"Look at how he carries himself in front of the camera."
Soon after Donna sat down, she began talking.
"He speaks so naturally, and he knows when to pause to let the audience respond."
"You should pay attention to that when you give interviews, too."
Hearing her mother start up again, Annie's smile faded a little.
"Mom, I know."
She had only wanted to invite her mother over to watch a hero she liked together.
Still, she wasn't surprised that the conversation had turned this way. Growing up, she had heard these things countless times: how to smile, how to hold her shoulders when she stood, where to look when she spoke.
When she entered competitions, there was always something she needed to do better, or a particular kind of answer a judge might prefer.
Donna had always taken these things seriously. Under her mother's guidance, Annie had entered plenty of competitions and trained in all sorts of things since childhood.
Winning was naturally a cause for celebration. If she didn't win, they had to go over it again when they got home and figure out exactly where she had fallen short.
Sometimes Annie found it exhausting, but Donna always told her it was all for her future, so that one day she could stand on a bigger stage.
The Seven, for example. She had heard that name for years, and after all that exposure, she had long since developed a dream of becoming a superhero herself.
Donna clearly wanted to say more, but on the screen, Lin Mo had already raised the microphone again.
"Besides accompanying Maeve to today's event, I have some news to share with everyone."
Annie immediately reached over and turned up the computer's volume.
"Vought will be holding an open nationwide selection to find a