Live from Georgia: Victoria Henley’s Magnifique Runway Show Competition

Hockey Hall of Famer, Wayne Gretzky, stated that “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. What a brilliant quote! Your window of opportunity will pass you by if you fail to take action.  Well isn’t that common sense? I wish! Unfortunately, there are more people standing on the sidelines as spectators versus taking action in this exhilarating game that we call life.  But what would happen if we followed First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice? Eleanor Roosevelt stated that “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face…you must do the thing you think you cannot do”. What happens after you expose yourself to new opportunities? Doors open! Wide.

                                               
                                                                                          Designer: Native Royalty

Designer: Native Royalty 

Designer: Native Royalty 

That’s exactly what happened when I decided to participate in the Ms. Corporate America pageant.  When some people think about pageantry, they instantly diminish who they are and what they could accomplish on stage because they are incapacitated by their fears or don’t want to face the risk of rejection.  Ha! It’s time to start rejecting rejection so that you can unwrap all of the presents that have your name on it. When you compete in the Ms. Corporate America pageant, the prize package goes beyond a crown and sash. In fact, everyone who becomes a part of this empowering professional pageant system has the chance to win prizes and connections that are not listed on the website.  Awesome right? I know!!! You have the opportunity to take advantage of modeling and speaking opportunities that take place after the pageant. You never know who you will meet at the pageant and you never know where that interaction will take you. Maybe it will take you to Georgia!

From Left to Right: Cierra, Victoria Henley, Phaidra, Charlene 

Do you remember Victoria Henley from Cycle 19 of the hit show, America’s Next Top Model?  Well Victoria Henley was among the elite panel of judges who selected me to be your Ms. Corporate America 2015.  Her experience on the popular reality TV show exposed her to millions of people worldwide and has allowed her to model on the covers and in editorial spreads for countless fashion magazines, host runway shows, and teach modeling workshops to aspiring models of all ages across the U.S. She hosted the Magnifique Runway Show in a small town in Georgia as a way to connect fashion designers, photographers, actresses, talent scouts, and models to opportunities that will allow them to expose their talents. Models from across the US walk in showcases vying for prestigious prizes such as magazine spreads, ad campaign spots, spot in televised runway show, customer designer pieces, and more in the model competition.  So guess who was in Georgia working the runway and participating in commercial competitions on July 10^th and 11^th? Me! I was ecstatic that a couple of my long time friends also joined me on this modeling adventure. We unanimously agreed that the modeling and portfolio prep combined with the commercial and runway exposure added the right touch to our personal ambitions. The event started on Friday, July 10th with a commercial competition for Native Royalty clothing designed by an innovative mother/daughter duo who are taking on the fashion world by storm!  It takes work to instantly memorize lines and remember them when you are on camera!

Preparing for Commercial Competitions......

Designer: Native Royalty 

Designer: Native Royalty 

Designer: Native Royalty 

So what does it take to model in a 3 - hour runway show? Agility, strategy, team -work, water, and granola bars! Before the show started, we had to identify all of the designers that we would be modeling for and make sure we had a savvy garment exit strategy. With only an average of 7-12 girls modeling for each designer, we had to dash to our dressing room and change into our next outfit in less than 93.5 seconds. Yikes!! That means we had to look out for our fellow model and make sure she was zipped up and flawless before ripping the runway. Behind the scenes was a mixture of dresses flying, lip balm rolling, and hair flipping into a desired style. It may sound a bit hectic but we loved the adrenaline rush. We were called to think fast, move confidently, and share our energy with the audience. We enjoyed every moment and each step we took on the runway paid off. Not only did we love working with Victoria Henley and the other models, but we also won prizes! My friends took home modeling spots with project runway and I won two beauty editorials. Talk about icing on the cake!

Designer: Rue 21 

Designer: 02 Jeans 

Designer: Amber Wright 

Designer: Native Royalty 

Speaking of cake,  our bodies were craving food after exerting so much energy at the fashion show. So where do models eat after walking in 4  -inch heels for 5 hours and running frantically up and down stairs to change into over 10 different pieces of attire? The Waffle House! This was my first visit to a waffle house in the south and I must say that the food was scrumptious! I had to revisit the waffle house before boarding my plane back to Chicago.

Waffle House 

We laughed our socks off. We ran like we never ran before. We learned something new. We won fabulous prizes. And we made connections that will go beyond this event. This will not be the last time you see us rip the runway. Stay tuned! 

Don't be afraid to try something new! You may be surprised to meet another YOU that has been waiting inside of YOU this entire time. 

Designer: Native Royalty 

On set doing the Commercial for Native Royalty Clothing Line 

Keep Creating Endless Opportunities,

Ms. Corporate America 2015

MCA Photo Shoot in Florida: Capturing the True Beauty of a Corporate Queen

"A beautiful person makes everyone around them feel beautiful"

I know you have heard this time and time again. So I have the honor of repeating something that you already know. Beauty is only skin deep. We will all get old. We will all witness bumps and bruises. And we may not be fortunate to look as flawless as Beyonce when we wake up. It's okay. It's not the end of the world! But I can tell you something that may force you to feel like your world has ended. LIVING WITHOUT PURPOSE. If you are living without purpose, you are aimlessly walking through life allowing someone else to control your fate. You have NO control. You live according to the plans of others who are living with a CLEAR and DEFINITE purpose. Life becomes TOUGH and meaningless. But a person walking with purpose is a force to be reckoned with. A person who walks with a passionate, positive and powerful purpose will radiate true beauty everywhere they go! Why? Purpose is attractive. People gravitate towards others who know where they are going and are able to lead others with a compelling vision that will inspire them to reach new levels. When I stumbled upon the Ms. Corporate America pageant in 2011, this is exactly what I noticed! I saw selfless women who were walking boldly in the direction of their dreams, serving as ambassadors for causes that were important to them, and using the crown as a microphone to influence change for women in corporate america and entrepreneurs.  There was no question about it! These ladies were "on purpose". To be on purpose means that you are doing what you love to do, doing what you are good at, and accomplishing what's important to you. These women who I saw competing in the Ms. Corporate America pageant had divorced their fears and found true love by marrying their dreams. How beautiful is that? 

