Where I am from, an African American woman’s beauty lays in the thickness of her thighs, roundness of breasts, and her long black hair but that all comes with a price. I am from Miami Florida; a city that is known for the fast life and money. Music artists’ especially Hip-hop artists come to Miami on their vacation and spend their money in the strip clubs. It amuses me that everyone who was born and raised in this glorious city has yet to experience this fast life and have seen fast money. However, it do not stop some Miamians from wondering what it would be like to live that fast life especially my best friend Bria. Bria and I love music especially Hip-hop music and Rhythm and Blues. We love music so much that we took music class after school with Mrs. Cathy at her music shop. I was good at writing songs and playing the piano and a little bit of the guitar, but Bria could sing and play the piano. When she sang and played the piano the music flowed out of her so softly and gracefully that one would want to be in the place that Bria was at in that moment. Mrs. Cathy always says “Music should always come from the heart because it means more when it comes from the heart and soul.” Honestly, I did not know what that meant until the summer before I started college. The summer before Bria and I started college, she got caught up in the fast life. I remember it like it was yesterday.

One day, Bria came late to music practice. I became worried because Bria is never late it was the only time where we can be ourselves and talk about everything that went on in school. “Bria, why are you late?” I said as she walked through the door. “Necie, guess who was at the mall?” she said as she ran through the door with excitement. “Who?” I said. “I met Q-9 and he was looking for girls to be in his new music video” she said. “Q-9” I said in shock. Q-9 is a popular and a well-known rapper; you could hear his songs on the radio all the time. “So you are going to be in his video?” I said with concerned. “Yes, this might be my chance of making it in the music industry” she said. “Yea, I want to be in the music industry too, but I not going to get there by being a video girl.” I said. “Plus, you know how video-girls are represented in music video especially a Q-9’s video.” I said. Q-9 songs were good, songs I could dance too, but in his videos always have half-naked girls in them. I did not want Bria to be one of those girls. However, I knew when Bria wanted to do something, she always did it. “I know Necie, but I really want to do this” she cried. “Well, I don’t agree with this, but I will support you.” I said. “Thank you Necie!” She said as she hugged me. I knew this had meant a lot to Bria because there was excitement in her music that day at practice.

A couple weeks later, I went with Bria to Q-9’s video shoot. The video shoot was at a warehouse in Brown-subs; there were a long line of girls who were wrapped around the building. The girl in front of Bria, asked her: “Is this your first music video?” “Yes!” Bria said. The girl was a Dominican with long brown curly hair; she had a coke bottle shape like most of the girls in the line and light brown eyes. “Well, this is not my first video. My last video I got $300.00 and I wasn’t the main girl” she said. The main girl in a music video is the girl that has the most screen shots in the video and the girl that is all over the rapper. “How much does the main girl gets?” Bria asked. “Oh $500.00 to $1000.00 a video” she answered. “WOW!” Bria said in excitement. “Yea, I know! I trying to be a main girl.” She said. When we got inside, Bria had to sign in at the sign-in table. “Are you auditioning also?” The lady at the sign-in desk asked me. “No!” I said. “Well, you have to wait in the waiting room until we finish shooting the video.” She ordered. In the waiting room, I could still see what was going on in the video shoot through the door window. They ordered Bria into the wardrobe-room to pick out an outfit for the video. When Bria came out of the wardrobe room, it was like she was transformed into another person. The make-up on her face made her skin flawless, the eye-shadow around her eyes made her eyes glow and the mascara on her eyelashes made her eyes pop. Bria wore a loose black blouse that came off her shoulder with black shorts and very high heels. Bria looked two-years older than her age, and I could tell it made her feel different A lady guided Bria to the director and the director placed Bria in front of the camera next to a few other girls and told her to move to the music. Bria move gracefully to the music; she put a lot into her hips like the other girls. Q-9 came on to set wearing a blue hat, shades, and he was holding a champagne bottle. He started rapping and moving around the stage. I became nervous when Q-9 came close to Bria; he glanced at her dancing and went to the other side of the set.

