Girl Parties

Cheri, Valerie, LaDawn, Evelyn
cute Stefani down front
Pretty much my favorite thing in the world from the age of 5 to the age of 13. 
"Girl Parties" were invented by my aunt Karina.  She participated in beauty pageants.  As a contestant. Don’t worry, she grew out of it.

As I sat in the audience of the Miss Arizona pageant, I couldn't imagine anything more awesome in the world than being in college, dating multiple boys, singing “Stand by Your Man” on stage, and strutting my stuff in a swimming suit for the world to see.  She was one of only a couple contestants that wore a one piece instead of a bikini. She brought some of the glamour home, and when I would visit we would have a Girl Party.

 I had cousins that lived nearby my Grandma, and Aunt Karina.  We would all gather for the ritual. A Girl Party consisted of getting your fingernails painted, hair curled and styled, make-up applied, and pictures taken in pageant dresses.  Frequently, we put on a talent show. I recall many, many singalongs to Mariah Carey ensuing.  My favorite ditty was “Without You.” 

  “I can’t live, if livin’ is without you.  I can’t give.  I can’t give anymooooore.” 

  I was pretty awesome at singing along with Mariah Carey with a hairbrush as my microphone.  That’s what my Grandma Helen told me. I believe her.

Lipstick

Hairdoing


Painting fingernails
Liking what she's seeing.

Sometimes I just have to tell the cute feminist voice in my soul ( the one that may have issues with my children identify so early with make-up and prettiness equalizing worth as a woman) to shut up and just have fun being a girl. If that girl happens to be wearing a dress from high school prom, and princess Leia flowers in her hair, so much the better.

Comments

  1. KB Stanger Art and DesignMay 30, 2013 at 5:21 PM

    Hi Evelyn. You remember the important facts right. Most importantly that it was a cherished ritual we all enjoyed. Also true, Mariah Carey was my favorite to sing along with. Another true fact: that I grew out of pageants, a little too much perhaps, since my own girls have seen only a few girl parties in their lifetimes.

    Some things to clarify (why? I have no idea): I didn't invent girl parties...maybe coined the phrase, though. We were doing girl parties long before I entered pageant, too. And when I was in pageant, they only allowed one piece swimsuits (I know that shows how old I really am.)

    Thanks for inspiring me to take more time to let my girls enjoy being girls. I really feel a special bond to you and my other nieces who let me use them as cosmetology mannequins. Those were special days!

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