Chyna was my mother in the showgirl world. She snatched me aside after my first disastrous talent night and her expert fingers corralled my errant makeup into a semblance of beauty that night. Later, she taught me how to paint correctly, although nowadays she just shakes her head and sighs when she sees how little makeup I wear, ha ha. She held my hand before my first pageant and held me when I cried after losing. I stayed on her couch, moved in with her, ate at her dinner table and borrowed her hair. She’s been a true friend.