The video shoot lasted for five hours. By the time Bria was done, I was fast asleep on the couch in the waiting room. When came out, she was back into the clothes she wore before the video shoot and all the make-up was off her face. She came towards me with a big smile on her face. “Guess what Necie?” she said in excitement. “What?” I said in amusement. “They gave me $300.00 for being in the video” Bria said while flashing the money in the air. I was in shock because this was Bria first video. She talked about her experience all the way home. “Necie, they really like me and the casting director wants me to do another video.” she said. “Bria, I think that is great but don’t you think you going too fast?” I asked. “Come on Necie, this the only way I could see myself making it into the music industry. Don’t you want to be in the music industry too? I thought this was our dream?” she said. “Yes, I want to make it in the music industry but this is not the only way. Bria, we can create music. I thought you wanted to make it in the music industry by our music and not dancing in a Q-9’s video. Bria walked up to her house in despair and looked at me with a concerned face. “Necie, this the only way I could see myself making it.” she said as she walk into the house.

When I got home, I found myself watching music videos. I noticed that the video girls in the videos I were watching were very beautiful where they seemed almost exotic. These girls did not represent the girls that lived in my neighborhood. However, they did make me wonder what it would be like to be in their shoes or what it would be like to get the attention they were getting from the rappers in the video. After I watch the videos, I understood why Bria was fascinated by the attention, but I knew that this does not represent Bria as a person. A couple weeks later, Bria started to come late to music practice. “Where is Bria?” Ms. Cathy asked. Before I could cover for Bria, She came running into the studio. Bria’s hair was long and wavy, and she was wearing bright red lipstick. “Girl, where you been?” Ms. Cathy asked. “Ms. Cathy, I was at the mall!” Bria answered. “Bria, what you were doing at the mall when you know you have practice?” Ms. Cathy said. “Well...” Bria hesitated. “Well... What?” Ms. Cathy insisted. Bria and I have been practicing with Ms. Cathy for over two years. It was hard for us to hide something from her because she was like a second mother to me and somewhat of a mother to Bria. When Bria was 13 years old, she lost her mother and since she lost her mother, it has just been her father and her two brothers. “Well Ms. Cathy, I was getting ready for this music video that I am auditioning for this week.” Bria said as she prepared her music notes. Ms. Cathy looked up immediately from her music stand. I was frighten for a moment because I never seen that expression on Ms. Cathy face. “Music -video? Girl, what are you doing in a music video?” Ms. Cathy asked Bria in concerned. “Ms. Cathy, I got offered a chance to be in a music video. This is the only way I see myself making it in the music industry.” Bria plea.



“Let me tell you something, you think that shaking your butt in a Hip-hop music video would get you somewhere in life? Honey, if you only knew where you could end up.” Ms. Cathy said as she pointed her finger at Bria. “I know what it is like to want to be a girl in a music video but it is not all fun and games.” Ms. Cathy said. “Ms. Cathy, I just want to make it!” Bria cried. Ms. Cathy came towards Bria. “I thought it was the only way I could make it too, but it is not a guaranteed way of making it in the music business. Bria and Necie you have something solid right here in this studio. If you don’t remember anything that I said today remember one thing that the fast life is not always the best life. Don’t get caught up in the illusion you thing see by dancing in these videos.” Ms. Cathy said. Ms. Cathy walked back to her music stand and we began practice. I do not know if Ms. Cathy words got to Bria, but I know it got to me. Bria still went to that video shoot later on that week; I decided not to go with her because I did not want to spend all my time waiting in a waiting room. Bria did call that night. “How was the video shoot?” I asked. “Oh it was good but it took so long. Amanda said most video-shoots lasts that long.” She informed me. “Who is Amanda?” I asked. “Oh she is a popular video girl; she done a lot of music videos. She keeps me informed on everything and she knows everybody. She also got me an audition for another show.” Bria said in excitement. “Bria, what’s going on? I thought you wanted to be a singer, a musician and not a video model.” I cried. “Necie, I love doing music but where is that going to get me; we been doing music for a long time and it has gotten us anywhere.” Bria plea. “But Bria we have Ms. Cathy.” I stated. “Necie you just don’t understand; I think I always wanted to do this.” She said. “Bria-“I said. “Look Necie, I will talk to you later. I have to go” she interrupted me and hung up the phone.

