Spokane's Top Model - Raising the Bar

It's really kind of sad how I link this blog to my website (http://www.jenniferleewatts.com) and my Facebook and yet I NEVER post (though I have many drafts saved - half credit?). Many of you have asked about my blog and to know that it's actually read, maybe even enjoyed, is very touching. Thank you for bearing with me.

2011 is looking to be a very exciting year for me. I have so many opportunities starting to formulate into actual possibilities and wow, what a scary, intense, overwhelming, exciting, amazing, and incredible thought. To see mere ideas actually start to become reality is an experience everyone needs to create for themselves because you really do start to believe in the person you have the potential to become. I look in the mirror and I see the woman I want to be. She's not quite there yet - she's a little far away, a little blurry, but she's there, looking back at me. She is not perfect, she makes mistakes, there are questions she cannot answer, but she embraces those imperfections, learns from those mistakes, and isn't afraid to ask questions. It's a start...

Saturday was the highly anticipated Spokane's Top Model's auditions. Before anything else, I need to press 'caps lock' and stress how INCREDIBLY AWESOME this event has been and will continue to be for the community. I am bearing witness to so many huge footsteps in Spokane's journey to become an even more trendy and cultured city - it's wonderful to be maturing into a confident, fashionable young woman in a city that seems to be doing the same.

At first I had no interest in auditioning or competing in another modeling competition. I don't have the drive to go out and prove something to myself or anything else for that matter. I then realized that part of my 2011 resolutions was to set the bar higher for myself and to never stop challenging myself and pushing myself to do better - so I signed up. For me, the better I am doing for ME, the better I am doing for others.

'Beauty' competitions are in a class all their own - they are more demanding emotionally and physically and in a different way than any other form of competition. Models are not only being judged on a performance (and personality to an extent) - which has many variables - but they are being judged on appearance and opening themselves up to ridicule and rejection that often can't be reversed. When your appearance is implied as not good enough - sure you can workout, change your hair, change your clothes, but ultimately, you're being judged on a you that cannot be changed. While it is a completely subjective process, it's still a very sensitive one. I admire each and every one of those who auditioned this weekend - for taking a risk, for having the confidence to raise the bar for themselves. There is beauty in that alone.

I was extremely impressed with Spokane's Top Model's audition process. Having auditioned for America's Next Top Model, I can honestly say Spokane proved to be more professional, more beneficial, and a better experience as a whole. While they obviously did not audition the same volume of talent ANTM does, over 200 auditions is definitely something to be commended for. Great judges, crew, location (thanks to Gary Peterson), and photographers - Shane Savage and Jamie Velandra. I know that Red Eye Promotions has invested so much time, effort, and money into this event and I hope they know the opportunity they are creating for young, aspiring women of Spokane is truly appreciated and invaluable.

My audition was comfortable and exciting - that is way better than I expected auditioning with a fever, double ear infection (oh, equilibrium and the catwalk), and strep throat. I also was finishing up a very intense week - stressful deadlines, executing events, and hosting clients which left me with little preparation and little sleep. I consider it a feat that I showed up on the right day! I'm sitting here after midnight Sunday (now Monday) absolutely exhausted, still feeling like I got hit by a truck, but I'm smiling because I did it! I raised the bar for myself and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.