It started off like any other Thursday.
Two weeks ago, Mira Costa senior Zeena Bhakta awoke at 6 a.m., grabbed breakfast and her books, and headed to school.
By late morning, she had taken a call on her cell phone from American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who told her that she won radio station KIIS FM’s “Pimp My Prom” contest.
By mid-afternoon, Bhakta was a campus celebrity.
“I couldn’t talk,” Bhakta said of her phone conversation with Seacrest, who also deejay’s KIIS-FM’s morning show. “For a moment I started crying and for a moment I couldn’t breathe. It was so many different emotions at once.”
During the contest, which ran for two weeks this month, the famous television personality called a student a day to announce he would pay for formal attire, dinner, a limousine, and a camera for the event. Winners were chosen based on academic achievements and community involvement.
Bhakta received the unexpected call during English class, after guidance counselor Jennifer Woodie tracked her down at 11:30 a.m. and gave her permission to answer any incoming calls on her cell phone, which students aren’t permitted to use at school. Bhakta had no idea that her mother had heard a commercial for the contest while driving and nominated her for it.
English teacher Shawn Chen took the whole class outside since her classroom has no cell phone reception.
“When the call came through, the kids didn’t know who she was talking to so they were quiet,” Chen said. “One kid climbed a tree to try to listen to the conversation. It was a very moving experience for the students.”
Bhakta was placed on hold before she heard static and then Seacrest’s famous voice on the other end of the line.
“All of a sudden I heard, ‘Hi Zeena. This is Ryan Seacrest and Ellen K. from KISS-FM and your mom, Anita. What are you doing right now?’” Bhakta recalled. “I was like ‘Oh my goodness.’”
At first, Seacrest chatted with Bhakta about her college acceptances. While Seacrest voted for Duke University, Ellen K. – Seacrest’s radio show sidekick – said she should go to University of California Berkeley. Then, after praising Bhakta for her accomplishments, Seacrest announced that she won “Pimp My Prom.”
Bhakta won a $500 gift certificate to Windsor Fashions – a clothing store specializing in formal wear — a tux rental for her date, a limo ride for her and 12 friends, dinner at Cheesecake Factory restaurant, a digital camera and movie passes to an advance screening of the film “Prom.”
“She is a great student,” Chen said. “I think it is personally gratifying for her to get a sense of accomplishment after all she has done.”
“It is really nice,” said Bhakta’s mom, Anita. “She’s always done so much for others. This is a nice little turn around for her.”
Salutatorian of her class, Bhakta is also a drum major, a participant in the National High School Model United Nations and a member of several clubs. She is a choreographer for the non-profit organization Bollywood Styles, a mentor for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District’s elementary music program and a volunteer at both Kaiser Permanente Harbor City’s Emergency Room and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. She plans to attend Duke University this fall on a full academic scholarship and to pursue a career as a research scientist.
“[These are] things I enjoy doing,” Bhakta said. “It has become part of my life and part of who I am.”
But first Bhakta said she will concentrate on “pimping” her prom in June. And the focus is on finding her dream dress.
“I am so excited to buy a dress,” Zeena Bhakta said. “I haven’t even spent over $20 on a dress, ever.” ER
