01/30/2013
Diana Says What She Really Thinks About Ashlee's Pageant Boot Camp
I've always been fascinated by pageants, and have always dreamed of being involved in one, but I've never known where or how to begin! When I met Ashlee, and she offered her time and services to Anandi and me, I just knew it was the perfect opportunity to try something new!
After meeting Ashlee at the club, I was super excited to get started with pageant "boot camp." I love venturing outside of my comfort zone, and although I am used to performing in front of a large crowd in cheerleading, pageants are a whole other world that I was ready to dive into.
I have had strict, intimidating cheerleading, tennis, golf, and gymnastics coaches in the past, but Ashlee brought the word "intimidating" to a another level! There is no breaking her focus. She is there to produce winners, and she will not let anyone or anything stop her.
In life, people will always have an opinion on anything you do. What matters is that you love and enjoy whatever it is you're doing, and that, in all things, you are glorifying God. Ashlee did not support me in cheerleading because she wanted my focus to be primarily on pageants. Well, girlfriend, cheerleading is in my blood! No stopping me from doing what I love: cheerleading!
Ashlee was so insistent upon making me say mean things to Anandi during our role playing sessions. Anandi is absolutely beautiful, and the comments that Ashlee was trying to get me to say were horrible, and so untrue! It is not in my character to talk poorly of someone, especially about a topic that he or she is self-conscious about. No way was I about to stoop so low as to play Ashlee's games.
I was very concerned about Ashlee's threat to cut me from the program because of my unwillingness to participate in her cruel role playing game. I was looking forward to the pageant so much, and I was beginning to learn a lot from her! But if I had to tear someone else down in order to be a part of her program, I would accept being cut.
I knew Ashlee would be furious that I was late to the second practice, but there was nothing I could do! I tried my best to get there on time, but cheerleading practice made me late!
I was devastated to be fired from Ashlee's program. I had wanted to be a part of it so badly, and prove to her and to myself that I could do really well in the pageant and win even though I am not supertall! I asked my mom to leave so that I could face Ashlee on my own because I wanted Ashlee to know that I wanted this, it wasn't my mom's dream for me—it was my dream to win a pageant.
I was shocked that Anandi complied so easily to Ashlee's request to escort me to the door. Anandi and I are close friends, so it came as a low blow. I think she fears Ashlee a little more than I did. I can't figure out what Ashlee's motivation was for kicking me out because she said from the beginning that she saw so much potential in me. I guess she just wasn't satisfied that I wouldn't give her all the attention by quitting cheerleading and only focusing on her and her program.
Ashlee's training methods are tough and harsh, but if she can produce winners through that way of coaching, then good for her!
I would still be interested in participating in a pageant, of course! It's going to take a lot more then one lady to take me down!
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