2 editor's note
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WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO BE A PART OF MISS LSU 2014 First, to be clear, I’ve never done anything like this. Nothing. I thought Delta Zeta my one dance class I took Editor-In-Chief when I was four would be Malena is a junior studying public relations and mass communications. adequate preparation... You may contact her at mmore16@ yea, not quite. I had lsu.edu. practices once a week, walks to learn, and a big dance routine. On a regular basis, I don’t wear make up. I eat mostly what I want. I only work out because I like it, not because I want to be ridiculously fit. Before Miss LSU, I hated formal gowns. I hated hair and makeup. I especially hated dieting.
MALENA MOREAU
Enter late January, and our first practice. I found myself surrounded by beautiful, and I mean BEAUTIFUL, women. I was intimidated and wanted to run out the room, send an email saying I had changed my mind and forget that I had ever signed up for this. However as we went around the room to introduce ourselves, I realized I knew a few of the contestants already, everyone else seemed nice and not too hard to look at directly on (I mean it when I say these girls are gorgeous). After introductions, we began to learn the dance routine. Just a hint: choreographed dancing is never the friend of someone who likes to pop lock and drop it. This dance
was no exception, and I was happy when our Golden Girl instructor put me in the back. Anywho, the first practice ended and I thought to myself this is ok, it’s not so bad, and I think I can do this. The practices kept coming and I got to know the girls really well. They were intelligent, witty, and genuinely kind all the way through. I needed so much help with knowing what to wear, how to do my hair, how to walk and especially the dance, oh the dance. I wouldn’t have felt prepared without them and by the end of it I began to feel like I had 20 new friends. They actually appreciated my honesty and when I had questions everyone was happy to help and was extremely understanding about my pageant experience or lack there of. Finally, the big day came and I couldn’t help but feel nervous. I’m never nervous. I’ve always been more than comfortable at center stage, especially involving humor. Since the whole time I had the feeling I was just doing it to challenge myself and try something new, it had never dawned on me until the day of that I’d actually have to come across as graceful and poised in front of hundreds of people. All day I dreaded being on stage. I had my make up done for the first time and my hair curled and teased. I still didn’t feel ready. When we walked on stage for the opening number, I was nervous as hell. Then the next thing you know, the dance routine came and went, and I didn’t fall! I managed
THE ODYSSEY AT LSU EXECUTIVE TEAM President Catherine Morrissette Kappa Delta
CREATIVE TEAM Editor-In-Chief Malena Moreau Delta Zeta
Sales Executives Miles Mitchell FIJI
Social Media Director Katie Zehnder Delta Delta Delta
Client Marketing Consultant Christian Fraught FIJI
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