Disney's Princess & the Frog Event

I had the honor of being the featured guest for the Indianapolis Delta Red Carepet pemier event for the new Walt Disney movie "The Princess and The Frog". This was a sold out event with 900+ attendees. It was truly historical!







"The Princess and The Frog," will finally become the first Disney animated movie using an African-American princess. A musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz - New Orleans - The Princess and the Frog will introduce the newest Disney princess, Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), a young African-American girl living amid the charming elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. This movie has been applauded in the national media and addresses the identified need of diversity in various media forms. I was so excited to meet and greet all of the princesses in attendance, take photographs and sign autographs. Every young girl is a princess and deserves to be celebrated as such. It was a blessing to be apart of such a wonderful event!

A Special Thank You

I have to take a moment to say a special thank you to my friend of 18+ years - MR Fashion himself - Reco Chapple!! From my evening gowns, to my cocktail dresses - and some luxury items in between- Reco's fashion ability and talent truly knows no limit. Thank you for allowing me to wear so many wonderful pieces and for creating works of art that truly capture who I am. Friendship is hard to come by and loyalty is worth its weight in gold. Thank you my friend for both!

Ladies, I am telling you, for all of your pageantry needs, Reco is the man!!! Here's how to get in contact with him and review his body of work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxt9VBferlk

http://www.houseofchapple.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thehouseofchappleinc

http://twitter.com/RecoChapple

http://www.facebook.com/people/Reco-Chapple/650273862

Dare the Dream Event in Illinois

I had a wonderful time attending and co-emceeing the fashion for the luanch event for Tiara Magazine and Celebrating the Success of Modern Women- a new online magazine that entertains, informs, and empowers women from all walks of life. It was a really successful and fun event. So glad I was able to help out in any way to make this evening a success for Sherrie and Rachel.

The Lynn Johonson Motivational Talk Radio Show

I really enjoyed being a guest on the Lynn Johnson Motivational Talk Show this morning where we discussed beauty and redifining how we view ourselves. I had an opportunity to discuss the importance of living a balanced life, focusing on the development of ones self both personally and professionally. I also had a chance to talk about the work that I've done with some of the wonderful organizations that are near and dear to my heart, as well as the wonderful and unique aspects of the US Beauties Pageant System.

Check out a recap of live the show below. And just for clarification purposes, I was not late to answer the phone for the show - they were calling the wrong number! I don't know who they were calling at first but it wasn't me HA!!
Be blessed!!!

Well most of you know by now that we are expecting our second blessing in March 201o. We found out today that we are having a BOY!!!! I can't wait!!! We are so excited!!! Kinsley is going to be a WONDERFUL big sister and we couldn't be more thrilled!!! What a blessing from above!

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward...Blessed is the man that hath his quiver full of them..." (Psalm 127:3,5)

Indy AIDS Walk/ Run

I went downtown to the Indiana World War Memorial/ University Park this past weekend for the Indianapolis AIDS Walk & Ride. The Indianapolis AIDS Walk & Ride is an annual event that supports services and programs serving the more than 10,000 Hoosiers with HIV/AIDS. The pandemic is far from over – infection rates are increasing among women, youth and minorities. Indiana remains above the national average of young people under 25 who are living with AIDS. The Indiana AIDS Fund is also a senior partner of the National AIDS Fund, the nation's leading funding agent for HIV/AIDS prevention programs, direct care services and advocacy initiatives as well as a leading voice on HIV prevention. The National AIDS Fund provides leadership grants to state and local partners.

Official Crown and Sash Photo Session

I had a wonderful time being photographed by the award winning Dario Impini on October 2nd. He is so nice and his work speaks for itself. There wasn't a single shot that I didn't love! Thanks Dario!

Dario Impini Photography (www.darioimpiniphotography.com)

Dress For Success Baltimore Steppin' Out In Style Fashion Show Fundraiser

I had the privilege of being the celebrity co-host, along with charismatic and accomplished Al Reynolds, for the Dress For Success Balitmore's 2nd Annual Fashion Show "Steppin' Out In Style". Dress For Success' fundraising mission is to supply low-income women with the necessary business clothing to reenter the job market. Their core values are that self-sufficiency helps women gain access to the most fundamental of human rights: social and economic freedom! This year the fashion show fundraiser was held at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco on September 26th, 2009. The event was a huge fundraising success! A huge thank you to Cleona Garfield (Founder/CEO Dress for Success Baltimore) and Mai Skyles (Fundraising Chair) for all of thier hard work!! Enjoy the photos!!

