Billboards

“LAST AWARD SHOW”, I type as a tear falls down my face.

These shows have been too much fun and have felt more like dress up than real life. This is what dreams are made of.

I was already in Vegas for an appearance a few days before the Billboards, so my mom and best gal /H&MU/older sister, Kattie Hansen, came up and whenever I wasn’t working we got to explore. Exhibit A: mirror selfie number one of many.

Now, any of you who have met my mother know that she is a health nut guru 2.0. Growing up she insisited on going on family hikes every Mother’s Day and Easter, so it was no shocker that she suggested we go on a hike!

And praise the Lord she did for it was absolutely stunning.

We went to the Red Rock Canyon, only about a thirty minute drive off of the Vegas strip, and hiked the Calico Trail. This trail was roughly about a thirty minute hike into the mountains, where one could’ve continued if they were experienced in climbing, however we turned back around.

Kar-Bear finding a wildflower and putting in my hair because, “I’m her flower.”Mom’s are the best.

The adventurous trio.

My favorite humans.

The heat may have been getting to us..

So.. Kattie and I were dying to create one of those photos where it looks like the person in the picture is hanging off a cliff much steeper than it actually is. However, ours was only five feet off the ground.

Overall, 10/10 would recommend going to the Red Rocks. I wish we could’ve spent more time there, but a spray tan and steaming out the dress had to happen.

Morning of the Billboards.

If you are reading this and are affiliated with the pageant world, you know proper spray tan ediqutte. Spray the night before, shower in the morning. Easy enough. Being fully educated in this process I didn’t think anything of it, until the morning of the Billboards. After I rinsed my tan off from the night before, I looked in the mirror and found the bottom three inches of my hair were pink. Bright hot pink. Not just a light tint or a slight hue of pink, but the color of pink and orange starbursts had taken over the bottom of my hair. Thinking I must be seeing things I quickly shampooed the ends of my hair again only to then find that the bottom FOUR inches of my hair looked like a sunset.

After somehow not having a panic attack, I calming said to my mom, “Hey mom, I think my hair is pink.” She appropriately had the correct response..

After calling around and asking lots of opinions on what we should do, Kattie ran to the store and bought baking soda and dawn. We prayed this would take out the tan that had turned my hair into an ombre nightmare.

After roughly fI’ve rounds of “shampooing” (more like roughly grinding the baking soda into my hair like sandpaper), the pink/orange has simmered down to somewhat of a lighter hue. Praise the Lord we had more extensions than necessary, and Kattie was able to cover up all my tan-dyed hair to look like the long blonde locks I had for the show.

I will forever be confused on how in the world my spray tan turned my hair pink, but also forever thankful because I am sitting in a coffee shop dying laughing reliving the ridiculousness of that morning.

After that fiasco was settled, we finally started on my actual hair and make up process. Kattie and I had the idea of doing a real red lip and a winged eye, but Kattie went far and beyond.

One of my favorite places to be.

And picture overload starts now.

Walking to the magenta carpet transportation with my right hand gal. Yes, it takes a village or one talented queen bee.

Photo from the VSCO booth on the magenta carpet.

Fellow Arkansan TJ for Good Morning America.

My co-presenter and Bachelorette, Rachel! She was so kind and brilliant. I tried to get hints about who she ends up with but sadly didn’t get any insider info. Sorry fam.

Selfie taken after a selfie of Kattie and her new bff Ty Dolla was taken.

I am still not over this moment..truly.

After the show we came back to the hotel and got ready to go out to dinner (Mirror selfie number 100 with Kar-Bear, dress: Shop Maude). I am also positive this was the latest my mom has stayed out for as long as I have been alive, and this photo was taken around 8:30pm.

The dream team.

These are the days where I laugh at myself and this job does not feel real. Forever thankful for this job and the unbelievable opportunities it has given me.

So Much Love,