It's Not Too Late To Find Your Crown Book Feature

Winning the crown of Mrs. DC America at 55 (changing my life overnight), I was motivated to write this book to inspire millions of women and some men (thinking it was too late) that "it's not too late" to be beautiful/handsome, accomplished and capture the crown.

I was also motivated to write this book to speak to the younger generation (my daughter is 15 and my son is 17) letting them know that failure is not final. Recounting at the age of 18, I lost my state pageant (I had previously won 2 local crowns) and thought my Pageant days were over. But what time has taught me is that if you do not give up, failure will prepare you to win the coveted crown. 

The biggest misconception about pageantry is it is for the superficial and unintelligent. In my book, I respond to this by saying, let's ask Arnold Schwarzenegger what he thinks about pageantry. He competed in bodybuilding contests/pageants which took him from a small town in Austria to the biggest stage in the world becoming a Hollywood Icon and Powerful Political Figure. 

With my passion for the crown beginning from watching Miss America at the age of 5, and remembering a lifetime of happiness, heartache, and rejection, it was easy to pen my memoir (taking 2 years) from the depths of despair to the National Stage, realizing at that moment, "It's Never Too Late to Find Your Crown"

Click here to buy the book on Amazon (affiliate link)

@jeananne.roberts 

Elena Voynova is an Award winning hairstylist and salon owner from Ukraine, Kyiv @voynovastyle 

In today's fast-paced world, successful career-driven women often face challenges when it comes to balancing work demands with personal relationships. However, the friendship between such women has the potential to stand the test of time – becoming stronger through years of shared struggles and triumphs.

1. Wash Your Hair: The first step in preparing your hair is to ensure that it is clean. This means washing your hair thoroughly with a high-quality shampoo. Contrary to popular belief, European styling is best performed on clean hair. The clean hair allows the styling products to work more effectively, providing better hold and finish. 

2. Dry Your Hair Completely: After washing, it is crucial to dry your hair fully. If you're washing your hair in the morning before your appointment, ensure that it is dried at least two hours ahead of your styling session. This allows enough time for the hair to settle and avoids potential damage from styling tools on damp hair. If you prefer to wash your hair in the evening, it's equally important to make sure your hair is completely dry before going to sleep. Damp hair can lead to tangles and breakages, making it more difficult to style the next day. 

3. Heat styling tools like straighteners can alter the structure of your hair, making it more difficult for curls to hold. If you straighten your hair prior to curling, you may find that your curls fall out quickly, failing to last throughout the day. 

4. By following these steps, you ensure the best possible canvas for your hairstylist to work their magic. Preparing your hair correctly can drastically improve the outcome of your styling session, resulting in a hairstyle that not only looks fantastic but also lasts longer. Happy styling!

by Alina Karaman

For many of us approaching winter and the holiday season bring both celebration and challenges. Even though it's a time for gathering and joy, it also involves the stress of navigating family dynamics, the pressure of gift-giving, and for some, the distressing experience of coping with grief and loss as well as the winter blues. Regardless of the degree of stress, we must remember to take care of ourselves. I always remind my clients that it is our job to seek out coping mechanisms, foster resilience, and engage in activities that uplift our spirits. Embracing this responsibility empowers us to navigate the winter blues actively, taking deliberate steps toward feeling better and reclaiming our emotional balance. 

Research shows that during holiday gatherings, family members tend to experience more conflicts or tensions. Establishing healthy boundaries with family becomes crucial for emotional well-being. 

These gatherings, while exciting, can also bring forth dynamics leading to stress. Setting boundaries safeguards personal space and mental health, allowing a balance between celebration and individual needs. Clear boundaries help navigate sensitive topics, reducing stress and fostering a harmonious environment. This practice promotes healthier relationships, ensuring a more enjoyable and emotionally fulfilling holiday season for all. 

Grief may also surface for those who have lost their loved ones. As a mindfulness therapist, I guide individuals in acknowledging their grief while nurturing themselves from within. For those suffering from grief, connecting with your inner child and practicing self-nurturing becomes paramount. This practice allows you to seek support from within, fostering self-compassion and self-love. Engaging in positive self-talk, and greeting yourself with kindness each morning, sets a positive tone for the day.  

Practice accepting the feelings that surface without being judgmental. Avoid inner statements that criticize your healing process or question why the loss occurred. You will notice that it will help to speed up the healing process. 

As winter settles in, it's easy to find ourselves slipping into a victim mindset, allowing the seasonal blues to take over. The cold, darker days often bring a sense of depression, triggering feelings of helplessness or despair.

Yet, despite this, it's crucial to recognize that while external factors influence our emotions, we hold the power to shape our responses. It's our responsibility to take charge of our well-being and not succumb entirely to external circumstances.

