So week three begins and the competition is getting INTENSE. There are a huge number of talented men and women, working hard to distinguish themselves as front runners. The feedback we're getting after every challenge is immensely helpful and it's clear that some of us are getting better from week to week. Leaps and bounds, head and shoulders; pick your euphemism - it's all true! The last thing I wanted to do was peak after my shared victory in the Trunk Challenge so I was working harder than ever to improve. To do everything in my power to learn, grow, and raise the bar as much as possible. I'll admit that I was a bit obsessed at this point, not so much with making the finals as seeing how much more I could do and where, exactly, my niche was going to be. Even after a few weeks, I knew that the SL fashion world was the place for me but .. I wasn't 100% sure where I'd end up. If that makes any sense. I hope it does. It was a very exciting time and a fantastic feeling.
Challenge #4: The Partner Challenge
It's funny that this was a challenge I was dreading about as much as I was looking forward to it, not because I doubted my partner and I would do well but because their fate in the competition would, at least party, become my responsibility. I didn't mind taking risks when it was just my score on the line but bringing someone else into it? I didn't know if I could handle that. Either we'd end up playing it safe (yuck) or doing something that could, conceivably, blow up in our faces .. assuming we could work together at all, of course. I might have been new to SL modelling but even I knew that not everyone in this industry was flowers and sunshine off the runway.
I shouldn't have worried so much, I guess, because when they announced the partners (picked randomly from a hat) I almost got out of my chair to do a happy dance. I was paired with Occasus Jayaram, another new model, blogger, and up to this point, the contestant I'd spent the most time with in IMs talking about absolutely everything. It was like winning the lottery on my birthday! There were so many people I wanted to work with in this competition but I don't know that there was anyone I could have worked with as easily, or as well, than my girl O.
The theme for this challenge was Couples: Then and Now. The runway setup, when we saw it, was a red carpet walk in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Yeah, it was going to be one of those.
Challenge #4: The Partner Challenge
It's funny that this was a challenge I was dreading about as much as I was looking forward to it, not because I doubted my partner and I would do well but because their fate in the competition would, at least party, become my responsibility. I didn't mind taking risks when it was just my score on the line but bringing someone else into it? I didn't know if I could handle that. Either we'd end up playing it safe (yuck) or doing something that could, conceivably, blow up in our faces .. assuming we could work together at all, of course. I might have been new to SL modelling but even I knew that not everyone in this industry was flowers and sunshine off the runway.
I shouldn't have worried so much, I guess, because when they announced the partners (picked randomly from a hat) I almost got out of my chair to do a happy dance. I was paired with Occasus Jayaram, another new model, blogger, and up to this point, the contestant I'd spent the most time with in IMs talking about absolutely everything. It was like winning the lottery on my birthday! There were so many people I wanted to work with in this competition but I don't know that there was anyone I could have worked with as easily, or as well, than my girl O.
The theme for this challenge was Couples: Then and Now. The runway setup, when we saw it, was a red carpet walk in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Yeah, it was going to be one of those.
Partner Challenge Styling:
To say that both Occasus and myself were excited to do this challenge together is an understatement so vast I cannot begin to repair it. We started brainstorming immediately (who would we be?) and decided to work on individual lists until O had finished her set that evening (she's a DJ). I got to work IMMEDIATELY and came up with a dozen ideas, some good, some bad, and some completely off the wall weird. I liked the idea of representing a female couple, though, since I figured there wouldn't be many but knowing, too, that we were more than capable of blurring some gender lines ourselves, I wasn't shy about adding some other concepts that appealed to our shared aesthetic. By the time we got together to meet later that night Occasus and I had twenty ideas between us, maybe more, and it was clear from the outset that we were both excited and invested in doing something special for this challenge.
Is it any surprise we were almost totally styled within 24 hours?
Our inspiration: The Witches of the West and North from Wicked (Elphaba and Glinda). Their epic rivalry in the song 'Loathing.'
Our theme: Unadulterated Loathing in Los Angeles
To say that both Occasus and myself were excited to do this challenge together is an understatement so vast I cannot begin to repair it. We started brainstorming immediately (who would we be?) and decided to work on individual lists until O had finished her set that evening (she's a DJ). I got to work IMMEDIATELY and came up with a dozen ideas, some good, some bad, and some completely off the wall weird. I liked the idea of representing a female couple, though, since I figured there wouldn't be many but knowing, too, that we were more than capable of blurring some gender lines ourselves, I wasn't shy about adding some other concepts that appealed to our shared aesthetic. By the time we got together to meet later that night Occasus and I had twenty ideas between us, maybe more, and it was clear from the outset that we were both excited and invested in doing something special for this challenge.
Is it any surprise we were almost totally styled within 24 hours?
Our inspiration: The Witches of the West and North from Wicked (Elphaba and Glinda). Their epic rivalry in the song 'Loathing.'
