‘Megan.’ She waves her hands in the air like she’s trying to alert a rescue team. Well, that’s me put to one side. I can’t compete with the boss.

My phone says 7 p.m. Amber will be shocking her dad at this point. I try to concentrate on the opening display of models, male and female, strutting their stuff on the catwalk. Their moves are accompanied by music unsuited to the echo in this great space. My head is bursting. I shouldn’t be here. I should be at home, with Amber, with Tom, with the boys. Taking a few deep breaths, I tell myself to calm down, you’ll be home soon. Hang on for a bit and then leave.

To my right, Megan sits, animated at the prospect of Meg’s Hair Salon receiving the Best Salon award. It’s very prestigious and would get the salon plenty of coverage. That means more business, which translates to more profit. Which is why Megan is animated.

Lights darken, music blasts out from the speaker behind me. Everyone is aghast at the wonderful peacock strolling down the catwalk. The shimmering blues and greens glisten under the lights as the model holds her head perfectly still in an attempt to keep the magnificent piece in place. The crowd reacts with delight, clapping and cheering with great appreciation.

Anna stands at the back of the catwalk, her eyes stuck on her creation. Her nerves are expressed in the way she holds her hands in prayer over her mouth. Her vulnerability is rarely on display, but in this moment, I see a stripped-down Anna. Gone is the hung-over, doesn’t-give-a-shit party girl. Here she wants to be respected, wants her talent appreciated, gives a shit. I hope to God she wins.

The ‘Fantastic Hair’ category continues with some amazing displays and some not so impressive. The only one I can see that might challenge Anna for the trophy is the beehive. A traditional style, exaggerated in size and texture, dotted with paper bees bouncing on the end of wires from the centre of the hive. Someone’s been following ‘Save the Earth’ on Facebook. The judges will have their work cut out. Style or content? I wouldn’t want to be them… oh, but I would. I wouldn’t mind being anyone else.

During the interval, Amy arrives at the table with a round of drinks that Megan bought to celebrate Anna’s participation. Anna now has to wait until the end of the show when the winner will be announced during a finale of fanfare and glitter. With our fingers crossed we clink our glasses and congratulate Anna on her wonderful entry. Is that a bruise on Anna’s chin? No. It’s just some dark make-up, probably rubbed off the peacock.

With three gins swimming through my veins, I’m feeling a bit more relaxed. The room has become softer, the music more tolerable.