Finals Day

Sat 15th December 2012....................a date that will live long in my memory. After 4 months of work, headaches, joy and laughter, the day finally arrived. Have you ever been so nervous that you're convinced someone has replaced your stomach with a washing machine on fast spin? Because that's what mine felt like hours before the contest even started.

I have to confess that is was a fear/happiness reaction I think, fear of what was to come and happiness in all that had happened in the previous 4 months.

10am.........the curtains rose on the finals of Miss Virtual World 2013. At the same time the curtains rose, so did my heart rise into my mouth.

Our first walk was to show our National gowns, the gowns that reflected and were inspired by our countries. As I actually am a Cypriot, the influences were many and subtle, but I was just delighted with how the gown looked. This is my National gown, brilliantly captured at the final show by Tillie Ariantho.

This work of living art was designed and made by such a talented lady, Bouquet Babii of Vero Modero. It was very deliberately designed as a Goddess style as my country has a long history, profoundly influenced by many cultures, but possibly most by Greece. Now SL being SL, I wasn't able to open my notecards - OK I was dumb, I should have written it on Word and cut and pasted, one thing learned! This was my inspiration, thanks Persia and Kay for covering live when I couldn't shout this to the audience :)

"My country has a long history and I drew upon this for the inspiration for my National Gown.

The golden headdress harks back to ancient times and pays homage to the ancient peoples who left our shores thousands of years ago, such as the Greeks and the Phoenicians. The vines on the headdress and belt remember the many thousands of years of agriculture and grape cultivation in the valleys of South Cyprus and , of course, the ancient tradition of wine-making. The wings on the headdress remind us of Apollo, the Sun God and his huge temple built on the south coast of my country two and a half thousand years ago.

The pale green of the gown represents the explosion of colour that carpets the Troodos Mountains in Spring as life awakens after the winter months. The white train reminds us of the beaches of my country, with their gentle surf and 350 days of sun.

The white, green and gold is to pay respect to the flag of my country with its golden land, white background and green laurel wreath.

My heartfelt thanks go to Bouquet Babii, Vero Modero's designer for creating this piece of art for me to represent my country."

That's what I MEANT to say at the final, for some reason SL refused to let me open anything, well it happens!!

My formal gown I was just thrilled with when Amutey DeCuir of Bliss sent it to me. An almost ethereal lacy creation with a slit skirt and reminded me so, so much of an impossibly glamorous film star. You might see it differently, but that's how it struck me !

This was captured again by Tillie Ariantho in the final stage we walked. i dared not even cam around for fear of crashing, so great job Tillie xxx

This was the inspiration for my formal gown :

"My Formal Gown evokes many aspects of Cyprus. The flowing wave-like skirt is inspired by the Cypriot beaches, with their gentle surf and 350 days of sun each year. The Troodos mountains are a big part of my country and the delicate pinks of the formal gown hark back to the mountain violets that carpet our mountains as Spring arrives. The single shoulder design from Bliss Couture again reminds us of the long history of my country, bringing back memories of the ancient peoples of old who have left their mark on Cyprus, such as the Greeks and Phoenicians who left our shoes many thousands of years ago."

The part I was dreading was waiting for the other ladies to walk, but I found myself being drawn to watching and listening to their inspirations and admiring such incredible haute couture designs from some of SLs very best.

Time really did fly by during the evening and after the top 12 were announced, I was disappointed not to be included, but that is a part of the contest. So, I had a cry, opened a bottle of wine and watched with huge interest the progress to the crowning of the new Miss Virtual World. The top 12 were :

1. Meimei Shiu ✦ MISS V♛ CHINA
2. Zaara123 ✦ MISS V♛ ICELAND
3. Natzuka Miliandrovic ✦ MISS V♛ ITALY
4. Shinobu Istmal ✦ MISS V♛ JAPAN
5. Starline Igeria ✦ MISS V♛ KENYA
6. Ananya Mai ✦ MISS V♛ MALASYA
7. Dana Yotov ✦ MISS V♛ PHILIPPINES
8. Celestial Lunasea ✦ MISS V♛ TAIWAN
9. Ashia Denimore ✦ MISS V♛ THAILAND
10. Nice Wildrose ✦ MISS V♛ TURKEY
11. Leah McCullough ✦ MISS V♛ URUGUAY
12. Imani Enzo ✦ MISS V♛ USA

I tried to pick a winner right there and then, even though there were still 12 ladies to go, but I couldn't. So I listened to their answers to the questions posed and was struck by how thoughful all the answers were.

