The author shares her transformative experience in beauty pageants, starting at age 16. Winning her first pageant ignited a passion, giving her a sense of validation. However, the triumphs came with significant emotional challenges, particularly the pain of being a first runner-up. She vividly compares the disappointment of losing to a hangover experience, emphasizing the contrast between the euphoric highs of winning and the crushing lows of defeat. This emotional dichotomy showcases the complex relationship between self-worth and performance in the world of pageantry.
Every pageant win after the first was like a fresh hit. But, the thing about highs is that there are extremely worse lows - like losing.
Winning a beauty pageant is like a high - the ultimate validation in a world where I otherwise felt othered. But not winning felt like the worst hangover multiplied by a million.
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