Meditation is one of my favorite coping tools as it offers numerous benefits. It aids in reducing stress, calming the mind, enhancing emotional resilience, and assisting with activating the sense of grounding, safety, and comfort. Regular meditation sessions can bring a sense of calm and clarity, helping individuals manage their emotions more effectively.

I encourage everyone to connect with others and seek external support—whether through psychotherapy, online support groups, or connecting with friends. External support acts as a lifeline, offering different perspectives, guidance, and a compassionate ear to navigate through feelings of grief, loneliness, or seasonal blues. It becomes a pathway to emotional healing, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.

Consider adopting journaling as a powerful coping strategy. This simple yet profound technique provides a safe space to express and navigate emotions during potentially challenging times. Writing thoughts and feelings on paper offers clarity and insight, especially when emotions intensify in the colder months. It's a beautiful practice that fosters self-awareness, resilience, and inner peace, making it an invaluable tool for navigating the emotional landscape of winter. 

Cultivating unconditional love and acceptance towards oneself daily is pivotal during this season. Recognizing the inclination to slow down and embracing self-compassion, even on less productive days, is essential. Learning to balance work and rest is key to emotional and physical health, steering clear of burnout.

Physical exercise is another one of my favorite tools to reduce stress and enhance mood. It serves as a powerful coping mechanism, offering a multitude of benefits beyond physical health. Engaging in regular exercise releases endorphins, the body's natural mood elevators, reducing stress and anxiety while boosting overall mood. It provides a constructive outlet for pent-up emotions, transforming them into productive energy. Additionally, exercise fosters a sense of control and accomplishment, enhancing self-esteem and confidence.

And last but not least, indulging in shopping and treating yourself will certainly bring a smile to your face. Holiday season shopping is not just for your family and friends, it is also a perfect time to spoil and appreciate yourself.

Friendship is a unique bond that stems from shared experiences, common interests, and mutual understanding. For many women, friendships play an integral role in their lives, providing support, love, and laughter. But when it comes to women who have achieved success in their careers, maintaining long-lasting friendships can be especially meaningful and empowering.

In today's fast-paced world, successful career-driven women often face challenges when it comes to balancing work demands with personal relationships. However, the friendship between such women has the potential to stand the test of time – becoming stronger through years of shared struggles and triumphs.

Friendship is a unique bond that stems from shared experiences, common interests, and mutual understanding. For many women, friendships play an integral role in their lives, providing support, love, and laughter. But when it comes to women who have achieved success in their careers, maintaining long-lasting friendships can be especially meaningful and empowering.

In today's fast-paced world, successful career-driven women often face challenges when it comes to balancing work demands with personal relationships. However, the friendship between such women has the potential to stand the test of time – becoming stronger through years of shared struggles and triumphs.

As I delve into the history of ruffled fashion, I am transported to a time when fashion was as much an art form as it was a necessity. Ruffles have been a prominent feature of fashion for centuries, adorning the garments of the wealthy and the common alike.

In the 16th century, ruffles were the height of fashion, adorning the collars and cuffs of the noble class. These elaborate adornments were made of fine fabrics like silk and lace and were often heavily embroidered. Ruffles were a symbol of status and luxury, and were often used to demonstrate one's wealth and power.

As fashion evolved over the centuries, so too did the ruffle. In the 18th century, ruffles became more flamboyant, with huge, billowing sleeves and cascading tiers of ruffles adorning dresses and gowns. These exaggerated ruffles were a reflection of the opulent and decadent lifestyles of the wealthy elite.

 In the 19th century, ruffles became more delicate and refined, with softer fabrics like muslin and chiffon replacing the heavier silks and brocades of previous eras. Ruffled dresses and blouses became popular among women of all social classes, and were often paired with intricate hats and bonnets for a truly elegant look. 

Throughout the 20th century, ruffles continued to evolve, adapting to the changing styles and fashions of the times. In the 1920s, ruffled dresses were a key feature of the flapper style, with short, fringed dresses adorned with ruffles and lace. In the 1950s, ruffles made a comeback, with full skirts and dresses adorned with rows of delicate ruffles.

Today, ruffles remain a popular feature of fashion, with designers continuing to experiment with different fabrics, styles, and placements. From subtle ruffles on blouses and skirts to more extravagant, over-the-top designs, ruffles continue to be a timeless and beloved feature of fashion.

In MarinaAsta I remember that these historical styles can be adapted and modernized to suit contemporary fashion. So I play with the balance of historical references and contemporary elements to create a unique and personalized look.

