Wednesday, December 24, 2014

But Tyra, I'm ready

So you’re telling me I can never be on America’s Next Top Model? Never? Hmm, well surely there must be petite models. Oh wait, the shortest person on the Petite cycle was 5 3’, 5 inches taller than me. Solid. The many days spent practicing my Beyoncé strut down the hallway has all been for nothing. Depressing.

Like every person, I’ve dealt with my fair share of insecurities. And I know full well how it feels to stick out like a sore thumb. I am not the norm and never will be the norm. I don’t quite fit into the plus size category but I’m also no size zero either. I’m not tall enough to be petite but I’m also not short enough to be on Little People, Big World either. So where does that leave me?

Many times, the pressure of fitting into a category or a particular mold can cause us to be self-conscious or even take matters into our own hands. When I’m riding the elevator to school and aspiring models surround me, the thought does cross my mind. Would I be happier if I was taller? And the answer is NO. This is not because I view being tall as a bad thing but because I was not dealt that card.

Although it is hard at times, the more I own what I have going on and stop longing to one day be able to rock a maxi skirt, the happier I will be. I think this holds true for everyone. The sooner we can let go of fitting into a certain ideal, the easier it will be to love the card we were dealt.

What I look like to the whole world with the exception of toddlers.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Christmas in the City

Studying for finals can make it hard to get outside and really enjoy Christmas time in the city. As finals come to a close, I am looking forward to the next couple days where I will be doing all the cliché Christmas things the city has to offer.

  Ice Skating in Rockefeller Center
The blisters on your feet from rental skates will be worth it when you’re ice-skating in front of the tree at Rockefeller. Other cool spots to ice skate in the city include Central Park, Bryant Park, and South Street Seaport.
Note: If you bring your own ice skates, it’s free to ice skate at Bryant Park. 

Macy's Window Display
These window displays located on 34th St. are done each year with a different theme. This year’s theme is “Santa’s journey to the Stars.” 

High Line
Bundle up, grab your hot chocolate and take the stroll from 34th St. to 12st on the High Line. The High Line is a revitalized railroad station, and is the perfect walk through the city. If you plan correctly, you may even run into a live concert.

 Rockefeller Center
The tree, you have to see the massive tree. 

 Union Square Holiday Market
This is the perfect time to check out the handcrafted jewelry, artwork, and authentic eats from all parts of the world. My personal favorite is the delicious Wafels & Dinges.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Secret is Out

Now, this is a story all about how, my life got flipped-turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you how Justin Bieber sang a song I wrote with my friend Lauren.

My friend Lauren and I

April 22, 2010
It was 2AM, Lauren and I were having a sleepover and we were so overtired. Naturally we decided to write a song for Justin Bieber’s guitarist Dan Kanter. Isn’t that what all people do at sleepovers. I’m not sure if you can really call it a song, it’s more like a short little chorus, followed by a juvenile rap. We decided to film ourselves singing it on my camera. The next day, I saw the video, thought it was so embarrassing, and didn’t want to post it. After some convincing, Lauren and I decided to post it anyways. (Note: My YouTube account is deleted, so it’s not on the Internet anymore, which is good because it’s rather embarrassing.)



A couple days later
We were planning on sending Dan the video on twitter but we had to time it right because he was in Australia. Before we could send it, he found it on YouTube and sent us a tweet. We were stoked. (Note: We later found out that he found the video because his fiancé Yael likes to Google his name from time to time.)

June 2010
I’m at soccer practice and I check my phone, I have two missed calls, and a twitter notification from Dan Kanter. Justin sang it for Dan’s birthday. Basically finding out you went from Justin Bieber not knowing you exist to singing a song you wrote with your friend yields lots and lots of crying.  

Summer 2010
Throughout the summer, Justin started singing our song on his North American tour during the special sound check parties before the show. For the next 3 years or so, he went from singing it at sound check parties in the US to singing it in concert worldwide. A few cities on the list, Tel Aviv, Dublin, Adelaide,  and Caracas.





November 16, 2010- Concert #1
Today was the day we got to meet Dan Kanter, and Justin Bieber. I was so nervous about crying when I met Justin that I had been praying about it for weeks. God answers prayer, no crying for me that day. We ended up getting tickets to the concert, and the sound check party. At the sound check party Justin asked Lauren and I to come on stage with him(FF 2:29) to sing our song. After getting to chat with Dan for an hour or so we got to meet Justin, he was what you would expect for any 16-year-old boy. After talking with him for a little bit, we left and went to our seats for the concert. The concert was great, and Justin even ended his show with our song.
Shaq Vs.
Earlier in the summer, Shaquielle O’Neal was filming his show Shaq Vs. and he crashed one of Justin’s sound check parties and he ended up hearing our song and then changed the lyrics to it. This is still the most random thing that’s happened. An NBA player singing a song we wrote (FF 4:25), kind of strange.