The next time we had music practice, Bria did not show up. I could tell Ms. Cathy was worried about her and so was I. Bria never missed practice. After practice, I went over to Bria’s house to see why she did not show up to practice today. Bria lived a couple streets down from me; she lives in an orange house. I got to Bria’s house and knock on the door. Bria’s older brother Brandon answered the door. Brandon is tall with caramel skin and brown eyes like Bria, his muscles were seeping through his sweaty shirt and Brandon had the most muscular arms I had ever seen. Brandon always played football when we were younger and now he plays football for the University of Miami. I always had a secret crush on Brandon, but I never told Bria because I know she would try to play matchmaker. “Hey Necie, How you doing?” he said as he hugged me. “I am doing well. Have you seen Bria?” I asked. “She left with that video chick Amanda.” he said. “You know her?” I asked. “Who don’t know her; she in a lot of videos. I was surprise to see that she hanging out with my sister.” He said in surprise. I knew if Brandon knew about Amanda, then she was a very well-known video model. “Well can you tell Bria to call me when she get home?” I asked. “Yea, I tell her.” He answered

Bria called me later on that night. “Hello!” I said as I answered the called. “Necie” Bria said. “Where were you? You didn’t come to music practice today and Ms. Cathy was concerned.” I cried. “Oh my bad! I had another music video with Amanda and the video shoot ran late.” She answered. “Oh!” I said in disappointment. “Hey, we got invited to this really exclusive party on Friday and I really want you to come. It would be a lot of fun.” She said. I really didn’t want to go but the curiosity inside of me wants to see what it was like to go to one of those exclusive parties. I also wanted to be there for Bria. “Okay I go with you.” I said. “Yes! You are going to have so much fun.” Bria said with enjoyment.

Friday came quicker than expected; I decided to wear a nice red blouse, a nice pencil shape skirt that I got for a college interview and black heels. Bria came over my house, so Amanda could pick us up and take us to the party. Bria wore this really tight black dress that showed all her curves with red pumps. Bria’s makeup was flawless like it did when she did her first video. “Hey, Amanda would be here any second. You look nice, but let me put some make-up on you.” She insisted. “Why?” I asked in concerned. “Come-on Necie let me put some make-up on you and Amanda showed me how to apply some make-up on.” she said. “That does not mean I want you to apply some make-up on me.” I said. “Come-on it would make you looks older.” Bria insisted. “Why I need to look older?” I asked “One because its look nice and two I want to get into the party” she added. “What you mean get into the party?” I asked in concerned. “Well, the party we are going to is on the beach and you really have to be 21 years old to get in the party” she said. “I thought you said you were invited to party? I said in shock. “Yea, I was but I not so sure if they will let you in if you look your age.” She said. Normally, I would fight with Bria for not telling me that I might not have chance of getting into the party, but I decided not to fight with her because I believe that she really wanted me to come. I felt like I needed to be there. After Bria applied the make-up on me, Amanda had arrived to pick us up.

Amanda was a sexy Puerto Rican girl with straight hair who I recognized from a few music videos I watch in the past. She wore a nice tight nude-color dress with blue heels. When we got to the party, there was a long line outside. We went through the VIP line thanks to Amanda. There were a lot of well know rappers, models, singer, and actresses at the party. I felt like I was too young to be at the party and out of place. Bria and Amanda seemed like they fit right in. Thanks to Amanda’s connection we were given a booth and bottles, but I did not drink any of it. I have to admit the DJ was really good; he played one of me and Bria favorite songs. We got up and started dancing like we always do to this song. While we were dancing, a dark-skin handsome black man came over and asked Bria to dance. He was wearing a stripe button-up with a blazer and a pair of jeans. He took Bria onto the dance floor. “Who is that?” I asked Amanda. “Oh he is a famous producer name Damon” she answered. After the dance they walked off somewhere. After 20 minutes, I began to worry about Bria, so I told Amanda that I was going to restroom who was so engaged in her conversion with a guy that she paid no attention to me leaving the booth. I started to look for Bria but I could not find her, so I decided to go to the restroom. I had no idea where the restroom was, so I asked one of the bartenders. She told me it was through the hallway on the left. As I was walking down the hallway, I heard a moaning sound and I look over to see where the sound was coming from. I noticed Damon and Bria making out in the hallway. His hands were on her thigh and her hands were rested on his shoulders. Next thing I know, Damon moved his hand up her thigh and slowly up her dress. Bria immediately stopped kissing him and gave him a surprised and frighten stare.