@MarinaAsta

No doubt, Julia Roberts’ outfits from “Pretty Woman” are one of the most iconic in the film history and most inspirational for couturiers and fashionistas. Marilyn Vance, a prolific Hollywood costume designer, who dressed heroes in many popular 80’s movies ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High", "The Breakfast Club", "Pretty in Pink", "Die Hard", "Road House"), definitely made it right. The Oscar nominee (for “The Untouchables”) and the Costume Designer's Guild Career Achievement Award winner, Marilyn created all the looks for Vivian Ward from scratch and deliberately did not tie her wardrobe to the fashion trends of the era, thereby ensuring the timeless relevance of the clothes. Costumes play a significant role in “Pretty Woman”, reflecting the visual arc of Vivian’s character: from a prostitute to a lady. And her famous polo scene dress is probably the most adorable one.

The scene where Vivian and Edward (Richard Gere) attend a polo tournament in many ways echoes a similar episode from “My Fair Lady”. Just as Eliza Doolittle, a former vulgar flower girl, who was officially introduced to the London high society at Ascot races, wearing an elegant dress and a fabulous hat, reveals her origins while screaming at a slow horse on which she placed the bet, so Vivian, looking like a perfect lady in her polka-dot dress, hat and white gloves, gathers a few puzzled looks as she loudly encourages the field players.

 Marilyn Vance understood that a so-called polo dress had to be both simple and elegant. A dress for a true lady. Marilyn admitted that no one from her crew could have even imagined that this outfit would have such an effect and that its influence on fashion would continue to this very day. It is a very laconic dress of a simple cut - sleeveless, with a loose corsage and a very feminine wide skirt with an elastic band. But accessories make this look: a wide brown leather belt by Anna Klein, Chanel kitten heels, white gloves, a white and brown saddlebag, a hat with a piece of matching dotted fabric as a trim and handmade pearl earrings. 

 Marilyn found polka-dot silk fabric in Beverly Silks and Woolens in West Hollywood, a well-known vintage store. Vance was just begging the owner and his son to get into their basement. In one of her numerous interviews, the designer said: “I found it, and I just loved it! It was perfect. But the problem was, there wasn't much left, and to make a dress like that, you don't just need the amount that ends up in the dress, you need more. So, we were in a position where we had a choice: either we make the dress a ballerina-length, which was what I wanted to do, or we do it at the knee. If we did it ballerina-length, we'd go with Chanel flats; if we went knee-length, we'd do Chanel heels—plus we'd have a little fabric left over for a hat…Julia wanted to wear the heels, of course”. 

Thanks to this exquisite outfit, women around the world have seen that you don't have to wear a long evening dress with furs and diamonds to look stunning. Simplicity equals elegance. And such a dress is always an ideal choice if not for races but for a summer party for sure.

Katerina Krupnova 

@katerina_cinemoda

Film and fashion journalist, lecturer, stylist, and creator of CineModa project

The history of lace and ruffled fashion is a tale of elegance, luxury, and refinement. The delicate and intricate patterns of lace, combined with the dramatic and flamboyant nature of ruffles, have created some of the most iconic and beautiful fashion moments throughout history.

Lace has been used in fashion since ancient times, with evidence of lace-like patterns found on Egyptian mummies dating back to 2500 BC. However, it wasn't until the 16th century that lace became widely used in fashion, particularly in Europe. Lace was a symbol of wealth and status, and was often used to adorn the garments of the nobility. The intricate patterns of lace were often handmade, making them incredibly expensive and highly prized.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, ruffles became a prominent feature of fashion, adorning the dresses, blouses, and shirts of the wealthy elite. These exaggerated ruffles were a reflection of the opulent and decadent lifestyles of the aristocracy. Meanwhile, lace collars, cuffs, and ruffles continued to be popular, adding a delicate and feminine touch to garments.

In the 19th century, machine-made lace made the fabric more accessible to the middle class, and lace became a popular feature of everyday fashion. Ruffles also became more delicate and refined, adorning dresses and blouses of all social classes. 

Today, designers continue to experiment with lace and ruffles in new and innovative ways, adding a touch of beauty and elegance to any outfit. Lace is beloved for its intricate patterns and ability to transform an outfit, making it a versatile fabric suitable for everyday wear or high-end fashion.

From delicate lace dresses and blouses adorned with ruffles to bold lace accents on jackets and pants, lace and ruffles add a touch of beauty and elegance to any outfit.

Together, lace and ruffles create a sense of timeless elegance that transcends any particular era or fashion trend.

@MarinaAsta handmade ruffled and lace collars and cuffs are a versatile and timeless addition to your wardrobe. They are the perfect accessory to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any outfit. Wear them with a simple blouse or dress, or even pair them with a blazer or jacket for a unique and stylish look. Let my collars and cuffs transform your style and embrace your inner fashionista! 

MarinaAsta

@marinaasta