The Beauty Show News

Introduction to Attendee comments by Jes Ryn

The Beauty Show is pleased to bring you comments from attendees about their experiences in the makeover try outs.  A makeover competition allows women who want to improve themselves, to compete for their own special dream come true.  The truth is that during the process of the tryouts many participants found it to be much more than a competition.

The type of makeover offered by The Beauty Show, which is being produced in Scottsdale, Arizona beginning September 6th 2008, is a 4 month process for the winners to receive cosmetic surgical and dental corrections as well as dietary, exercise, cosmetic, hair and fashion style changes.  In the world of “extreme” makeovers this time frame does not allow for major surgical changes of facial bone structure or other major medical surgeries.  Though this had an influence in the choice of the ultimate winners, the makeover professionals undertook to seriously evaluate each competitor’s situation and the many factors that had to be considered.  The ultimate decision rested in the hands of the leading professionals in their field who were to do the actual work.

We at the Beauty TV Show are pleased to include the responses of the attendees who took time out from their busy lives to share their comments and stories.  It is my pleasure as Content Manager of the Beauty Show Web Site to bring you these attendee stories and my responses to them.  As author of The Beauty Show’s “Ask Jes” column, I would be delighted to receive comments and or questions from our readers.  Please feel free to write to “Ask Jes” about your own special circumstance.  Jes will respond to your letter and some letters will be posted on the web site.  Write Jes at jesryn@juno.com.  Please put your name and “Ask Jes” in the subject line.

Comments from Attendees at the Phoenix Makeover Show

Dawn C.

What an experience yesterday!  It was so emotionally humbling to meet so many women with so many different circumstances and to see so many of us stand up to cheer each other on.  I am so honored to be 1st runner up!  As first runner up, there have been a lot of thoughts running thru my mind…maybe if I told them more about my current situation…I can’t afford to do anything to improve my appearance because my hubby was recalled into the war which threw us into bankruptcy.  We’ve lived on practically nothing for four years…maybe I would have won, but all in all, Barb Hoffman who won over me is a great lady and if not me, then I’m glad she was chosen.  She has her own sad story so she is definitely worthy.  I’ve even gone to see her.  She lives one mile from me so we stay in touch, plus, I’m talking to a couple other women from the show.  I think it was a GREAT experience.  It opened up doors to possibilities that we never would have had if we hadn’t put ourselves out there.  More importantly it gave us a better sense of who we are and what is really important.  It enabled us to meet and form bonds with other women who have similar feelings.  The amazing thing to me was the stories I heard from some of these women.  It makes you really aware of how much worse our own situation could be.  I met Ranelle Wallace, the place crash victim, who has also survived cancer…so inspiring to go on thru adversity.  I would definitely go thru this again, if only for the opportunity to meet the women. 

I wanted to share one other thing, as runner up, I was given the gift of a teeth whitening by Dr. Schwartz which I was very happy about.  I wanted to share with others that though my teeth look great (and I am very pleased with the result) the whitening process was kind of awful!  This is not a reflection on the doc or his staff…they we’re great.  And I like Dr. Schwartz so much he’s now my new dentist!  But the procedure itself was hard for me because I’m claustrophobic so having to sit and bite down and not move for an hour was hard…also it was painful on my gums.  Next time I’d elect to do just the whitening trays.

Jes Responds to Dawn

Hi Dawn………Congratulations on being the first runner up.  And speaking so highly of Barb Hoffman was appreciated by me knowing that your heart was opened by the experiences you had that day.  All of you are deserving and big winners in my book!

I was so sorry to hear about your difficulties with your husband being called back up to military service.  The result of war can be devastating to families on so many levels.  If he is still deployed know that my prayers are with him and your family.

One of the things I was most excited to hear was that you are keeping in touch with some of the other women who were also attendees.  It was a special day where friendships based upon common experiences were forged. That shows me that The Beauty Show has the opportunity to go in the direction we want.   We don’t want to be perceived as just another pretty face on the body of the celebrity beauty industry.

