"Miss USA" contestant wants a ballroom gown?!

[and123]

Hi - has anyone else here who has listings on ballroomdancers.com received a costume inquiry from a "Marie Claire" who claims to be running for Miss USA? Her command of the English language and grammar skills are abysmal, and she says she's 5'6" and size 9/10. She asked if she could rent the gown. My first instinct is "Yeah, RIGHT!" Besides the fact that she doesn't at all seem like Miss USA material, who on earth would wear a ballroom gown at a pageant? Perhaps the current gowns with slim silhouettes and minimal accoutrements might work, but mine in particular has a relatively full skirt and long scarves on each wrist, which would look stoopid in any environment outside of competitive ballroom dancing.

Melissa

[Katarzyna]

Interesting...
I recently had an inquiry about my gown for a video shoot, but in the end, it was not in their budget...

I could see how ballroom gowns that have a current look might be nice in a pageant.. but yes, what you're saying sounds suspicious... So many funny scamming inquiries out there :lol:

But do keep us posted. Perhaps what' she's saying is true???

[macha]

Marie Claire was the name of the clairvoyante in "The Magic of the Unicorn", a "Choose your Own Adventure" book designed for 12-year-olds. She gave "you" the teardrop-shaped talisman that protected against evil AND purified the tainted well in your village, lifting the heatwave. It also leads to the Unicorn, who can help you or skewer you. One of those things.

:lol:

[Katarzyna]

Isn't Marie Claire a title of a magazine as well.. ?

[Pacion]

Isn't Marie Claire a title of a magazine as well.. ?

Yes :lol:

[Sagitta]

Hi - has anyone else here who has listings on ballroomdancers.com received a costume inquiry from a "Marie Claire" who claims to be running for Miss USA? Her command of the English language and grammar skills are abysmal, and she says she's 5'6" and size 9/10. She asked if she could rent the gown. My first instinct is "Yeah, RIGHT!" Besides the fact that she doesn't at all seem like Miss USA material, who on earth would wear a ballroom gown at a pageant? Perhaps the current gowns with slim silhouettes and minimal accoutrements might work, but mine in particular has a relatively full skirt and long scarves on each wrist, which would look stoopid in any environment outside of competitive ballroom dancing.

Melissa

Nope.

[and123]

Received another email, and this one is even more incoherent than the first one :shock: (phone number edited out):

MESSAGE FROM marie - claire:
==================================
hi my name is marie clair
and i saw ballroom dancer.com i am funning for Miss UAS and i need a dress.
i wan`t to be difftent form the other girl`s most girl wear straight gown`s
but i do not look good in them so i am going ballroom stayle and fluffy.
you can reach me at xxx xxx-xxxx the best time to call me is at seven or
later at night
i am 5`6
size 9-10


I have not replied via email or phone. Something tells me it would be a huge waste of time.

[cocodrilo]

Seems like the chick is a little loopy, with that typing. Maybe it's actually a guy! :lol:
5'6" and a size 9/10? That is way too, um, large, to be ANY Miss material, unless she's representing a fast food chain...

I would call (collect!) and check it out!

[DancePoet]

Seems odd, so becareful.

[Katarzyna]

Good luck, maybe she just has a strange taste.. :roll:

[DancingMommy]

Well, since most sample size dresses are size 8, that doesn't seem too off. Ask her:

1. Which premliminary she is trying out for (I know the guy who is the director of Miss Vermont USA, Miss Tampa Teen USA).

2. It could be her boobs make her a size 9 rather than the typical 6/8 most contestants are.

3. 5'6" is not unusual for (American) beauty contestants. Around 1995/1996 a book was written about the Miss America Scholarship Program and it stated that the average ht. of Miss America was 5'4". Yup. You read that right! Miss Universe (otoh) is a different animal entirely.

4. Contestants DO rent gowns so as to keep costs low. Ballroom gowns are CHEAP in comparison to pageant dresses. Ask me how I know this. UGH!

5. About the horrific email grammar. I've noticed in recent months that people have completely lost any sense of spelling, grammar, punctuation in email. It irritates the mess out of me but what can you do?

6. Chances are this individual is 16-18 and just getting started. Don't get me started on the concept of beauty pageants as a way out of the trailer park.....

[Katarzyna]

4. Contestants DO rent gowns so as to keep costs low. Ballroom gowns are CHEAP in comparison to pageant dresses. Ask me how I know this. UGH!

How much more expensive can they be?

[DancingMommy]

I have seen gowns for tiny babies in the 1000-1500 range. We're talking 1/4 - 1/2 yard of fabric TOPS. Of course, they are stiff with Swarovskis, but still.... I know somone who competed in Miss Florida (won the talent div) and her dress was given to her. It was worth $1600 with almost NO embellishments at all and that was back in 1993. It was custom made for her and donated by the designer. Factor in the economy & inflation....

Pageant gowns for the "big time" are big money. Really big money.

[Katarzyna]

wow, I only thought ballroom gowns were this outrageous :)

[DancingMommy]

Not hardly. It's insane. And you think ballgowns only get owrn once or twice? Hah! Pageant dresses turn around WAY faster than ballroom gowns. Wear it once and off it goes. That's why girls get sponsors. They'd never be able to afford dresses like that. AND that isn't the worst of it. They have to have an entire WARDROBE - interview suit, casual stuff, shoes, makeup, you name it. Most of it gets donated if you are a "Miss Texas" type. You know the ones.... The ones with the coaches directing their every move....

[Katarzyna]

Funny world I've never been part of... And don't really know anyone who was been :)

[DancingMommy]

It is a world unto itself, lol! And makes the drama of ballroom seem tame in comparison. :)

[twnkltoz]

Given the quality of the writing, my guess is that she'll want to send you a cashier's check for $4000 over the amount...

[Alex82]

Has it occurred to anyone that this might be one of those nigerian 411 type scams, where they buy something pay with a forged check and then ask you to send them the over balance paid along with the merchandise. Ballroomdancers.com has a big warning about it when you post something for sale. Poor spelling and grammar is a big warning sign along with them wanting to use a ballroom gown for a beauty pageant.......come on now. It does not sound legit, i would not do businessn with that person.

[Katarzyna]

I would see what it's all about.. If you hear anything about check for amount higher than the gown, just ignore the person.. But you never know...

[cocodrilo]

I just spent a month looking at sites for pageant dresses for my Japanese friend's littel girls' piano recitals. The kids dress formally at these recitals, and the dresses in Japan are like from $500-$1000. I told her that was ridiculous and so I found some great sites and we ended up buying the dresses for like $50 each. VERY beautiful and very elegant! The woman commented how Japanese dresses make little girls look like little girls, but their new dresses made them look like little ladies! :D