A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Vol. 11 , No. 32 , April 09, 2008
By: Jen Gubler
Editor's note: This is the third in a series of articles by staff writer Jen Gubler as she documents her experiences as a contestant in the Mrs. Utah Pageant. Watch for the next chapter in this series in the weeks to come.

Now that I have met all the beautiful, talented women involved in the Mrs. Utah pageant, my competitive side has gone into overdrive. I attended a very informative workshop in Draper a couple weeks ago and learned a lot of really important things: how to acquire sponsors, what clothing is the most flattering, which ladies are my biggest competition. After meeting each of the contestants, I learned the most important fact that will help me with this competition: I am the underdog. I spent the evening before in a nice hotel with very poor lighting and did not realize until it was far too late that I had forgotten a very large portion of my make-up. You certainly cannot meet a group of pageant women without your make-up. But I was confident, after stopping at Wal-Mart and picking up a few necessary items that I could pull off that bronzed, sun-kissed look. Being the only contestant from Southern Utah, I wanted to show off that “tanned” look that I am supposed to have. It wasn't until after the workshop and viewing my make-up outside, in the natural light, that I noticed the streaks across my cheeks that the blush had left earlier that morning. Never, ever try a new brand of bronzer in poor lighting. It could have been very humiliating if it had not been so funny. There are 13 other contestants out there hoping I do my own make-up for the actual pageant.I returned home slightly embarrassed but had very little time to think it over. I was bombarded with e-mails of all the items that must be done for the pageant. At the top of the list: head shots. The pageant director gave us the name of a terrific photographer in Draper who could do our head shots and family pictures. Draper, however, was slightly out of the way for an afternoon of family pictures. Besides, I knew immediately which photographer I wanted to use.The morning of the pictures I scheduled an appointment at the hair salon, dropped the children off at my best friend's, took the dog to the groomer and reminded my husband many times that pictures were at 2 p.m. and his brand new “picture-only” shirt was in the closet.I arrived at the hair salon several minutes late and hurried to my chair asking the terrific hair dresser to “just make me beautiful.” She looked at me, confused, and asked for pictures of what I wanted it to look like. After an hour I changed her title from hair dresser to magician and she sent me over to the make-up artist with a head of very curly hair that she assured me would loosen before I had my pictures taken.I am not one of those ladies that cannot leave the house without a palette of make-up on my face. Unless I am going to a symphony or ball, leaving the house with hair too done-up and make-up too heavy just makes me uncomfortable. So after an hour in the make-up chair I was getting very nervous. She applied creams and bronzers, highlighters and primers, and make-up I had never seen before nor could even pronounce. The girly side of me had a great time until it was time to leave and I had to face the world with my very over-done face. I felt foolish and embarrassed as I arrived several minutes late to pick up the family pet, our beloved Shih Tzu named Daisy given to us by Rachel who is my best friend and sister-in-law.With Daisy in tow, her ears expertly tied with pink bows, I arrived very late to the photography session. Nissa Lamb was already snapping away, fixing lighting, changing fuses and backgrounds. My husband and two little angels were dressed perfectly and smiling away as they moved into different poses. I never thought it would be possible to get a 7-year-old, a 5-month-old and a puppy to all look at the camera let alone smile. My husband and I attached permanent smiles on our faces and did not dare move, not even to breath. The whole experience was fun but I felt pretty silly with all that make-up on and hair that says “Thank you very much for the Country Music Award.” I spent the weekend concerned about how the pictures would turn out, though I now know that I should never have doubted Nissa's ability. I changed her title from photographer to magician when she returned a CD of my photos. The lighting was perfect, the background set the right tone, my hair sat just right across my shoulders and even my very over-done make-up looked more subtle and natural then it had actually felt. The children smiled, the dog looked at the camera, and my husband and I looked comfortable and happy. She was even able to Photoshop the baby's drool out of the picture.Feeling much more confident, I e-mailed the head shot to the pageant director. I certainly didn't feel like an underdog anymore.Visit www.mrsutahus.com for a list of this years pageant contestants.Thank you to all of my sponsors: Intermountain Women's Health Specialists (Dr. Fagnant and Dr. Chalmers), Massage Envy, Hot Shot Images, Hurricane Chevron, Hurricane Wendys, Stout Home Furnishings, GR8PRICES.com, K&M Drywall, Draper Ramada Limited, Ruby's Inn, Clay Egan Racing, Classic Sports, Tan-Acious, Hurricane Valley Journal, Cedar City Review, and Dixie Weekly News.