We spent a wonderful weekend at Sun City Vacation Club last weekend and were lucky enough to photograph the Miss Million Dollar Beauty Pageant at The Valley of the Waves.

It was a beautiful day filled with so many beautiful women. I don’t really know how they managed to look so good, especially in their evening gowns, as it was unbelievably hot on Sunday!!!!

Nevertheless, the models did what they needed to do, including hair and make-up right there in the sun at the valley of the waves….. I think there were a few nervous contestants, but all in all it was a lovely day.

I was surprised to see just how many conrestants there were in the competition. It was a long competition and a really tough job for the judges….

The visitors to the valley of the waves certainly enjoyed the show and the stage was constantly surrounded by oogling men (it looked quite bizarre to see the audience enjyoing the pageant in their costumes and little else). In fact, they were handing out sunblock and after sun cream as give-aways during the competition…..

Of course, we were distracted every

now and then as my boys really were not interested in any beauty contest even if it was The Miss Million Dollar Contest (they are only 5 and 6 after all) and so their dad had to keep them entertained in the wave pool and on the supertubes (as well as lots of ice-creams and cooldrinks) while I photographed the models.

It was challenging to say the least because it was really full and really hot, so I take my hat off to all the contestants for keeping their cool and looking as beautiful and gracious as ever like professional models should…..

It’s always lovely to photograph fashion shows or beauty pageants or

competitions of that sort as there is always so much excitement coupled with a healthy tension and the girls are pushed to perform.

I love to see people doing what they love and excelling – it is inspiring to me. So to all those young budding models out there, my advice to you is if you dream of being the next supermodel of the world and have any doubts, just go for it because if you love what you do, you can only succeed…..

yes you will have challenges along the way and it won’t always be easy, but if it means a lot to you, you will embrace the challenges and move through them and you just might find yourself living your dream…..

Congratulations to the winners of the Miss Million Dollar and Miss Teen Million Dollar 2008 as well as all the contestants who participated and made it a day to remember…..