Finding Ashley Stewart 💕💕
Yesterday I had the honor of being the Social Media Pink Carpet Host at Ashley Stewart's Finding Ashley Philadelphia Stop! I was super excited for the opportunity! With everything going on in life, and such short notice for the opportunity , I didn't get to fully prepare for the experience. I didn't have my outfit fully prepared. Luckily my seamstress told me she would make me a dress a day before the event. My sister couldn't style my hair the day of because she was going out of town. So I just felt like "Damn I have to wing this shit".
Fast forward to the day of the event. My seamstress didn't finish my dress until TWO hours before I had to arrive. I looked down at my toe nails and realized that the nail polish on them were chipped up, so I had to rush to the nail salon for a polish change (didn't have time for a pedicure). Once I received my dress and rushed home, I didn't like it AT ALL! It looked like an evening dress when this was a day time event! I automatically went into panic mode!
I had to find something in the house to wear. So I thought quickly! When in doubt wear sequin!!!! Lol. So I remembered a sequin skirt that I designed and wore for my birthday, I found a pack of my husband's wife beaters, cropped one. Thought to myself how am I NOT going to represent my brand at an event that I'm hosting, so I threw on my #TalkHeavy fanny pack! This all took so much time, so now I'm rushing...Edges sweating out, wig won't get as big as I wanted, & I didn't have time to put my lashes on! How tragic & uncomfortable? 😫😫😫 I definitely didn't feel like I was looking my best! My eyebrows wasn't even filled in to perfection.
Any way, I Ended up arriving to the location at 1:15, when I was scheduled to arrive at 1:00. So I'm late, feeling out of place, & no lashes #Errked. As soon as I got out of my car, EVERYBODY in the plaza, told me how nice I looked and how pretty I was! I automatically stopped and said to myself "ok girl you're tripping". Y'all I Literally felt like I looked a mess!
I entered Ashley Stewart and it was so much going on that no one noticed that I was late, well if so, they surly didn't mention it. I was so excited to finally put a face to the names of the executives that I'd had been emailing. I received directions and automatically went into work mode. I don't want to get too deep into the entire event. Just know I was HOT, it's Ramadan so I was fasting, I had on 5 inch heels for 4 hours, so my pinky toe was SCREAMING! But Overall it was a beneficial experience & it was all worth it. I felt like I was doing something that I enjoyed.
Even though everyone wasn't as welcoming and warm as I expected, I want to thank the district manager Phyllis! She made sure I connected with EVERYONE that I needed to. She literally taught me how to actually network without even knowing it! She pitched me so well to everyone. She's opening and creating so many other opportunities for me, that I appreciate so much. Phyllis if you're reading this, you are truly a blessing! I also need to thank the store manager of Olney Ave location Shamaka for connecting me with Phyllis and believing in my vision.
I shared all of this to say this, I to struggle with confidence! If it hadn't been for the compliments of other people, I wouldn't have known how good I actually looked. So guys please start complementing each other.
Secondly, no matter what goes on leading up to something, just enjoy the moment and experience! Fake it to you make it... Act your best, and still try your best! Because despite how I felt, I kept a smile on my face and I tried my best to make every girl trying out feel welcomed and encouraged! So many of the women I encountered told me that I had a great spirit and that I made them happy...So I pat myself on the back today, for a job well done!
Thank you Ashley Stewart, once again for having me. I look forward to a life long business relationship! I love what the company's mission is and I stand by it whole heartedly!
Good luck to the finalist & also stay tuned for The Make Me Over Event Tour! Coming to a state near YOU! Talk heavy fanny packs will be available for purchase next week, here on the website. And also I will be putting the skirt that I wore into production! So it will be available for purchase for all of you 😘😘
Until next time
Xoxo
-Karisma "Fat Barbie" D.