1. Underline important items and write notes that show me that you are thinking as you read.
2. When you are done reading, complete the Venn Diagram on the back, which compares and contrasts Mary to
other girls.
This Homecoming Queen Is No Pushover
By Lauren Tuck
Smith in her football uniform
Smith in her Homecoming dress.
After school dances, most girls like to preserve their blowouts and
perfectly applied makeup for as long as possible. But minutes after
Mary Kate Smith is crowned homecoming queen of South Jones
High School in Mississippi on Sept. 26, she’ll wash her face, throw
her hair into a braid, and suit up to play in the football game.
The 17-year-old senior recently made the squad as the football
team’s kicker, which makes her something of a rarity. As of 2012,
fewer than 2,000 girls played football nationwide. For the last two
years, peers had encouraged her to try out — she has an amazing
foot, able to nail 35- to 40-yard field goals. Her natural kicking talent
comes from years of playing soccer, and she has even committed
to play for University of Southern Mississippi next year.
So how does she balance her girly side with the very masculine
sport? Finding the fashionable side of the uniform, of course! “I’ve
figured out how to adjust my pants and belt so it makes my legs
look longer (that’s always a plus), and I love the dark blue color of
my jersey because it brings out my eyes,” she tells Yahoo Style. As
for her long, blonde hair, she avoids the dreaded helmet hair by
rocking a simple three-step braid — it keeps her hair out of her face
on the field but adds a little flair as well.
When the teenager isn’t on either the football or soccer fields, she
loves shopping. “Shoes have to be my favorite thing to shop for.
Heels, wedges, flats, sandals, tennis shoes, and cleats all consume
my closet!” And while she won’t get to wear her gown the entire
night of homecoming, she had a ton of fun searching for her dress.
The white, floor-length gown is covered in sparkles, and she bought
glittery heels to match. “I was actually telling the guys on my team
about my dress at water break at practice and they replied, ‘Kate
you are such a girly girl!’”
While her teammates poke fun, it’s all in jest. In fact, her
coach, Corey Reynolds, told the Today show that “when she’s out
there, she’s been like one of the guys. … It’s not like, ‘Ooh, we
have a girl.’”
Sometimes, opposing teams don’t even know Smith’s gender until
they shake hands at the end of the game. But look close, and her
accessories give away her femininity. “My teammates always mess
with me about being so girly because a lot of times I’ll wear my
rings and earring and necklaces to practice,” she says. “I just tell
them I’m practicing with style!”
Mary Kate Smith
Other Girls