Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2016

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Mount Pleasant locals sPiff uP
Pageant contestants
GlamSquad
T he first-ever Miss AMericA
Pageant was held in 1921, and, for
close to a century, the popular event
continues to remain a staple in pop
culture. While times have changed
and styles have evolved since the early
20th century, the enterprise has con-
tinued to provide young women with a platform to shine,
grow as individuals and give
back to charities close to their
hearts. Behind the silky locks, winning smiles and flawless
makeup, you’ll find the work of an uber-talented Mount
Pleasant-based duo. Jenn Cady and Kim Coleman create
eye-catching looks that can best be described as winning.
For Cady, Miss West Virginia 1994, the pageant
brings about a wave of nostalgia. Her road to getting the
crown in her home state and later competing in the Miss
America Pageant was not something she necessarily saw
coming. Still, she cherished her time as a contestant and
now savors her time as a professional within the industry
– offering up her styling and photography services to an
array of young women.
“You have a greater chance of having a son play in the
NFL than you do having a daughter compete in the Miss
America Pageant,” said Cady. “Each state contestant is only
allowed to compete once in their life at a national level.
We provide their best look.”
Working amid the chaos of backstage pandemonium is
something Cady and Coleman have perfected. The pow-
erhouse twosome is part glam squad, part therapy team,
calming all those pre-show jitters with words of wisdom
and touch-ups. As owner of Vanity Salon, Coleman aver-
ages about 200 weddings a year and is well-equipped to
handle just about anything that comes her way.
“The vibe backstage is hectic,” said Cady, reflecting on
her time working the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen
Pageant. “We have only one hour to complete hair and
makeup for six contestants. If the girls are held in rehears-
al, that time is reduced. One of the nights we only had 30
minutes to do both. We truly rocked it! We were one of
the first teams to have everything done, and all six of the
girls looked flawless.”
Cady and Coleman embrace each project they take on
with a level of professionalism and passion that’s contagious.
By Kalene Mccort