Our theme: Unadulterated Loathing in Los Angeles
Partner Challenge Execution:
We were both adamant about avoiding costume pieces. This was a modelling competition and, first and foremost, MMI was about individuality and representing ourselves all the time, every time. Considering the set, we decided to bring Glinda and Elphaba to a modern-day red carpet event, knowing that we could style these two witches with our own unique approaches to fashion. Occasus has always been a little 'avant garde' and me, well, I do love a good tiara .. and a building project or two. I modified an old wand from my Hogwarts days (below) and built the bubble (above, but larger) that I would eventually wear as I floated down onto the runway to land beside my 'rival' Occasus. We had so much fun selecting pose combinations to show our characters' disdain for one another and, after some debate, decided to keep special effects to a minimum to avoid causing lag on the runway. And our walk? We were spot on!
We were both adamant about avoiding costume pieces. This was a modelling competition and, first and foremost, MMI was about individuality and representing ourselves all the time, every time. Considering the set, we decided to bring Glinda and Elphaba to a modern-day red carpet event, knowing that we could style these two witches with our own unique approaches to fashion. Occasus has always been a little 'avant garde' and me, well, I do love a good tiara .. and a building project or two. I modified an old wand from my Hogwarts days (below) and built the bubble (above, but larger) that I would eventually wear as I floated down onto the runway to land beside my 'rival' Occasus. We had so much fun selecting pose combinations to show our characters' disdain for one another and, after some debate, decided to keep special effects to a minimum to avoid causing lag on the runway. And our walk? We were spot on!
Comments and Feedback:
Occasus and I knew we were doing something a little bit different when we chose this theme but both of us agreed that we wanted to succeed or fail together doing what we loved. We wanted to take chances and put it all out there while staying true to our approaches to styling and fashion. No fancy tricks, no sparkling of the eyes. Just us doing what we do. I'd have liked to win this competition as well but we weren't the most impressive couple out there that week. And my wand was in my hand, I guess. Sorry, O! <3
Occasus and I knew we were doing something a little bit different when we chose this theme but both of us agreed that we wanted to succeed or fail together doing what we loved. We wanted to take chances and put it all out there while staying true to our approaches to styling and fashion. No fancy tricks, no sparkling of the eyes. Just us doing what we do. I'd have liked to win this competition as well but we weren't the most impressive couple out there that week. And my wand was in my hand, I guess. Sorry, O! <3
Credits:
~ O ~
Gown - Junbug - Ariel (Ink)
Rose Embellishments: Dead Dollz - Tainted Love - The Black Rose Mesh Gown
Collar- Maitreya - Vintage Collar & Pearls - Black
Headpiece- Miamai - Titania Headpiece - Black
Bracelet and Earrings - Yummy! - Jennifer Pearl Set
Eye Makeup - Madrid Solo - Legend -Grayscale - Tinted by me to match the green
Lips - Madrid Solo - Facade Lips - Hulk Green
Skin - Nuuna's Skins - Crayon Skins - Green
~ Portia ~
Gown - Dead Dollz Sakura Gown ~ Kiddo Oh
Jewellery - Chop Zuey - MVW Le Voyage de la Terre Australe (Platinum) ~ Belle Roussel
Tiara - Imperial Malagasy Aurora ~ Belle Roussel
Fur Stole - Nylon Outfitters - Fur Stole - White ~ Nylon Pinkney
Glove Appliers - Sweet Tea Formal Gloves - Jasminefairy Resident
Bubble - Homemade :) (Portia Pexington)
Wand - Dusk Designs - Custom Wand ~ Dusk Claymore (modified by Portia Pexington)
Poses for O and Portia: PosESion ~ Dahriel Resident
~
~ O ~
Gown - Junbug - Ariel (Ink)
Rose Embellishments: Dead Dollz - Tainted Love - The Black Rose Mesh Gown
Collar- Maitreya - Vintage Collar & Pearls - Black
Headpiece- Miamai - Titania Headpiece - Black
Bracelet and Earrings - Yummy! - Jennifer Pearl Set
Eye Makeup - Madrid Solo - Legend -Grayscale - Tinted by me to match the green
Lips - Madrid Solo - Facade Lips - Hulk Green
Skin - Nuuna's Skins - Crayon Skins - Green
~ Portia ~
Gown - Dead Dollz Sakura Gown ~ Kiddo Oh
Jewellery - Chop Zuey - MVW Le Voyage de la Terre Australe (Platinum) ~ Belle Roussel
Tiara - Imperial Malagasy Aurora ~ Belle Roussel
Fur Stole - Nylon Outfitters - Fur Stole - White ~ Nylon Pinkney
Glove Appliers - Sweet Tea Formal Gloves - Jasminefairy Resident
Bubble - Homemade :) (Portia Pexington)
Wand - Dusk Designs - Custom Wand ~ Dusk Claymore (modified by Portia Pexington)
Poses for O and Portia: PosESion ~ Dahriel Resident
~