Day 1583 - Head and Shoulders

My daughter is head and shoulders above the rest.

The tall and the short of it

I know you think I'm a big bragger (and I am) but she really is.  She is quite honestly a full head taller than most of her friends and always has been.  At 178 cm tall, she's now half a head taller than me. We knew she was going to be tall.  From a very young age people expected so much more from her because they thought she was older than her actual years.  As a toddler at the playground, 4 year old kids would come up to her wanting her to climb the equipment with them, or push them on the swings. She was 2.  It stands to reason that she's tall given her dad is 6 foot 5.  It's a no brainer.  So when she was young - around the age of 8 - I started enrolling her in deportment classes at the Lizzy Wagner Academy to help her feel proud of her height.  We didn't want her to shrink to fit ... but rather be proud to rise above.



And that's how she got a taste for modelling.  The Lizzy Wagner Group used to be very modelling based, so all classes included personal grooming, catwalk and photo components.

So you see, I guess I kind of encouraged her into modelling without it really being a conscious decision.  She's head and shoulders above everyone else ... which has it's definite advantages in some industries .... so it was either going to be modelling or basketball.  Or someone who fixes smoke alarms or changes light bulbs without a ladder.

A year ago this modelling bug really hit her hard.  We hadn't done any Lizzy Wagner training for years, but for some reason she got a hankering to get this modelling thing off the ground.  She was only 13. I told her to come back and talk to me about it again when she was 15.   She said no.  She said it was her dream ... and that I always encourage people to achieve their dreams.   She said it was time to start now or she would get left behind. Who am I to argue with that?

So we got some pictures taken and contacted a modelling agency.  From the first time she stepped in front of a camera it was obvious she was a natural at this modelling stuff.  Sure she was nervous. Sure she took time to warm up.  But overall the photographers were amazed at how easy it was to work with her.  Wow. Maybe this could really happen.

After the first bunch of pictures and the modelling agency thing I took a step back.   I hoped that would be enough to appease her for now.  She was too young. Modelling is not really an industry you hope for your child.  It is fraught with danger, negativity and body image issues.  Or so they say. It's also hard slog in Canberra with very little work but for a select few. But Tahlia wouldn't let me forget about it.  As she neared her 14th birthday she pleaded for us to do more. She wanted to become a freelance model (forget the agency) and get some more shots done.

I love a person with enthusiasm and commitment for their goals.  What the hell.  Let's give it a go.

So I worked out how to freelance, how to work with photographers and make-up artists on a TFP (time for prints) basis, and I found some online groups within our region that help coordinate such gigs. Within 6 months Tahlia went from a girl with a dream to a girl who was achieving her goals.  

Photographers are now lining up to work with her, she's had her moment of glory in this month's Girlfriend Magazine, she's done her first runway gig, she's modelling handbags for a new (local) label and she's been an extra in a music film clip.  And through it all everyone has been extremely encouraging, supportive and helpful.

While the future is still unknown, the present is bringing great rewards, and this girl of mine ... who is head and shoulders above the rest .... is growing into an amazing and well balanced young lady who believes in the possibilities. And who is proud to be tall.

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Speaking of Head and Shoulders ... it's give-away time!

Who wants some free shampoo? 

Head and Shoulders would like Deep Fried Fruit readers to start 2014 with a fresh and "ready for anything" confidence.  Soft, healthy and flake free hair is just around the corner.  So you too can feel head and shoulders above the rest.

They are offering FOUR prize packs each of which includes:

• Head and Shoulders anti-breakage scalp care shampoo and conditioner set 400ml
• Head and Shoulders clean and balanced shampoo and conditioner set 400ml.

Total prizes valued at $183.84 (that's around $46  per prize).

To enter the competition simply say ME and you're in the draw.  The competition is open to Australian residents and closes next Tuesday 11 February at midnight.  You can enter via blog comment, Deep Fried Facebook, Deep Fried Twitter, email or text. Four names will be pulled randomly from a hat. Please make sure I have enough details to track you down if you win.  If I can't contact winners within three days of the draw I will need to do a re-draw.

Happy Tuesday everybody! 

Me, me, me, me, me, me, me .....