Speaking the contestants for Miss Circle City Classic 2009 about self-esteem and interview skills!

I had the privilege of addressing the 34 contestants for the Miss Circle City Classic Coronation/ Pageant this year. I had a wonderful time discussing inner-beauty, self-esteem and interviewing skills with these lovely young ladies.



Enjoy the photos!

The national non-profit foundation Best For Babes named me a “Best for Babes Champion for Moms” and featured my success story on their website and national media materials. Other celebrity “Champion for Moms” include professional athlete Gabrielle Reese, former model and founder C.H.A.S.E. for Life Farley Boyle, and Gossip Girl actress Kelly Rutherford. BEST for BABES (“BFB”) is the only non-profit dedicated to giving breastfeeding a makeover and to revealing and removing the barriers to breastfeeding. BFB is giving moms the boost they need to be successful and elevating breastfeeding to a world-class cause and harnessing the power of celebrities, corporations, foundations, fashion, advertising, the medical community and the media to break down the barriers.

Best for Babes' vision is to do for breastfeeding what Demi Moore & Vanity Fair did for maternity (and/or Nike for fitness & Komen for breast cancer!). New moms don't need more pressure, guilt or judgment; they deserve empathy and to be cheered on with positive images, messages, and role-models! New parents deserve to make informed decisions of how best to feed babies, without being undermined or discriminated against by "booby traps." The "Booby Traps" are keeping 60% of moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals, and 89% from meeting the AAP recommendation of 6 mos. As the "mother of all prevention" breastfeeding is a cause that deserves funding & resources on par with the diseases it helps fight.


To me, marriage, pregnancy, motherhood and all of the balancing acts that come with, epitomizes the multi-faceted and layered responsibilities of the successful modern-day married woman. I am continuously grateful to champion such substantive and worthy causes that are important to married women in the United States and to celebrate the beauty/success of real married women everywhere.

Please take the time to visit their website, support their cause and check out the article released this month!

http://www.bestforbabes.org/champions-for-moms/

http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/09/mrs-beauties-2009-inspires-moms-to-start-corporate-lactation-programs/

More Opportunties to Promote Self-Esteem, Inner Beauty and Glorifying God!!

I had a WONDERFUL time being the the keynote speaker for the Dr. Betty Shabbazz Delta Academy for Girls Kick-Off Session. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy is a unique program designed for young ladies ages 11-14 years. The goals of the Academy are to enhance or spark interest in math, science, technology and/or careers where minority women are scarcely represented. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy's aim is to shape well rounded young women by focusing on African American history, literacy, character development, healthy choices and service learning. Many young ladies have tremendous potential, however they are not afforded the opportunity to broaden themselves, express their curiosity, and experience new and different things early on. During Academy sessions, activities are centered around self-esteem, education, math, science, technology, book club, and African American history. In addition to building character, self-esteem, and giving back to the community through service learning, field trips are planned to museums and other sites designed to enhance the knowledge of the participants in the identified focus areas. These young ladies experience endless possibilities. I will have the honor of addressing this year’s class regarding inner and outer beauty, along with self-esteem and goal setting!


I had the honor of discussing with the new 2009/2010 class my inights on inner vs. outer beauty, self-esteem, dreaming big for your future, creating a vision board to stay focused on goals and living a life that glorifies God. I also gave a prize to a volunteer that consisted of supplies to start her own vision board. I had such a wonderful time!











After speaking at the Delta Academy event I was invited to be the special honored guest at the God & Glam Squad Presents Pageant Prep & Praise event on the following day. This event was hosted by New Beginnings Church and they sponsored 4 girls who will compete in the Miss Teen Righteous pageant with hair and make-up makeovers at the Viki Vitrel Salon, interview and modeling coaching sessions and free gown selections from Diva Wraps Boutique.

I was asked to come and speak to the 4 girls about competing in a way that glorifies the Lord, interview skills and the importance of inner beauty/ self-esteem.







This past weekend was so rewarding! Praise the Lord!