This is Tabitha Dunham and I am reporting live from Sweden with Cinderella woman Askungen who states she is the best Cinderella woman. Askungen is here and is going to tell us her classic Cinderella story.

    "Well it all started when I was a little girl and before I knew it my world was upside down," Askungen began. “My mother had died and just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my father remarried. Though he remarried I was still most important to him and this didn’t go unnoticed. My stepmother and her two daughters were very jealous and made me pay daily for the love and admiration that I received from my father. I became their servant and could never be seen as one of my stepmother’s daughters. Every day I only wished that I could be loved again and that I could feel that love around me. “

    “There was a great man named Gerald and he was known all throughout Sweden. He was the guardian of Sweden and the most handsome of all men. Much to everyone's surprise, he had not found a wife. He was searching for his one true love and was throwing a ball to do just that. My stepsisters were determined to go to the ball and I was not allowed since I was nothing but a servant girl. So the night of the ball, my stepsisters and mother ran out the house, hoping not to be late. I said to myself," If only I could go to the ball!" He, the noble Gerald, could be my one true love. I then ran upstairs and stood in front of my mother’s closet; it hasn’t been opened since she died. She always said that she would be there for me and today I needed her, unalike any other day. I took the necklace from around my neck which contained a key and opened the door with the key. In the closet, there was the most beautiful dress and a mask which would cover my eyes. I have always been told you can be anyone you wish at a ball.  I quickly got ready for my evening and rushed out the door."

 "Once I arrived at the ball, I took the staircase down to the main floor and as I began walking, my eyes met the handsome Gerald. He then took my hand at the bottom of the staircase and we danced most of the night. He told me I was the one, the one he had been looking for. Then he tried to remove my mask and I tried to step back to prevent him from seeing my face. It was then that the heel of my beautiful, golden shoe broke, and I fell backward onto the floor. Gerald started laughing as did I. It was then that I knew I had nothing to fear and I removed my mask. “    

“From that moment on, Gerald and I were inseparable and soon became married. I owe it all to my beautiful, golden shoes.  It’s a funny thing that a broken shoe would give me the courage to remove my mask and fall in love.”  

Wow, this is an amazing story, Askungen! We all know that it is all about the shoe and the perfect fit. This is how every Cinderella finds her true love. And what is it that makes you the best Cinderella woman? Is it your story, your handsome Gerald, or the shoe?

“No, I think I should win this competition because it took a great fall for me to fall in love, and  I want to help others who were like me, a girl only wanting to find her true love. I believe with the right shoes anything can happen. I know with my design any girl can be Cinderella. I am the best Cinderella woman for this job,” replied Askungen.

Cinderella Slippers:web Source:Wordpress

The question still remains as we travel around the world to find who the best Cinderella Woman is. I will be reporting next from Moscow as the search continues.   

Author's Note: In the Original Swedish story, Askungen is the daughter of a king and is admired by all. The king remarries due to the death of Askungen's mother and Askungen’s stepmother becomes very jealous and makes her a servant girl within the home.There is a ball being held and Askungen is not permitted to go. The midwife comes to the rescue transforming Askungen into a beautiful princess. The midwife also transforms a pumpkin and rats into a carriage drawn by horses to get Askungen to the ball. Askungen leaves her shoe behind when she is rushing out of the ball a little past midnight and she returns to her rags as she rushes home. The king then looks for his princess having all the women in the land try on the golden shoe. Once Askungen tries on the golden shoe the  midwife appears transforming her into the princess she was before. There is alot of magic within the original and this magic occurs with the use of the midwife within the story.

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