By Tiffany Williams
Editor
Winner of the Great Makeover Reveal, Marie Smith didn’t think she would win the contest when she was nominated by her friend of 14 years Alicia Hill but when she did win she was quite excited and didn’t know what to expect.
“I thought wow, oh my gosh!” said Smith with a big smile. “I think the Trends group from the Word of Life Church was awesome. I think it’s such an awesome opportunity, especially for single mothers. It gives them some time out with the girls.”
The Great Makeover Reveal was held on July 26 at the Kinsmen Centre with over 100 people in attendance. Nominations were accepted from anyone in the community for a deserving female in the community.
“I heard about it through a friend. I thought someone needed it more than I did,” said Hill. “It’s an awesome event and everyone involved in it is so caring. She [Marie] needed to start to feel better. It’s a real confidence boost for her and being a single mom she’s doing pretty good.”
The evening was filled with lots of different things for the ladies to enjoy for the girls night out event. The evening got started with a fashion show with ladies strutting their stuff down the runway with applause and laughter from the crowd. After the intermission, which was filled with many homebaked goodies it was time for the great reveal.
The video presentation showed Smith as she ventured to Mark’s Work Warehouse and Reitmans on her shopping spree and then to the Cutting Edge to have her hair re-done and make-up tips at Tangles. Smith then walked out on stage with a great cheer from the crowd and a hug from Hill.
“I thought it was so awesome. There was so much support from everyone in the crowd. They didn’t even know me and people were cheering for me,” said Smith. “People kept coming up to me and saying how beautiful I was.”
One of the organizers of the event, Shannon McArthur was very pleased with the result of the premier event.
“It was well attended considering the many things that were happening throughout the community on Saturday,” said McArthur. “The makeover itself was a great success and certainly the highlight of the evening. We hope the impact it has had on the recipient, her friends, and family will have a lasting and rewarding benefit.”
Although the focus of the night was fashion trends, clothes, hair and makeup it was stressed that everyone in attendance should remember that true beauty starts on the inside and that everyone is beautiful.