The top 5 were soon announced and they were :

1. Meimei Shiu ✦ MISS V♛ CHINA
2. Zaara123 ✦ MISS V♛ ICELAND
3. Natzuka Miliandrovic ✦ MISS V♛ ITALY
4. Starline Igeria ✦ MISS V♛ KENYA
5. Leah McCullough ✦ MISS V♛ URUGUAY

Soon afterwards after much questioning, Starline Igeria, the adorable Miss Kenya was crowned as the new Miss Virtual World. As I've lived in Kenya in RL, I was so delighted for her!

I can say, hand on heart, that this was the most demanding 4 months of my entire Second Life, but you know what? I would not trade one second of these past months for anything, not even gold. I poured my heart and soul into the contest and I have learned so, so much, not just about the skills of modelling, but about myself. I was upset not to make it to the top 12, but now after a little time has passed, I can deal with it much better. On another day, things may have been totally different, but on this day, the best lady won, no arguments!!

To those of you reading, if you be an experienced model, a new model or maybe thinking about starting, don't think "OMG I could never do that". You can, trust me. I am no veteran, I only graduated from my first school just over a year ago, so see, you don't need to have years of experience. Just have the desire and the will to give it everything until you have nothing left. 

What did I learn during these months? Too much to write here and that's a fact. I'll now do things I wouldn't have dared to before this started. I can deal with the inevitable rejections that come a model's way with a lot more grace then maybe I used to and that is a vital lesson I learned. The ladies I shared this time with, all of them were winners to me, such style grace and generosity.

My final thanks go to my designers who want above and beyond the call of duty, to all of the MVW team who somehow managed to plan and pull off this massive undertaking seamlessly and without a hitch. To my friends who supported me, pushed me and cried with me, I love all of you xxxxx

Here's to a great 2013, my wishes for you and your loved ones is for a peaceful and joyous Christmas.

SPONSORS FOR MVW

National Gown - Bouquet Babii - Vero Modero

Formal Gown - Amutey DeCuir - Bliss Couture

Hair - Kreolita DeCosta - Element Hair

Jewellry - Sequoia Nightfire

Poses - Isoldel Resident - Isomotions

Last MVW Challenges...oh boy !!!

Well, the wild ride that was MVW 2013 is finally coming to an end. I have such conflicting feelings. One half of me wants to scream and hide from everything, the other half never, ever wants it all to end. I bet I am not the first or last to feel those weird emotions, but it's a fair reflection of the committment and passion that we have for this contest that all of us have these emotions, well I think so anyway !!

The last 2 challenges were quite different and challenging in their own way, so as usual, I dived in to see what I could come up with.

The Apocalytpic challenge asked us to style an outfit showing how the world would end if it were ending tomorrow. After many aborted attempts to get something that looked right, I thought about global warming, the melting ice-caps (yes they are, but lets not get into that now) and decided that the end of the world would be brought about by water.

Finding this style was not easy at all, but after buying the gorgeous "Laylak" gown from Vero Modero, the style started to crystallize in my head. I found the perfect skin over at Boudoir and just upstairs from the skin was the ideal hair. I had loads of mermaid things so I decided to add scales to the skin to give a more aquatic look and BAM, there it was. It was just one of those things that happened by happy accident. I accessorised with a few small pieces and was just thrilled with how it looked.

This AMAZING photo was taken again by my photography sponsor, October Bettencourt of October Studios. Each time I look at it, I see some new detail or something I'd missed, just a wonderful capture.

A week later after I had submitted it, I had to pick my jaw off the floor as this image was judged to be the winner. I checked to see noone had slipped anything into my coffee but it was real, eeeep!!!

After this, Skip Staheli reshot the photo as the bonus for winning this challenge was to appear on the front cover of the December edition of the Best of Second Life Magazine. Little me on the BOSL cover, excited didn't really cover how I felt. So, I met up with Skip and he made this great image that featured on the BOSL cover.

Our final challenge I found personally to be one of the most difficult. All beauty pageants have a swimsuit section (steady boys!) but ours was not just a bathing costume!

We had to style it after the legendary Sirens of Greek mythology, aquatic women who lured sailors to their death with their perfect singing voices and alluring beauty. I tried very hard for a day, but what I came up with looked more like a mermaid than a Siren, so I had to scrap that look and start again. I went with a very cute bathing costume from Purple Moon and added parts of 5 different mermaid costumes to create the final look. The skin (again from Boudoir) gave it just that perfect touch of unearthy beauty I was looking for.