And finally, sharing your experience of the teeth whitening was invaluable.  I’m glad you’re pleased with the outcome but think it is very important for out readers to get some first hand stories about how some of these procedures work.  Not every procedure is right for every person. That’s another reason our winners Barb Hoffman and Lisa Ellis are giving us weekly updates (look for these updates on another link on the site).  Lots of people are claustrophobic to say nothing about wiggle worms!  So it is important to know that certain types of whitening procedures require a long time in the chair.  Thank you for that feed back and your other comments. …………….Best Regards……………….Jes Ryn

Lacey W.

Maria,

I just wanted to write a quick note and give you a big "Thank You!"  Saturday’s audition was so well put together and an amazing experience I won’t soon forget.  First of all, your concept for the show is wonderful, the two women you are transforming are well deserving and I am so excited to see how it all turns out.  I enjoyed meeting your team of experts and hearing their reasons for participating in the show.  I also love that it is a community venture and the team is all local.  Having the opportunity to consult with them all in one place was priceless and I felt they were truly there to help. It was fantastic to hear the stories of the other women there, to build camaraderie with them, and to be touched by their experiences.  Also, it was an unexpected surprise to have Ranelle Wallace as our guest speaker at lunch. She was so inspiring and motivating, and I believe the message she shared was exactly what the women present needed to hear.

So, again Maria, thank you! It was plain to see that you have a passion for what you do and really do care about the women that you are helping. Thanks for a fantastic experience!!

Lacey
Chandler, AZ

Jes Responds to Lacey

Hi Lacey………….Maria asked me to convey her personal thank you for sending in your comments and how pleased she was that you had a positive experience. The Beauty Show worked hard to bring together the leading professionals in their respective fields.  It’s good to know that you felt enriched by the opportunity to talk with them even though you weren’t chosen.

What impressed me the most about what you wrote matches the theme I find running through the comments and longer stories I’m receiving from the attendees.  In my opinion, all the women who participated were “winners” just by being there to stand witness to the stories and lives of the women who dared to dream of a makeover opportunity. Hearing your comments tells me that in your heart there’s more of your story to tell.  I would be interested to know what brought you to the makeover try outs.

We are featuring articles as well as the shorter attendee comments so our readers can find a point of positive resonance and identification with their own dream for a makeover and how we can all discover our own inner beauty.
Again thank you for sending your comments. ……….Best Regards………Jes Ryn

Wendy Dashnau

Hi Jes:
I have to admit, I was very disappointed that I wasn’t chosen for the makeover.  I was looking forward to feeling free again.  All the popular sayings like “you’re as young as you feel,” and “beauty is only skin deep,” are true, I know.  But until the day comes when mirrors are outlawed……..

I didn’t want to change my appearance - I wanted to change the way I feel.  I feel like a frumpy, dumpy, spotted and dotted aging woman, that has so much extra weight around the middle I can’t do a crunch with out my tummy rolling up and hitting me in the chin.  How much make up can you put on to cover the age spots without looking like an old painting?  I just wanted to feel slim and flexible and sprightly.  I didn’t want to look 40 again, I just wanted to look good for 56.

I’ve been dieting for year now, lost 3 pounds. I’ve been going to Jazzercise for 6 months.  Weight management is different at my age, and I need help.  My formula’s not working.  I was willing to put in however much time and effort it took to get there….Bummer.

The past five years have been hell on earth for me - won’t even bore you with the tale.  But extreme stress takes its toll on you physically.  Five years ago I looked 10 years younger than I was. Today I’ve aged 10-15 years over the past five.  I was hoping the makeover would help me get myself back.  I had no other expectations other than that.  I didn’t think it would help me find a better job - that’s up to me.  I didn’t think it would help me find a man - that’s up to the universe.  I didn’t think it would make me happier, that would be shallow, wouldn’t it?

