This question throws me off, and I try to read Jasmine’s expression. Is she purposely trying to stump me or does she hate my idea? I must focus on her a little too long because I see the audience shifting and getting restless.
I sigh. Who knows what she’s really thinking? I’ll just answer honestly. “Actually, I toyed around with a few ideas. I didn’t want to use too many embellishments because I wanted my design to be wearable — not a costume. The fringe and the studs provide the perfect balance. They’re interesting without being too over-the-top.”
Hunter leans forward in his seat. “What I like about this is the comfort you’ve shown with embellishments. I mean, from what you told us previously, that’s not usually your thing, right?”
I hear my family and Alex laugh in the audience. “True,” I say, smiling, “but the rodeo is different. It’s massive. It deserves a little flash and sparkle.”
“Thank you so much, Chloe,” Missy says as the crowd applauds and whistles. “We’ll take a short break as we discuss all these wonderful designs, and then we’ll announce who will be continuing on to the competition in New York.”
I walk back to my seat, feeling good. I did my best. Now all I can do is wait.
* * *
An hour later, I’m starting to realize that waiting is easier said than done. I explore the booths to pass the time and even manage to down some gumbo, which is just as fantastic and spicy as it was in the past. But as good as the food is, it can’t distract me for long, and I end up making my way back to my front-row seat to wait.
Once I’m seated, I look around at the other contestants. Everyone tried so hard, but only fifteen of us will make it to New York City. It’s not easy having that next step be so close, only to have it fall through. I clench my hands into tight fists as if that can stop the win from slipping through my fingers.
Just then, Jake slides into the seat next to me. “You were great up there,” he says. “My mom thought so too.”
It’s great to hear that Jake liked what I had to say, but knowing Liesel McKay liked my designs is really cool. Assuming he didn’t just say that to make me feel good, that is. “Thanks,” I reply.
“Someone said Garrett Montgomery was your grandpa,” he says, sounding impressed. “I didn’t know that.”
“Well, I didn’t realize you followed the rodeo,” I reply with a shrug.
“My dad is big on the scene,” Jake says. He points to a man in the crowd, but I don’t recognize him. Then again, I really only know my grandpa’s friends, and Jake’s dad is on the young side. “I’ve been hearing about your grandpa since I was in diapers. He seemed like a good guy.”
“He was,” I say. “Thinking about him helped motivate me to get here.” I look to the stage, but there are still no judges. “It’s been more than an hour. I wonder how close they are to making decisions.”
Jake nods to the side of the stage, and I spot Missy walking toward the microphone. “I think they’re about to tell us,” he says.
Everyone else must have been scoping out the stage too, because the crowd quiets down before Missy even has a chance to speak.
“Usually, we drag things out far longer,” Missy starts, “but there are some delicious-looking sandwiches and pie calling my name.”
The crowd laughs. “Don’t forget the sausage and gumbo!” someone shouts.
“Oh, I won’t, sugar,” Missy says. “This belly is starved.” There’s more laughter, and she waits for quiet before she continues. “First I want to say that this was not an easy decision. We have forty very talented designers here, and it would be wonderful to see every rodeo rider in one of their designs, but unfortunately, we can’t do that. The lucky fifteen we choose, however, will see their designs displayed at the California Rodeo next month. So without any further ado, Hunter and Jasmine will read the names of the teens who will be going to New York City to continue their quest for the fashion internship.”
Jasmine and Hunter walk onstage, each carrying a list of names with them, and begin to read them off. The crowd cheers for each one, and the winners run to the stage. Derek and Daphne are both called, and halfway through the list, I hear Nina’s name. The list continues, and I’m counting the numbers — they’re up to fourteen designers now. I can’t even figure out the order. It’s definitely not alphabetical, or I’d have been after Nina.
“One more name, ladies and gentlemen. My apologies to Missy and her stomach, but we’re going to drag this out a little more here,” Hunter says.
Missy clutches her stomach and looks longingly at the food vendors.
“The last contestant going to New York City gave me some pause in the beginning,” Jasmine tells the crowd.
“That could be anyone,” I mumble.
“She’s had some highs and lows,” Jasmine continues.
Hunter grabs the mic away. “One low, Jazz, not some,” he corrects her.
Jasmine rolls her eyes. “I’m trying to add suspense. Anyway, she’s had more highs than lows. How’s that?”
“Much better,” Hunter says. “This designer really touched us with her family story.”
At that, I perk up. That could be me! Hunter told me they liked me talking from the heart. I feel my mom’s hand squeeze my shoulder from behind.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” says Missy, taking the microphone. “I can’t stand it. She’s from Santa Cruz.”
When she says this, the crowd goes wild. I glance behind me and see my family and Alex jumping up and down. What if there’s someone else from Santa Cruz? I desperately try to remember if there’s anyone else besides Nina and me.
“Chloe Montgomery!” the judges shout. “Come on up here!”
OMG. I can’t believe it! Did they really just say my name? I feel like I’m in a daze, and then someone’s hand is on my back, pushing me forward. I run to the stage and find myself engulfed in a hug with all the other contestants and judges. I feel like I’m dreaming and have to resist the urge to pinch myself. Am I really going to New York?!