He smiles back at her. “I don’t want to do this!“ She cried as she tried to pull away from him. “You know you want this.” He said as he gripped her arm and pulled Bria closed to him. “No!” she said as she pulled away from him. He gripped her arm again. I immediately ran over and pulled her off of Damon. “Come on Bria, Let’s go!” I said as we ran to the nearest exit. We got outside and ran to the nearest bench and sat down. “I had no idea he was going to do that.” Bria cried. “I know” I said as I comforted my best friend. “Now what are we going to do now?” Bria asked. I realized that Amanda was our ride and we could not go back into the party. I tried to think of people who we can call to come and pick us up. I knew we could not call our parents. Immediately, I thought of Ms. Cathy and I called her. “Hello” Ms. Cathy said. “Ms. Cathy, this is Necie. Bria and I are stuck at this party on the beach and we do not have ride.” I stated. “Okay, Necie, y’all stay right there and I will be there in a second.” Ms. Cathy said without asking for an explanation.

Ms. Cathy picks us up within twenty minutes and on the ride home we told her everything. Ms. Cathy wanted us to go to her house before we go to our houses; she said that her friend from Atlanta came down to visit her and she would like for us to meet her. When we got to Ms. Cathy’s house, she introduces us to her friend Lynn. Lynn was beautiful with long luscious hair and flawless dark skin. “So Cee tells me, you want to be a video model?” Lynn said looking at Bria. “I don’t know if I want to be a model anymore.” Bria said in shame. “Trust-me, I know all about that life.” Lynn said. Immediately Bria and I look at Lynn in shock. “Five years- ago, I was you. I was a video model living a fast life. Everyone thinks it always about the glitz and the glamour but they don’t see the hard work and pain. I am not going to say that something good cannot come out of being a video model. I know a lot of video models who turned into actresses and celebrities but they will always be reminded that they were a video model. However, majority of models end up in the strip club because they are addicted to the fast life and fast money.” Bria and I looked at each other in shocked. “See you are lucky” Lynn said to Bria. “Why am I lucky?” Bria asked in confusion. “Because, you got out before it got serious. When you are a video model, there are a lot of people who think video model are easy to spread their legs. By the time, I realized this it was too late.” Lynn said as she looked down to the ground. “What you mean?” I said in curiosity. “Eventually, I was raped at a video shoot and that was a sign for me to stop. A friend invited me to Atlanta and I been there ever since. The best way for you to make to into the music Industry is to continue to practice with Ms. Cathy because you have talent. Both of you have gift that I heard so much about from Ms. Cathy. A lot of girls don’t have talent so they find the easy way into music industry like being a video model. Please don’t go down that path when you have music in your soul.” Lynn said to us.

She informed us that Ms. Cathy knew a lot of people in the music industry and all this time Bria was trying to get into industry by being a video model when Ms. Cathy was always there to help her get there. Lynn left us with a lot to think about but I think she really got to Bria. The next time we had practice, Bria was there on time. She was back to singing her soulful songs with her angelic voice. She said that she not doing video modeling anymore and she stop talking to Amanda. By the end of summer, Bria and I were away in college studying music; we still stayed in contact with Ms. Cathy. She taught us something we will never forget which is to believe in ourselves and our MUSIC (our gifts)!



THE END