Luckily, once the media got word of this, anyone who missed out on the experience was invited to a second casting — and The Tyra Show. After taking full advantage of both opportunities (and yes, I walked on Tyra's runway), I was ready to give the whole process another go.
Finally stepping into the audition, solo this time, was surreal. I received a number, and once it was called, I lined up in a room full of women. A mix of different ethnicities, shapes, and sizes — much like the first crowd — surrounded me. Even though this was "the short season," I still felt pretty tiny, standing there in my oversize gray shirt, skinny jeans, and heeled black booties.
"Turn," said one of the judges, who was seated at a long gray table in front of us. We did. "Turn," they said again. Again, we complied. After carefully examining each of us, they shouted out some numbers, mine included, and it was off to the next room, where this was repeated.
While waiting to enter each round of casting, people around me struck up conversation. "I got these heels at a store called Cinderella-something," a redheaded girl told me, pointing to her turquoise pumps. I made a mental note to google it and buy them when I go out. "Wow, she has an interesting look," another said, gesturing toward a thin girl with dark hair, light eyes, and a prominent nose. "Almost like an alien, but I think the judges like that kind of thing." I awkwardly nodded, but then pretended to text, trying to keep to myself.
Once I entered a room with cameras, I was feeling pretty good. Was I about to be on TV? Were we somehow Skyping with Tyra, a rumor that was now being spread through the crowd? Cheerfully, I stated my name, age, and height.
