I had never felt more nervous in my entire fifteen years of life. There I was standing on a stage in a high school auditorium. If someone had told me three weeks ago I would be standing on stage competing in a pageant, I would have certainly laughed in their face. I am not a pageant girl, I do not wear fancy dresses and try to be beautiful. On the weekends I like to hunt, fish, go mud riding, and ride horses. I am not the girly girl type. Yet there I was on stage in a velvet blue dress competing against ten other girls to become the 9th Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival Teen Queen. 

It was a spur of the moment decision for me to do something like this. I had never been in a pageant before, but I am always up for a new challenge. I started preparing for this pageant only three weeks ago, after a group of old women said I would be the perfect queen. 

I had been doing the pageant all day. I started getting ready as soon as I woke up. I completed every other step of the pageant and it was time to crown the winner. 

There I was standing center stage next to four other contestants. I could feel my hands shaking and my pulse racing. I felt as if I could not stand still. It was almost as if my heart were to beat out of my chest. I could not wait another second. Finally, The president of the Orange Festival started to announce second runner up, first runner up, and queen.

“Second runner up goes to contestant number 11, Aunie Rethmeyer.” 

I exhaled a sigh of relief as I still had a chance at the crown.

“First runner up is contestant number 5 Ivana Talanicvich.”

I breathed another sigh of relief as the girl who was predicted to win placed second. This was her third year competing for the title so even I assumed she would win. As her name was called I prayed I would win.

“And finally your 2018 Teen Orange Festival Queen is… Contestant… Number 3 EMILY JOHNSON.” 

Hearing my name I immediately felt tears running down my face. I did it, I accomplished something I never thought I could do. I felt ecstatic as I felt the heavy crown being placed on my head. I could hear the cloud clapping and my family screaming. I could see my brother crying tears of joy for his big sister. 

With the crown on my head and my sceptre and flowers in hand, I took my first walk as the 2018 Plaquemines Parish Teen Orange Queen. I felt like I was in a daze and I could not help but smile for the whole next week. Taking a leap of faith and stepping out of my comfort zone had definitely paid off.