October again captured the look perfectly, so much detail in the photograph and JUST what I wanted! So again, a big thank you to her !!

Butterflies in the tummy ........

I can't believe it is almost here. On Saturday, a new Miss Virtual World will be crowned. Where did the last 4 months go????? It seems like yesterday I was dumbfounded that I had been selected as an official candidate, representing my RL home country of Cyprus.

I went into the contest with my eyes wide open, having no idea what to expect or what would really be required.Well, I can safely say my styling skills have been stretched to the limit and beyond, I learned new things, modified old ones and generally really grew as a model and a person.

Before the contest, I had a small SL family. That family is now increased by 29 amazing, wonderful women who have become like sisters to me over the past 4 months. They could not have been friendlier, more gracious and giving of their time or supportive to me who was, quite honestly, scared out of my wits.

The contest made me think, question my skills, re-evaluate them and learn. It has been such an eyeopener to what is really possible with SL fashion and clothes. I do things now I would never have been able to do 4 months ago and if I am honest with myself, things I would not have DARED to do !

I want to give a huge shout-out to the wonderful, generous people who sponsored my journey, not just with their skill, but as a shoulder to cry on, an ear and a helping hand to hold when I needed one. They were :-

Photography - October Studios - October Bettencourt
Jewellry - Sequoiastyle - Sequoia Nightfire
Formal Gown - Bliss Couture - Amutey DeCuir
National Gown - Vero Modero - Bouquet Babii
Hair - Element Hair - Kreolita DeCosta
Poses - Isomotion - Isoldel
Makeup - Face Paint - Eve Express-Qarnac

Without them, I would never have been able to make it, so thank you to each and every one of you who so kindly photographed me, made jewellry for me and everything you did for me.

So, only two days to go until I learn if I was good enough to be considered for the title. Whoever does ultimately win will have my full support and love, but all of us are winners to me. Such generous, kind-hearted ladies, any one of them would carry the title with grace and poise.

Was it all worth it? Oh my god, yes.Would I do it again? Absolutely. Am I mad? Maybe !!!!

My heartfelt best wishes to all of my fellow contestants, it has been quite a ride xxxxx

"Noir" from EVOLVE

Anyone who knows me will know I have worked at EVOLVE for the better part of a year now. I am the model manager there for Reign Congrejo, EVOLVE's owner and designer.

Reign now makes some marvellous mesh and I thought I would share this one with you. It's part of a collection of dresses called "Noir Beauty" and comes in 10 different patterns.

This pattern is "Noir Beauty 10" from the collection and has a lovely, swirling abstract pattern in black and white. The sleeves are slashed from the shoulders to just above the wrists and the skirt, though quite short, is perfect for those occasions when you need something classy and elegant. 

It is supplied in 3 sizes, small, medium and large and with the alpha fits perfectly and at 300L, it's a steal! So pop over to EVOLVE and have a look, Reign has an amazing collection.

Styling:-

Dress - Noir Beauty 10 - EVOLVE

Hair - Lori Dark Blonde 4 - DeLa

Shoes - Extreme Platform Black - Skifija

Naisl - Female Medium - Mandala

Necklace - Maxi Boules Marble - LaGyo

Bangles - Divinity and Satine - +DIVINITY+

Lipstick - Dark Red Intense - Izzie's

Eyeshadow - Expressive makeups / Eyeshadow 08 - Ricielli

Pose - Glitterati

Taxi -  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/San20Javier/163/231/23

Always loved 1940's fashions

Ever watched a film and thought "I'd like a style like that"? Well after watching some old black and white film set in the 1940's I thought I would have a try. I'd just been to Baiastice and picked up their gorgeous "Evange" jacket and it seemed pretty ideal to base a style around. So, I had a root through my inventory to see what I had to compliment it. Here's what I came up with ......

The skirt came from a store I had not been to before called Fanatik. I'd been after a skirt like this for ages, so I was delighted to, quite literally, stumble across it. It's a pencil-style skirt, cut to just above the knee and fits like a glove. The texture reminds me of glove-leather and looks quite amazing. Baiastice make some super mesh and this jacket, the "Evange", is no exception. A luscious red in colour, it had the look I wanted, but it lent the outfit a lot more of an edge. I added the black "Stera" top from Glam Affair, black hose from Bax Coen and the perfect finishing touch, the lovely "Femme" shoes from N-Core. And suddenly there it was, the look I had been after !