As far as the experience, it was over-all positive.  The negatives - you may have already gotten some comments about the over-aggressive dentist.  I did feel like a ‘project’ versus a person talking to him, but all the other participants were sensitive and attentive.  As far as being supported - I think if you’re the kind of person that needs their hand held through an experience like that, then you shouldn’t be there.  It takes a lot of emotional gumption to take on the effort and dedication to follow through the makeover process, and if you’re not up to it, you shouldn’t be there.

And double bummer - someone won the Powerball this weekend.  But the good news is that we all had a GREAT experience - thank you to all for giving me the opportunity to participate.  It was fun just fantasizing about looking in the mirror, seeing a very warm size 10 (can only be so HOT at 56). I’d like to be a toned and stylin’ 56 year old.
 
Wendy D.

Jes responds to Wendy

Hi Wendy……………You’re right, it takes a lot of gumption to go for a makeover tryout!  I have a lot of respect for you in that you had the courage to even give it a try.  Stress can really add years to how you look and that seems to be a fact we aging baby boomers have to deal with. I took care of my Mother for the last 4 years of her life and felt like I aged 20 years in the process.

I also know the feeling of wanting to get yourself back. I think that process begins on the inside with a very active fantasy life, just like you said it was fun to imagine yourself as that “very warm” size 10 in the mirror. Don’t give up on that fantasy because it can be very powerful just to see yourself as even one size smaller. Sometimes fantasy can take over and make a real difference in how we feel about ourselves.  If we can live inside that dream world and stay focused on all the positive thoughts that go along with that, our body can sometimes catch up to the positive image that we hold in our minds.  Knowing you’re doing the best you can, which I truly believe you are, can be a real boon to self esteem which is a big part of the battle too.  Keep on thinking "toned and stylin" and I’m sure you’ll be guided to a better and better feeling place.

The other thing I appreciated about your letter was that you kept your sense of humor.  Finding the balance point between who we are and who we want to be is a fine line and humor helps us stay on the positive side of that line!  It’s an age old cure so keep on giving yourself big doses! Thank you so much for your comments…….Best regards…….Jes Ryn

Lori J.

I am so embarrassed that I stuck around after the keynote speaker.  She had gone through so much and I feel ashamed of myself for even staying.  Just doing this was against my husband’s wishes.  I feel so vain.
 
Sincerely,
Lori J.
 
Jes Responds

Hello Lori………….I’m so sorry to hear about your feelings in relation to the tryouts.  When you say the key note speaker I’m assuming you are speaking of Ranelle Wallace? Everyone has their own story and I have learned that something can happen to a person who handles the situation just fine and something less intense can happen to another person and they have great problems dealing with it.  We are all very complex beings and our past and our reactions to our past are not always at the surface of our perceptions.

No one can judge you for the reasons you came to the tryouts.  Perhaps in the greater picture, it could just have been a chance to hear the stories of the other women.  And I would bet if you could soften your embarrassment for a moment you will feel a strong connection to the positive power that was in that group of women who came together to try to win a chance to look better on the outside.  Everyone of you was there for that purpose regardless of how you looked or felt about yourself.  Everyone of you was there "seeking" and without expecting it, learning about what it means to want to feel good inside too.  Our society is very superficial and this has caused a great deal of inner confusion for many people.  My wish for you is that you will be a little easier on yourself.  Perhaps if you hold in your heart the love I know you felt in that room you can let go of some the shame.  I would very much appreciate hearing more of your story.  But even without hearing another word of your story, I’m certain it was not vanity that brought to the try outs to begin with.  Please let me know I can be of help to you…………………..Best Regards……………Jes
 

Please feel free to write to “Ask Jes” about your own special circumstance.  Jes will respond to your letter and some letters will be posted on the web site.  Write Jes at jesryn@juno.com.  Please put your name and “Ask Jes” in the subject line.