In the Spotlight

by Tara Lazar

She leaned in close and touched up the lilac eyeshadow, swiped on berry rouge, and started unraveling chesnut-brown locks from sponge curlers that had been rolled in the night before. She marveled at how the lemon juice treatments on the beach this summer created silvery-blonde streaks, lovely highlights that were certain to earn additional points. Some teasing, a few spritzes of hairspray, Vaseline across the teeth, and then it was time to climb into the dress: a deep jewel-tone blue to match her eyes. She knelt down and spoke firmly, "Whatever you do, when they announce the winner, don't cry - don't cry if you win, don't cry if you lose - you'll smear your makeup. You're a big girl now, Hailey, let's act like one." When the new Little Miss North Carolina was crowned, six year-old Jenna Pierce from Winston-Salem, she did as she was told and did not cry, but her mother's tears were evident, reflecting the spotlights like rhinestones.

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Tara Lazar, author of Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah, doesn't need anyone to tell her that her daughters are beautiful. You can find her not-so-anonymously at Anonymom.