Styling:-

Jacket - Evange Red - Baiastice
Skirt - Pencil Skirt Black Leather - Fanatik
Top - Stera Black - Glam Affair
Hair - Demi Seaspray - Truth
Shoes Femme "Noir Intense" - N-Core
Gloves - Leather Long black - Lightstar
Eyeshadow - Dark Shadows Black - Chelle
Eyeliner - Cat Eyeliner 2 - Izzie's
Lipstick - Dark Red Intense - Izzie's
Pantyhose - Soft Shine Pantyhose Black 50 - Bax Coen
Necklace and earrings - Folieole Onyx - Finesmith
lashes - NoAlpha Lashes 01 - Miamai
Pose - Glitterati

Meeting the Press !!!

As part of the MVW pageant, meeting the press is part-and-parcel of the whole thing. It is good practice, as whoever wins, will have to do a lot of this, interviews and the like so it was a good exercise for us.

We were all asked to meet with the press at the BOSL Country Club and we were asked to style a really sweet cocktail dress, the "Cosmic Sequin" dress from Mimikri. We were permitted to choose our favourite colour and then to style as we wished with jewellry, accessories and suchlike.

I like pink, so I was happy to find the dress in a lovely delicate pink shade, with gold and beige accents from the sequin overlay. It just struck me as it was a dress I would wear for a day at the races, so I styled it to look like that, a day having a glass of champagne and hoping one of my horses won!

I tried to find a background that made it look as if I was skipping away happily! Well, I'm not much of a photographer but I enjoy trying.

Anyway, the good stuff :-

Dress - Cosmic Doll Sequin - Mimikri
Shoes - SENSE 2 "Champagne" - N-Core
Hair - Veronica Mesh Hair - Golden - Wasabi Pills
Eyeshadow - LIQUID EYESHADOW -peach - KOSH
Eyeliner - Cat Eyeliner 2 - Izzie's
Lipstick - Lipstick raspberry - Izzie's
Hat - Flora Hairband - Pink - Bliss Couture
Nails - NAIL/female medium - [MANDALA]
Shoes - SENSE 2 "Champagne" - N-Core
Jewellry - Nirmala Collection - Chop Zuey
Clutch - Valentino Recoloured - KR Designs

Answering a question from the press in front of a big crowd with no preparation or idea what the question would be was quite daunting. But as I said before, excellent practice for the lucky lady who finally lifts the title. One more challenge to go :)

Fourth MVW Challenge - Valentino :)

Well, what a busy few days it's been for me. OK, maybe more than a few days, but who's counting:) In between shows, I've been trying to get some designing done, more of that later.

Our penultimate challenge was to create an outfit inspired by RL designer, Valentino Garavani. Frolic gave us a link to examine and it proved to be very inspiring indeed. Some of his designs quite simply take the breath away.

After spending a long time browsing the collections, I decided to try and recreate this gown, which debuted at the Fall 2012 shows. After much headscratching looking on the Marketplace, I decided to take a risk and make it all myself, even down to the clutch bag (did I regret making that bag , whew). It took the better part of a day to make all the textures and get them just how I wanted them. Here's how it came out :-

Strangely, the hardest part to get just right was the bolero jacket. I don't have the skill to actually make the meshes, Blender I find impenetrable and don't get me started on Maya. So I found a mesh bolero and went from there. The bag was very difficult to make just right as the maps supplied with the bag I found confusing, but that's nothing new:) 

Anyway, I hope you like it, I was happy how it came out.

Styling :-

Gown - "Valentino Inspired Champagne" - KR Designs
Bolero - "Valentino Inspired Champagne" - KR Designs
Clutch - Valentino Bag - KR Designs
Lipstick -Soft Kisses 11 - Madrid Solo-
Eyeshadow - LIQUID EYESHADOW -gold- KOSH- 
Shoes - HEZABEL'S CHOCOLATE DIAMOND STILETTO - Dinki-Di
Lashes - NoAlpha Lashes_N01 - Miamai
Hair - Romance-Blonde - Vanity Hair
Jewellry - Miss Mundo 2012 Hezabel Blackheart Collection - Zuri Rayna
Nails - Female Medium - Mandala

Thanks to Bodza Mubble who provided this lovely image :)