Maya's first fashion show

From last shoots that she did, someone suggested to put Maya and Indy to children modeling agency. So I did.
Then  I got a call last week , Maya was picked to be a fashion show model . When I asked to the agent, what is the fashion show all about, the timing, location etc, she answered me : oh the fashion show is from a local shoes brand, they will present the new collections for this year to their distributor and wholesalers. What came up in my mind is that the show will be done in a warehouse, dusty place, full of workers ( I worked part time before in Guang Zhou for shoes factories , so  the memories are there with me :D ) .

I asked Maya , if she wants to do it. She said , of course: I WANT! So I tried to explain it to her in a simple way that she could understand : she gonna walk in the stage, maybe with some other children too, and she needs to be there from morning, then she will need to wait for many hours before the show.

So we arrived on time on the location that I was given. I saw a big SKECHERS signs outside the building. There were a lot of people setting up the place, I saw skechers signs every were ( FYI : I LOVE SKECHERS  SHOES, the boots, the shape ups etc) . I was thinking that we are absolutely in a wrong location. So I asked around is this the building. They said correct. And one guy approached us and said : are you here for the children model?  I said yes , my daughter is. He then pointed me to another lady, and she asked me : Hi ! are you Maya's Mom? Come right in..
And we saw the stage, the light. the people, the music... I was like " the show that suppose to be from a local shoes brand is for SKECHERS???" WOW ... I didn't expect it at all.

So then Maya did the practice , rehearsal, outfit fitting and all... She went back stage and stay there on her own. And she was doing great. She played with the adult models, and called them her new friends. She is friendly , cheeky, talk active , everybody seems to like her .

Then we had a long break , like  3 hours, and we just had lunch and wandered around the location, I did some homeschooling with Indy  ( she is following) and let Maya's do some coloring and writing. Then go back to the location, she then went backstage on her own from 2.30 pm. and her turn was on 6.10 pm. She stay alone without me backstage, playing, stay with the models, and crew all by her self. She was tired, I was worry she will be cranky by the time she is on, and I worry she needs to go toilet. But she was just fine. She inform her"friends" when she needed to go to the bathroom, grab some cookies when she was hungry ( from her bag) and she didn't throw a fit because she is so tired. ( Even me I was tired !)

So when her turn is on. She walked like a total pro, moving to the music, smile, strike a pose and all!
People literally cheers when she was on stage! Clapping and took her pics. When the show over, some people still asked her to stay and took picture with  her.

Beside all of the fun experience  for her. Just a side note for everyone : she is enjoying to "model" , her fave game before doing the real thing is to take blankets, pegs, crown, heels, she and Indy "designed" her outfits and she needs to walk on the "stage" with music. So the real fashion show yesterday just like a "playground" for her in grander scale with "more" audience. :P

Despite what people say and think about children modeling. I am very aware the pros and cons.I won't let anything take my girls' childhood away too fast. I won't let the superficial stuffs took control.
My parenting style won't be affected by the amount of money she has earned or will earn. Characters is still the number one, Academic too.To model or not to model is just  not on our priority list . I am still let the option open. If that is what she loves and want to do, I will let her do it .

I know the limit and the cons to expose my girls to modeling world. This is just for fun and to let her"energy" out . I'm not sure if she gonna have more offers but the most important is to build up her characters to be a strong, confident ..., kind, creative girl. I don't want to focus on the superficial stuffs. And that is what I told her yesterday when she asked me " Ma why everybody like me so much? they said im cute" i said yes u are cute, but if u are rude, and not polite and not kind, no matter how cute u are, people wont like u anymore. and trust me she will hear that a LOT more from her mamma!! :D

Some more of the pictures

XOXO
S.R


PS: on the world's news. My heart sink for Japan. And my prayer is with all the victims and family in Japan.