Cameras are suddenly in our faces, and the reporters surrounding the stage are shouting questions at us. How do we feel? Did we have a feeling we’d be the final fifteen? What do we think about New York City? Everyone is talking at once, and the reporters try to get all our names down.
“Nina and Chloe,” a reporter yells, “we’ve been following your story from the beginning. Now you’re both headed to New York City. Is there really no rivalry there?”
I open my mouth to say it will be nice to see a familiar face in New York, but Nina cuts me off. “I guess time will tell, right?” she says.
The reporter raises his eyebrows. “Interesting,” he says. “And you, Chloe, what do you want to say about your journey?”
There’s so much to say, I don’t even know where to start. “It’s been incredible,” I say. “I’ve learned I’m capable of much more than I thought and to not let things stand in the way of my dream.” That sounds a little cheesy and rehearsed, but it’s true.
“Well said,” the reporter replies, eating up my words of wisdom. “Now let’s get a photo of our Santa Cruz girls.”
Nina looks wary, but when a photographer steps forward, she puts her arm around me and pastes a smile on her face. When the flash goes off, I’m grinning from ear to ear. Who cares if I’m hugging Nina? I made it. New York City, here I come!
I can’t believe it. I’m finally here. New York City.
Everything has been a total whirlwind since the last round of auditions. I packed my bags, and my mom and I headed to New York City for the remainder of the competition.
There’s so much energy and craziness everywhere. The city is all taxis honking, people yelling, and lights flashing. It’s different and scary, but thrilling too.
I look around our hotel lobby, the meeting place for the Teen Design Diva orientation. The letter delivered to my hotel
room said all fifteen contestants should meet here. Everything looks so elegant — the marble floors, the plants hugging each corner of the room, and the soft, beige leather chairs. The other contestants are gathered nearby, and I recognize a few people from the earlier rounds of auditions, but the only person I really know is Nina. Given our history I’m not exactly anxious to go talk to her. I wonder if everyone else is feeling just as nervous and excited as I am.
Just then, the elevator doors whoosh open, and Missy, Jasmine, and Hunter walk into the lobby. They’re followed by a camera crew. Even though I’ve met them in person multiple times now, my heart still starts to race at the sight of them.
Missy smiles warmly at all the contestants. “First of all, we’d like to welcome all of our talented designers to the Big Apple. Even if you’re from New York City or have been here before, I guarantee this competition will be like no other experience you’ve ever had. When things get tough, remember to keep your eye on the prize — an internship with one of the city’s top designers. It’s an opportunity every designer dreams of, and it could be yours.” With that, Missy waves Jasmine forward.
Jasmine’s stilettos click on the floor, all business, as she steps to the front. “Let’s get the important stuff out of the way. As I’m sure you already know, you’ll be in New York for one month. There will be a total of seven challenges, and two contestants will be eliminated after each challenge. The show will be taped, except for the final elimination, which will air live. All the challenges will be timed, and unless stated otherwise, you will be allowed to use only the materials we supply.” Jasmine turns to Hunter. “Anything else you want to add?”
“Be creative,” Hunter says, smiling at the group. “Use your strengths, but don’t be afraid to try something new. Think outside the box.”
At this last suggestion, I feel a poke in my back. I can’t be sure, but it’s probably Nina saying I told you so. That’s exactly what she said the judges were looking for when she gave me that weird necklace back home. Looks like she was just being nice after all.
“And remember,” Missy adds, “have fun!”
“Your first challenge will be held tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Central Park Zoo,” Jasmine tells us. “Your packets have maps as well as walking and subway directions. Don’t be late.”
The next morning, I’m up and out of bed bright and early — partially because I couldn’t sleep, but also because it was clear Jasmine wasn’t kidding when she told us not to be late. Seems like everyone else felt the same. All the other designers, along with their parents, gather outside the entrance to the Central Park Zoo at nine o’clock on the dot. The judges, producers, and camera crew are already there waiting for us.
“Fifteen for fifteen,” says Jasmine, looking pleased. “We’re off to a good start.”
“For your first challenge, you’ll have one hour to explore the zoo,” Hunter says. “Decide what you’d like to see most. We’ll meet back at the garden when you’re done and explain more then. Choose wisely.”
Everyone splits up to explore. Mom and I pass the zoo’s Tropic Zone. Exotic birds chatter excitedly in the trees, and I make a mental note of the brightly colored feathers. As we move to the back of the zoo, monkeys screech at us from above as they swing from vine to vine.
I wonder how the zoo is supposed to play into our designs. Will we have to make clothes for animals? That would be a little out there, even for this show.
My mom and I come to a stop in front of the snow leopard cage. Inside, the big cats are snoozing lazily. “They don’t seem to be fully awake yet,” Mom says.
I point to the description posted beside the cage. “It says they’re nocturnal. It must be too early for them too. Maybe we can come back.”
We move on to the Polar Circle, and soon I’m watching polar bears, penguins, and other sea birds. The penguins waddle to get a fish dangling from a zookeeper’s hand, and the polar bears bat a huge ball around in the water. It’s so easy to get lost in the animals’ games. One polar bear does a loop around an ice tunnel and comes out the other end.