Picking up my copy of Never Say Never
Paramount Pictures
I remember it was a snow day and I was home from school. Dan called and told me that Paramount Pictures had decided to put a clip of Justin singing our song in the special features of the Director’s Cut of Never Say Never.

November 10, 2012- Concert #2
I was a freshman in college and I went home for the weekend to go to the Believe concert with my friend Lauren. This time was really fun because we got to talk with Dan and his wonderful wife Yael backstage for awhile. I won't go into too much detail but I will say that they are the coolest couple ever. One thing that happened at this concert that I’m really proud of is I made fun of Justin’s hair when we were taking our photo. Also, another random fact, Jaden Smith gave me a sweatshirt. I still have it, and wear it from time to time.

July 20, 2013- Concert #3
This concert was the second time we were seeing the Believe Tour and it was a lot of fun. We ran into Justin’s drummer while we were waiting to take a picture with Justin and he said, “I remember you girls, you look a lot different.” I remember thinking; at least someone noticed that I’ve finally learned how to dress myself.

December 25, 2013- Believe Movie 
The most recent thing that has happened is a year ago on Christmas; Justin’s Believe Movie came out. They had a clip of fans singing our song, so they had to put our names in the credits of the movie.





Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to look out for my next blog about Christmas in the City!  

Friday, December 5, 2014

#FellowShortyFriday

Name: Kathleen Farah
Hometown: Centreville, Virginia
Height: 4’ 11.5”

Bio: Kathleen is currently a senior in college, studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics here in New York City. In Kathleen’s free time, she enjoys reading economics articles and books. When she’s not doing that, you can find her asking other's their high/lows or watching Star Trek and Doctor Who. 

What’s one thing you buy that you wouldn’t need if you were taller?
“If I was taller, I wouldn’t have such a close relationship with my tailor. It’s this group of old men that sit around, yell at each other, and are very sassy and they’re just so much fun to watch, because I like old people. I’ve always had such a hard time buying pants because if you try on pants that fit you length wise, they don’t fit you around the waist, because they assume you’re a toddler. But my freshman year, I found these pants from J. Crew, they're called the pixie pants, they can fit any short person like a dream.”


Did you like being the shortest one growing up?
“I liked all the nicknames I was given, like Thumbelina. Probably the best thing about being short was during chore time, I would always hide in the smallest places, so no one could find me, and I’d end up getting out of chores. I was also a pro at hide and seek as well.”


Tell me about a memorable conversation that involved your height?
“Oh my goodness (puts head on the table), I can’t remember how old I was but I was a teenager at the time, I think I was 16. Mel Gibson invited people over to watch Passion of the Christ at his home, and my Dad’s a journalist so he was invited and brought me. Growing up the movie Braveheart was my favorite; I think we have recordings of me running around the house yelling "freedom". Anyways, what was special about this showing was that it was the uncut version of the movie, and in the uncut version the crucifixion process is about half of the movie. My dad took me after the movie to introduce me to Mel Gibson. He introduces me, and I say, “May I have your autograph?” This is the moment I have been waiting for my entire life. Mel Gibson doesn’t respond and looks at my dad in complete horror and says, “How could you bring such a young child to this kind of a movie?” My dad said “Well, she’s 16.” Then Mel Gibson just says, “Oh.” and then he signed his autograph and we walked away.”

You’re 22, what’s it like going to a bar?
“I went to this upscale bar called Rouge Tomate in the Upper East Side. The first time I went there, I sat down and I ordered a drink. Usually the fancier the bar the less likely someone is going to come in and ID you. But apparently I looked so young that they had to ID me, so I showed him my ID and he just looks at it and laughs, and says, “There is no way this is a real ID because there’s no way you’re 21, this is a fake ID.” He then threatened to take my state issued ID, so then I had to call the manager and the manager had to talk some sense into this person. But there is redemption to this story, Zach the bartender is now my pal, and he serves me all the time when I go there.”

When was the last time you grew?
“Children are usually the ones who care about the ¼-½ inch growth. But my doctor knew how much it would mean to me so he said, Kathleen, “You grew ½ inch, I’m going to update all your medical records, to say that you’re 4’ 11.5”.” I was so excited that immediately after leaving the doctors office, and I mean immediately because I did it in the parking lot of the doctors office. I wrote an e-mail not only to my immediate family but to my extended family that read, “Dear Family, I grew half an inch! If you see my Victoria Secret contract in the mail, just set it in my bedroom. Don’t worry I won’t forget you little people when I make it big as an international supermodel.”
Kathleen with her boyfriend Benjamin
Christmas is coming up, what are you most excited about?
“I’m most excited about spending an extending period of time with my family and seeing Benjamin, my boyfriend, who is coming back home from Oxford.”