Last month My daughter auditioned for the Tyra Banks modeling show America’s Next Top Model. She is only 5’6 and the show required a height of at least 5’7, but she wanted to audition anyway because a few past winners were under 5’7 (for example Eva Pigford, winner of cycle 3, is just 5’6 1/2). So we thought if she wore heels it would be ok. I was worried she would look very short next to all the tall women who would be there and they’d automatically tell her she couldn’t audition, but it seemed like most of the women who auditioned were her height or even shorter! There was one young lady in particular who had on at least 3-inch heels and still came up to my chin, LOL. I am 5’6 like my daughter so this woman had to be just 5’1 at the tallest.

She had to bring 3 photos. Here is a pic I love that I wanted her to bring, but she couldn’t use it because someone else’s face is visible. I was going to crop it but she just wanted to use other pics anyway:

So she got to go through the whole audition process, it was great! I think I was more excited than she was. Quite a few people asked if I was auditioning too, which made me laugh. The oldest you could be was 27 so I guess I should be flattered that people thought I was 27, ha.

Ibop trying to do the classic Tyra face. She actually can do this look really well, but I kept making her laugh so it didn’t turn out too well in this pic, LOL

We drove up to Columbus for the audition and they had moved the location last minute so we had to scramble around to find the new location. Then the wait began. I stood in line with her and we chatted with other model hopefuls, including a young lady who was right at the age deadline and was a former beauty contestant, and a pair of sisters from the Cleveland area who had auditioned last year. There was also this one woman who told us repeatedly she wanted to be on so that she could tell the other models off. How odd! She was very pretty though, but obviously a little off in the head.

Ibop really stood out, and I don’t just say that because she’s my daughter. She is so beautiful and has such grace, confidence, and presence. I think the only reason she didn’t get a call-back was a combination of the height and her being so young (she just turned 18) and unpolished especially compared with the women who had modeling or contestant experience. I hope she auditions next year, if she doesn’t get signed this year or represented anywhere she would still be eligible. But she is definitely going to pursue modeling this year and has already lined up her portfolio and will be part of a fall show for a local indie designer. By next year she will have more polish; I think that will help with getting on this show.

I stood in line with her and went as far as the gatekeeper woman who sectioned the model hopefuls into groups that went up for the auditions. I could have gone up with her but she asked me to wait downstairs. I was extremely hyped by that point, it was too funny, but my daughter was very patient and diplomatic with me. She very kindly told me to chill. The woman who was in charge was like, You do know that if she gets on the show you can’t go on with her, right? So I knew I needed to calm down, LOL. I went and sat on a couch and chatted with other moms and bystanders. I had a great time socializing which is very unusual for me because I am shy and don’t normally talk to strangers like that. After the group audition she came back down for a little break but went to go eat and talk with other model hopefuls. Then they went back upstairs for another round.

Finally it was all over. She talked for a while with the other young women and then we drove back home, just thrilled. Check out the dress she wore, she made this dress!! She got a lot of compliments on it:

Last month she also started college! She is going to a local college and will live at home for the next 2 years, which makes me very happy! I would have let her go but she chose to take the scholarship she was offered here. Then she is transferring to an art college to finish with a degree in fashion design. Here are a few pics from the first couple of days:

Early morning, my baby is off to college! I am so proud of her!

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