really doesn't help settle the nerves, especially when all of the other girls seem so calm. Luckily, we were allowed to go out into the bar area and mingle with our friends before the start, and inbetween each walk. 

Considering I was more than a foot shorter than all of the other girls, I knew I was going to have to do something to stand out (in a more positive way). So for the first walk, which was just in jean shorts and the Miss Cable Beach shirt, I made the executive decision to accompany my outfit with my Nike's, my Seahawks hat, and some eye-black. Strutting out onto the first two catwalks, hat backwards and posing the best I knew how, I then walked down the middle, dramatically flipped the hat around, and gave a cheeky smile. Yes, I just established myself as the fun one in the group. 

We had to do walks in two different pieces of swimwear, and one in a more formal beach/resort-wear outfit. 

We also had to answer a couple of questions, like "what is our favorite thing about Broome?" and "What is your most outstanding feature?" And I have to say, when the girls before you answer that second question with "bum.." "my legs..." "legs".... I am really quite proud of the laughs and cheers that I got when I answered "My smile... or my left hook... and the fact that I could give it to ya WITH a smile on my face"...

So what was the result?! I got 3rd. The tall blonde (second from the right) won. And the tall blonde (second from the left) got second. Did I call that or what?! $100 and a free camel ride tour for a third place finish.

BUT! Here is the kicker. Afterwards, the presenter approached me and told me that I had actually tied for 2nd, and that the three of us were so close that they had to count and recount the scores, and because of it, I was guaranteed to go through to the finals anyways. SO! This adventure is not quite over! Which I'm glad, because it was actually a lot of fun! And I am WAY too competitive to let it end there ;)

The number of strangers (and judges) that came up to me afterwards and told me that I was the most fun and that I was their favorite, was a win in itself. I like to think that if it were fan vote, I would have won. But hopefully that means I will have a bigger fan base for the finals.

Save the date. August 9th. Miss Cable Beach Finals.... Let the preparation, plotting and scheming commence!

Broome Time

Over the past few weeks here, I have accumulated a number of beautiful (seemingly permanent) sandfly bite marks, developed an unhealthy addiction to Nutella, and been fully accepted into the KK family. Feeling right at home, I have joined the rest of my room in unloading my backpack to my designated spot on the floor. My 12th man flag hangs proudly above my bunk (except for the days that Charlie - the bandwagon Broncos fan - decides to place it elsewhere). The same bunk that generally makes me fear for my life, when I climb into at night, knowing that it was completely incorrectly assembled by two fine, completely hungover gentlemen, despite the better advice from the ladies. Typical. But with a brand new bunk, and the better mattress that I strategically stole, as far as sleeping arrangements come in hostels, I'm living the high life. Now if only I could teach people to open and close the door quietly, especially between the hours of 1-4am.

While I have been working quite a bit, I have been to the weekend markets a few times, gone out with the family at night, and I did make it over to Cable beach for the sunset (before my bike got a flat tire and was shunned to remain locked up on the bike rack forever more). George and I have also made multiple trips out to Gantheume Point to hunt for dinosaur footprints!! (yes, real ones). 

Stegosaur :) ... (the one with 5 toes ;)

Low tide at Gantheume Point

In hearing me talk about the upcoming 4th of July, the KK staff decided to try and create a celebration for me, including volleyball and a bbq. Although it didn't seem too promising in the morning, everyone got involved and it was actually a huge success!

Happy "Be nice to us" day!! because it's America day! and we are American! :)

Sunshine, bbq sausages (because it IS still Australia...), and pool volleyball, while listening to Kid Rock. Probably one of my favorite days here yet! Running around in my American flag bandana, I think that was the day I became that much closer with everyone here... or it might have been karaoke night, when I busted out some Nicki Minaj (completely sober), and shocked everyone with my awesome rapping skills ;)

As for current events, one of the "big" things going on in Broome at the moment is Miss Cable Beach, a pageant type competition that kicked off last Sunday and continues for the next 4 weekends. For the last week or so, I have been harassed by everyone at the KK to enter the competition. What started out as a joke, turned into serious attempts at convincing me to do so... Maybe part of me wanted to try it, maybe I just caved into peer pressure, and maybe it had something to do with the $5000 prize money on the line.... but so help me, with the promise of everyone coming to cheer me on, my application was submitted. I am competing in Miss Cable Beach this Sunday.... Maybe I should cut back on the Nutella :/....

Excited and even more nervous, at the very least, this competition was an excuse to go swimsuit shopping guilt-free!! In need of a more formal outfit, and with very little time, and the very few shops that Broome has to offer, shopping has been a struggle. Mom, I need my shopping consultant! My roommate Sunny eagerly offered to help, but shopping has continually turned out to be more successful for her... 

2 days and counting....

I came home yesterday to Charlie giggling and telling me "you have maillllll...."

This just got real.

Anyone know how to walk down the catwalk?? 

Can I have more time to prepare? 

I don't even remember the last time I wore high heels... 

the answer to all questions is world peace. Right?.... 

Yikes!!