These are the final pictures of the makeover that I've gone through this spring. I still have one more laser treatment
to undergo; however, you'll get the jist of it. The laser treatment was done by Regalo and it smoothed out my skin and
reduced acne scarring. The second laser treatment will leave my skin very smooth.
My hair was done at Blades Studio in Castleton. Cate Carrington, hair stylist, difinately had her work cut out
for her. I'm going to post an older picture of myself from when I had very blond hair. Thanks to my playing kitchen
beautician from the Wal-Mart half-priced shelf, she had a lot of work in front of her when I came to her chair. She
returned my hair back to its natural burnette color and added blond highlights. In addition, a few inches of my hair
was cut off. Yeah, after three years of dying the hair myself and living with well water - my hair was not in the best
condition.
The clothes that I wore were from Collection 94 in Indianapolis. The price of the clothes were just astounding
to me...almost affraid to wear the clothes on the runway. Of course, I've always shopped at places such as Wal-Mart
or K-Mart or any other store that had "Mart" in its name...never a "Collection" nor a "Boutique"
But, this is me now. I hope that you get a kick out of viewing pictures of the old me vs. pictures of
the new me. I know that I'm definately glad to have the runway portion over with. The last time that I had to
be in front of people was when I traveled with a carnival and I had a counter to sit behind. Other than that, the last
time that I had to walk in front of people in this manner, I was picking up my high school diploma.
Everyone was great to work with and everyone felt confident as they changed into the clothes provided for the show and
had their hair and makeup done by the professionals. I know that some people are going to read this and scoff at those
of us who needed this, or felt that we needed this change. When insecurity sets into your soul, it's hard to rid yourself
of it. It is like a virus that eats away at you until you are empty inside and just a carbon copy of the person on the
outside. It was nice to look like what my mind didn't convince myself that I looked like. Do not know if that
makes since... in other words, it was nice to see an actual attractive woman looking back at me in the mirror. I didn't
see the scarring that I had grown used to, I didn't see the pale and lifeless skin and my eyes actually had a reflection in
them. (Look at some of my old pictures and they are just black - light never reflected)
This is it... These are my words, this was my experience and I'm grateful to many people for chosing me, being polite
to me (other than one comment that I was too big LOL) but they did what I had wished for so long... I was pretty for a day.
I will always remember this weekend and being in a world that I'll never get to be in again... a part of a show (that wasn't
a carnival) and having the chance to walk down a runway.
-Lori
March 20, 2005
