RANSVESTIA

All the girls were very friendly and again I was accepted as a girl with no questions asked.

The show went better than I expected and when I changed again everyone in the room at the time was so busy changing themselves that they didn't notice me changing in the corner of the room.

As the weeks went by Connie and I went everywhere together. We went to the beach as much as possible and I got a beautiful tan. We went to movies, out to eat, on long drives or just went out shopping. I was be- ginning to forget Rick and think of myself as Lois.

As time passed I was learning more and more and enjoying it immen- sely. The people at work were wonderful and Mimi had a modeling job for me at least once a week. She helped me build up poise and confidence and Connie helped me with most of the other aspects necessary for the pageant.

Then one day there was an article in our paper which read

All those girls, between the ages of 18 and 25, who want to enter the Miss Center City beauty pageant two weeks from to- day, on September 17, should register at Pageant Hall no later than Sept. 9.

As I read this my heart began to beat faster. This was it, the beginning of what the last year's preparation was all for.

I jumped into my car and drove over to Connie's house. I showed her the article and we both went over to the hall for the beginning of the big event.

As I stepped up to the desk to pick up an application I felt, not ner- vous for fear that I would be discovered, but instead the kind of excite- ment that any girl would feel in the same situation. I was informed by the secretary behind the desk that there would be no physical examina- tion this year because they were sure that all the contestants entering the pageant were girls. I almost laughed when I heard this but finished fill- ing out my application and turned it in. I was told to report on stage for rehearsal at 9:00 sharp the morning of the 15th. All contestants would be shown the dressing rooms, entrances and exit points, where they would stand on the stage for group numbers etc. and in what order they would appear.