i do understand the pressure you are talking about. You dont realize so much in california as say texas and states in the south but there absolutely is pressure put on the kids by themselves. I know i especially feel extremely pressured at this point in time to lose weight. I tan before every competition as well as using whitestrips which i know are terrible for my teeth. I know that for competitions i need to look my best for the gym i represent. It is also hard when there is that one girl on the team, and there always will be, who is the prettiest and everyone pretty much idolizes. I know that competitions in dallas and atlanta lay pressure on kids more to look good than anything else because of where the other people competing are comng from. Worlds as well. everyne wants too look their best.  

Tamara wrote:

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I find it funny that in California there's not the pressure to be tan, super white teeth, etc...I'm mean this is Hollywood state...you'd think it would be the opposite.

This is the only thing I've heard so far that makes me just slightly less jealous of the ones lucky enough to attend. Thank you for that Anon9:48! :)

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If you're on one of Shawn's team, there's pressure to do all that stuff... or so I've heard