Beauty and the Beast, for real

I have perhaps taken for granted my looks up until yesterday. I've never had anything drastic happen to my face, up until yesterday. I'll explain in a bit, just go wth me on this.

This business is based on looks for the most part, right? The first half of getting a job is to "look right for the part." 

Now, having danced for most of life, I am pretty graceful and balanced all of that. I don't trip over my own feet or anything like that. I have, however, had several instances in my life where I was greatly injured because of circumstances that are still questionable to this day:

- 6 years old, a field trip to the park. "Ooo, a lake!" All of us little kiddies start to throw bread crumbs into the lake to feed the ducks. I lean in just a little too far and fall into the lake (the very dirty, unkempt lake mind you.) Nothing too bad here, just a little shaken up and embarrased.

- 10 years old, jumping on my bed with 2 friends. One by one we all jump off the bed and onto the floor, I'm last. As I descend onto the floor, I land on my right arm, my body crumbling on top of it. A trip to the emergency room lands me with a cast on my arm.

-15 years old, I'm at the height of my dance training. My bones are sore and tend to crack often. I also like to alleviate the pain by cracking my own bones. On such a day, I crack my neck and it goes a little too far. I can't move my head and am put in a neck brace for a week.

- 20 years old, acting class in college. I'm practicing a stage combat move that goes horribly wrong. I'm supposed to run into the wall and put my hand in front of my face and fall down. Somehow, my chin and the wall meet and my jaw is off it's hinge. Another trip to the emergency room...

- Yesterday afternoon, I am about to start a vocal warm up. I am seated on my bed, in mid stretch. I stand up and when I wake up, I am no longer standing. My glasses are broken, 2 feet away from me, my head is on the floor, and my face is cut up. Somehow, I blacked out. 

Well... this is grand, and puts me in a bit of a dilemma. For someone whose job is to show up and look like the girl in my pictures, I can't really do that now. Mind you, I'd be perfect for the role that calls for a victim of domestic violence or a crack junkie, but I don't tend to go out for those roles very often. 

I guess the lesson of the day is this - never take anything for granted. Your pretty face, your well being, or extra strength tylenol - you never know what's going to happen! 

-- Dominique

Comments

[Linda Fausnet]

I think about this kind of thing a lot.. I'm not beautiful, I'm average. I always try to keep in mind that I may not "turn heads", and but I also don't TURN HEADS - I have not suffered facial burns or have scars like so many people, and I don't have a cleft palate or anything that causes people to stare. There are so many people who would love to be considered average! Easy to forget when we find ourselves comparing ourselves to supermodels. I also try not to take for granted that something could happen like an accident or something.

[rm]

are you okay??

[Dominique]

@Linda - It also makes you think of supermodels who do get injured, like Niki Taylor (critically injured in a car accident) and Lauren Scruggs (lost an eye and arm in a helicopter accident) whose job is to look pretty, and what happens when your looks are put on the line? It's a very crazy thing to be paid for your looks!

[Dominique]

@rm - I don't know what happened. Literally just fainted and am getting some tests done to see why. Thanks for asking!

[Steph]

The cuts will heal. I'm more concerned that you passed out. Please keep us all posted on what your tests reveal.

All the best for your continued success.

Steph

[Syncope Actor]

It's not horribly uncommon for people to faint when they get up too fast-- make sure you're always well-hydrated, and PLEASE see a doctor! Feel better!

[Dominique]

Thank you all for the concern. Turns out an irregular heartbeat can contribute to fainting spells. Going to see a cardiologist this week. Hoping for the best!

[Jess]

Good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine...I am a healthy young woman who has been to doctors due to my fainting spells (happens when I get up too fast after sleeping or laying down for hours), and they haven't found anything wrong. If you're thin and in shape you could simply have low blood pressure, which can cause fainting.