My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Like Vanessa
Nessy’s mother left them when she was still 4 years old, hence she can’t remember any memories she had with her. Also, she has no idea where her mother is; she wants to ask her dad about her mom, but he always evades any questions about her. Nessy’s dad, Daniel, distanced himself ever since his wife was gone. On the other hand, her grandpa always reminds her dad that Nessy needs to know the truth about why her mother left them.
Nessy’s grandfather, Pop Pop, is a WWII veteran; he and Nessy never failed to watch the TV broadcast of Miss America every year. Ever since the pageant first held on 1921 and the first time that a Black American was allowed to join on 1933, there was no successful Black American participant who won the title neither became a runner-up.
The year 1983 is a momentous event because after 50 years, a contestant from New York, named Vanessa Williams, won the prestigious pageant. This gave Nessy’s music teacher, Mrs. Walton, the idea to persuade her to also join the very first beauty pageant that will be held at their school. Nessy’s grandpa and cousin, TJ, supports Mrs. Walton plan to let her compete in the contest. However, her dad strongly disapproved of it, but they go behind his back just to carefully prepare Nessy for the competition.
The story of Like Vanessa will teach us a lot of things, just like beauty is skin deep; the color of your skin doesn’t reflect your personality and traits. Loving and accepting yourself is the key to one’s happiness and self-fulfillment. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the so-called “triple-L pageant package”: light skin, long hair, and long legs; because what’s important is what’s beyond that external appearance.