I notice some of the other designers gathering around and watching too. We all have notebooks and phones to jot down ideas, but none of us do. It’s hard to know what to take notes on when we don’t know what we’ll be designing. From the corner of my eye, I see my mother glance at her watch and frown.
“How much time do I have left?” I ask.
“About fifteen minutes,” she replies.
“We should probably start walking back,” I say. I’m a little nervous that I haven’t seen enough yet, but I’m more nervous about being late.
My mom and I cut through the center of the zoo, past the sea-lion exhibit. Trees separate the area. Small clusters of rose bushes bookend the trees — pink roses with yellow in the center, lavender ones with white accents, and red ones with white and yellow inside. In the center of the area is a large pool. Sea lions are sitting on the rocks around the water. Others are jumping into the pool.
“Sea lions are very social animals,” a trainer is explaining to a group of contestants standing nearby. The sea lions bark and clap their flippers in agreement, and the trainer throws them a treat. Another sea lion does a flip in the air before diving back into the water.
A redheaded contestant claps his arms, sea-lion style, and the other contestants and chaperones laugh. “Where’s my treat?” he calls. An identical redheaded boy standing beside him, obviously his twin, elbows him in his ribs.
As I watch, the sea lions race around the pool. Their sleek, dark bodies look elegant as they glide through the water like underwater ballerinas. A moment later I glance up and see the judges have gathered beside the rose bushes. Time’s up. I can only hope what I saw brings me the inspiration I need.
I head over to where the judges are waiting, and the rest of the contestants follow suit. While we were exploring, the producers assembled several racks of clothing and a table covered with a sheet.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Hunter says, “you had some time to explore, and we hope you were paying attention. Because your first challenge will require you to use the animal exhibits as inspiration.”
Oh, man. Maybe they’re going to make us design clothing for the animals after all, I think.
“Your challenge is to think about your favorite exhibit and create a garment that reflects that,” Jasmine says. “But there’s a twist. Because there are no electrical outlets available to us at the zoo, that means no sewing machines. This first task will simply be hand sewn.”
I try not to groan. Of course there’s a twist. I should’ve known they wouldn’t go easy on us just because it’s the first challenge. Hand sewing will make things that much harder.
“You will be given three hours to complete your design,” Hunter continues. He points to the rack, and I notice the basic shirts, skirts, pants, and shorts hanging there — stuff I’d lounge around the house in. “As you can see, there’s nothing glamorous about these pieces. Your task is to change them from drab to fab. Add a fancy hem. Dress something up with ruffles. The sky is the limit as long as you make it work.”
I try to take a deep breath and think clearly. Back when I first started sewing, I used to do this kind of thing all the time. Transform my clearance skirt with a cool embellishment or a funky hem. I should be able to come up with something in three hours, right?
“And last but not least,” says Missy, “you’ll be able to use all this!” She pulls the cover off the table to reveal dozens of fabrics and embellishments.
Around me, I hear the rest of the designers gasp. Whatever apprehension we have about this task is momentarily replaced with awe at the assortment of materials.
“Impressive, right?” Missy says. “Take it all in, but watch the time.”
I ready myself, one leg in front of the other, as if I’m about to start a race. Jasmine raises her hand and looks a
t her watch. “Your time. Starts. Now!”
A handful of contestants immediately run to the shelves, but I hesitate. How can I get started when I don’t know which exhibit I want to focus on? The monkeys were kind of interesting. Not sure what I can do with them, though. The leopards were promising, especially with their stunning fur, but all they did was sleep. Penguins? Polar bears? The sea lions?
I look around me, trying to come up with an idea. I don’t want to do anything too crazy since we have limited time and no sewing machines. Those constraints make things pretty difficult. Suddenly it hits me. The garden! I can make something inspired by the nearby flowers. It might not be animal-centric, but it is a zoo exhibit.
My idea starts to take shape as I browse the shelves and racks. A white T-shirt immediately catches my eye. It’s super plain right now but perfect for this challenge. I grab it off the rack and start sketching. While I think of how to dress it up, a breeze picks up and the smell of roses hits my nose. I use colored pencils to sketch a ruffled rainbow collar — that will definitely make the shirt anything but ordinary. I hold the paper in front of me. It’s definitely unique. In fact, it’d be perfect — if I was designing for a clown. I bite my lip and check the clock. I have still have more than two hours left, but I want to make sure I leave myself plenty of sewing time.
Just then, a cameraman moves closer to me and zooms in to take a close-up of my disastrous drawing. I was so focused I’d almost forgotten about the cameras surrounding us. I try to shield my paper a bit. That quick sketch is not how I want to introduce myself to viewers.
Around me, half the designers have already started sewing. The other half of the group is still sketching, but I have no way of knowing if their first attempts are as lackluster as mine.
I stare at the plain white T-shirt in front of me. I definitely want to use ruffles to simulate the delicate petals of the flowers in the garden, but how to incorporate them? I don’t want to do anything too cheesy or amateur. What if I ditched the sleeves? A halter top would look a bit more refined. And keeping it all one color would help.
Chloe by Design: Making the Cut Page 8