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Events : Contests : Beauty Search Contest 2010

More 2010 Beauty Search: And the Winners Are...

And the winners are. . .

by Genevieve Monsma

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Grand-Prize Winner: Shelley Goodstein, Arizona

"My ex said I’d never find anyone to be with a broke, diabetic mother of three. Today I am remarried to a gorgeous family doctor who happens to be nine years younger than me." -From Goodstein’s "More 2010 beauty Search" entry Five years ago, Goodstein, then 40 and the mother of three small children, was getting divorced and had no job, no home (because of the divorce) and no health insurance, despite having insulin-dependent diabetes, a serious chronic disease. As if all that weren’t tough enough, her mother was dying of cancer at the Mayo Clinic. "That was a terrible, terrible time. I couldn’t be there for my mom, and she couldn’t be there for me," says Goodstein, her eyes welling up. But she got through it, a triumph she credits to her hardy North Dakota stock ("Growing up in harsh, rural conditions gave me stamina") and supportive girlfriends. "My friends were there for me emotionally, physically and for a time financially. Iwouldn’t have made it without them," she says. Goodstein finally got a job as a pharmaceutical sales rep, which put her back on her feet financially-and brought her face to face with a young family practice doctor, Kevin Pounds. "We didn’t date until he moved out of my sales territory," Goodstein says. But once they did, the courtship was quick: They got engaged nine months later. Goodstein no longer works in sales, but she is writing a beauty book, one she hopes to self-publish with her Beauty Search prize money. "I was actually online doing research for my book when I stumbled upon the More contest," Goodstein says. Talk about synergy-and a happy ending. How she looks so good: "I’m not great about washing my face and applying creams. But I’m a fanatic about sunscreen. My favorite is Olay Complete SPF 30," Goodstein says. No gym rat, she prefers walking or jogging outside or following a workout DVD at home. Dressing fashionably has been challenging because of the insulin pump she must wear 24/7. "But Spanx is a godsend. I can stick the pump in the waistband and wear cute dresses at last."
Photo: Melanie Acevedo

First-Place Winner: Rhonda Smith, Florida

"This is the most fabulous time in my life, because I’ve found a new identity as a result of my cancer." -From Smith’s "More 2010 Beauty Search" entry Until two years ago, Smith was a hard-charging MBA who, as a consultant in the private sector, had racked up enough frequent-flier miles to make George Clooney’s _Up in the Air character envious. Then, relaxing in a hotel one morning, Smith felt something "not right" in one breast. Trusting her intuition, she scheduled a doctor’s appointment-and within two weeks learned she had stage 1 breast cancer. Smith took a leave of absence from work and, after two surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, was pronounced cancer free. But instead of being elated, she felt rudderless. Then it hit her: "Hey, Rhonda, you had cancer." Smith had been so focused on getting through treatment, she hadn’t dealt with the psychological repercussions of facing a life-threatening disease. "It was then that I realized there wasn’t a lot out there to help women after they’d had cancer." So, in a change of direction, Smith took a job doing marketing and media outreach for the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s "Project Care" study. The focus? Stress management in African-American women who’ve had breast cancer, a coincidence not lost on Smith. In addition, Smith is creating a website, breastcancerpartner.com, designed to help women deal with the aftermath of that dreaded diagnosis. "My goal is to help restore women to their new [postcancer] normal," she says. How she looks so good: Cancer has affected Smith’s approach to most aspects of life. "My new motto is, I do for others from 8 to 6. After that, I focus on me," she says. Part of that new self-focus is her drive to eat right and work out-a lot. "I exercise daily for an hour or two, drink lots of water and only eat foods that give me energy," says Smith, who admits red wine still makes the cut. Her hair, once shoulder length, is now supershort, and she says she’s keeping it that way. "I obviously lost the hair because of the chemo. But so many people complimented me on it, and it’s easier to deal with now that I work out so much, so I’ve decided that it’s here to stay."
Photo: Melanie Acevedo

First-Place Winner: Colleen Scholer, Iowa

"Growing up, I was labeled that girl . . . who looks like a giraffe. It took me years to realize that some people view the tall, leggy look favorably." -From Scholer’s "More 2010 Beauty Search" entry "With two kids in college and one in high school, I feel I’m launching my children-and _re_launching myself," Scholer says. Having spent the better part of two decades as a mostly stay-at-home mom who dabbled in freelance public relations and advertising, Scholer recently accepted a full-time job at a research and consulting firm and is loving every second of it. "I’m naturally curious, so I’m enjoying studying other people. We recently did a project that looked at the attitudes and behaviors of baby boomer women, and we found they are overwhelmingly confident and self-reliant. To that I say, ‘Right on.’?" Scholer’s job also gives her the opportunity to travel, something she is loving. Her oldest child and only daughter is a college senior, and Scholer says having a 21-year-old is part of what inspires her to keep current. "I strive to be interested in the world around me and stay interesting to the people who surround me. I read a lot, I love fashion, and I’m up on the latest cultural news. Being almost 50 doesn’t mean I’m no longer relevant. In fact, I think my opinion is more valuable, because it’s filtered through the lens of experience." How she looks so good: An exercise devotee, Scholer hits the gym five days a week. Then she flaunts the results in figure-hugging fashions from Michael Kors or whimsical designs from Nanette Lepore. Her other standbys: for makeup, Lancôme ("Wonderful foundation"), and for hair, Neil George Indian Gooseberry Treatment Oil ("My hair has gotten much drier as I’ve aged"). As for her complexion, Scholer is at last thankful for her oily skin. "For years I hated it, but now, when everyone else is complaining about being dry, the excess oil is actually working for me."
Photo: Melanie Acevedo

What’s your reaction?

Comments


Colleen,
I apologize to both you and writer Genevieve, that is what happens when I don't have my second cup of coffee! Darn, I will have to wean myself off of it again *lol*. This was meant for you dear Colleen (and I do appreciate Genevieve's fine writing skills):
Colleen,
Congratulations and best wishes on being selected by More's 2010 Beauty Search Contest. I enjoyed and am able to relate very well to what I read about you, as I too am the mother of a daughter around the same age as yours. Best wishes in researching and consulting. I wish you much happiness in your life now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Santini


Genevieve,
Congratulations and best wishes on being selected by More's 2010 Beauty Search Contest. I enjoyed and am able to relate very well to what I read about you, as I too am the mother of a daughter around the same age as yours. Best wishes in researching and consulting. I wish you much happiness in your life now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Santini


Rhonda,
Congratulations and best wishes on being selected by More's 2010 Beauty Search Contest. I admire the work you are doing in the area of breast cancer. The website you created is abundant with valuable information. Thank you for creating and sharing it. I wish you much happiness in your life now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Santini


Shelley,
Congratulations and best wishes on being selected by More's 2010 Beauty Search Contest. Reading about your life is inspiring to me and I imagine to many others. My husband is Diabetic so I understand the challenges of the disease. I wish you good luck with the beauty book and much happiness in your life now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Santini :)

Chey Sechrist02.11.2011

I work in a beauty spa/salon.. a guest who has been coming in for a long time to her her nails done found out my age a few weeks ago..today they were talking about MORE magazine and how they have a beauty contest of sorts. She told me I should send my picture in. I am a fuller figured woman..but I will be 51 this month and am usually guessed at 37 :)
so I would love to share my photos with whoever this pertains to to get into the contest :) even if I don't win it was sweet of her to firmly suggest it to me :)
thanks More.
Chey

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