"It is the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion. 

-Dame Reccah West 

The Ms. Corporate America pageant was designed to celebrate the accomplishments of women in business. Women who are between the ages of 21-55 have a chance to compete in this pageant in order to share their career and community accomplishments with the world. The diverse backgrounds distinguish the women on stage but a humbling purpose unites every single lady who steps on stage. These women realize that what you personally bring to the table is only half of the equation. As a corporate queen, you are responsible for uplifting, supporting, and empowering the woman next to you in order to advance the goals of women everywhere. We are charged with the powerful assignment of helping other women to release the greatness that is waiting inside of her and give them the confidence to share it with the world! How cool is that? I personally think I have one of the best jobs in the world. I get to highlight the true beauty of queens everywhere. During our Queen Photo Shoot in Florida, we allowed our passion, joy, gratefulness, and mission to shine through so that we can share this opportunity with others who are competing for the title of Ms./Mrs. Corporate America.  

Pat Williams, senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic basketball team, stated that the greatest secret to success is to "Figure out what you love to do as young as you can, and then organize your life around figuring out how to make a living at it". 

Everything we do stems from our unique purpose. These pictures reflect a bond between two women who are driven, determined, and destined to spread the beauty of the Ms. Corporate America pageant by leaving it better than we found it.

                             

Apply to be the next Ms. Corporate America by going to www.mscorporateamerica.com. Contact me at mscorporateamerica2015@gmail.com if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you in Orlando Florida! 

Keep Creating Endless Opportunities, 

Ms. Corporate America 2015 

If you are a photographer or event planner seeking corporate models for event promotions, contact us today!

The President Speaks: Don't Quit!

In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson. In Toastmasters, you’re given a test and a lesson that you can immediately use to inspire others.

Deep! But ain’t that the truth. Excuse my improper use of the English language but that statement spoke to me! I was tested in the past and it feels like I’m experiencing midterm exams now. I’m sure my final exams won’t be coming soon if I expect to become a better and more amazing version of myself everyday. Let’s face it. If you are willing to open yourself to new and exciting opportunities, you have to be committed to passing the worst of all exams. This is not the time to crack and crumble. It’s the time to surround yourself with a supportive network of people who are willing to help you ace the exam. I welcome you to Toastmasters!

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership. Now any active Toastmaster will tell you that these are healthy benefits that will keep your mind engaged and your body energized. I’m here to tell you about the icing on the cake. The leaders! That’s right. The 7 individuals who step up to serve as leaders help to keep the Toastmasters tradition alive and I thank them! Their hard work, commitment, and perseverance teaches one of the best life lessons that a dreamer can learn -  DON'T QUIT!

Yes. Toastmasters builds your mental stamina in ways that you may not comprehend right now. If you can survive a volunteer leadership role as an Area or Division Governor, you really learn what it means not to quit. This is a lesson that many individuals need to learn over and over again. People don't realize that it’s natural in the pursuit of any goal to come upon obstacles, to feel temporarily stuck on a plateau. Yes. It’s normal! So what do you need to do? Calm down. You are not the first to encounter this obstacle and you probably won’t be the last. Anyone who has ever tried to start a new business, launch a new product or idea, advance a relationship, or play a sport knows that you hit plateaus where it seems as though you’re making no progress whatsoever. Yes, it hurts. But you must understand that the pain is a part of the progress! 

Chicago Speakeasy President James Hendrix demonstrates this “never give up” mentality perfectly. President Hendrix joined Toastmasters in December 2012. He was a faithful member who always educated and entertained the audience with a speech at every meeting. He talked about his areas for growth and how he was not going to quit until he got it right. He was a speaker that commanded the stage but he wanted his unique speaking swag back. James was willing to take advantage of new opportunities in order to make it happen. Before his one-year anniversary, he did the unthinkable! Are you ready for this? He decided to become the President of Chicago Speakeasy Toastmasters Club! Ha – lle – lu – jah. You really don’t understand the significance of this action. Think about it. Are you courageous enough to become President of an organization when you are still learning and growing? As President, you are responsible for the direction of the club. You are responsible for building club leaders. We all know that when life happens, individuals leave the organization. James Hendrix supported member transitions while opening the doors for new members to come in and play a role. Even if there were only 4 people at a meeting, he was still committed to fully serving his role as President. His commitment led to more new faces attending our meetings. He was always at the meeting and ready to serve no matter what challenges may have been coming his way. Speaking of challenges, President Hendrix was working to publish a book during this time! Let’s talk about the roadblocks of doing that in a couple of minutes. There is no doubt that serving as President catapulted his growth. But I would be missing a huge piece of this blog if I didn’t talk about how his perseverance and resilient mentality funneled down to the rest of the club. As President, James profoundly altered the course of many lives through his powerful poems that were always the last words spoken at every meeting. During his last meeting as President on Tuesday, June 23^rd, he left us with a popular poem that amplified the energy in the room. Here it goes! This is for YOU.  This is for the dreamer. This is for the leader. This is for the believer. This is for the person that has a vision of prosperity that is greater than anything that has ever been witnessed in the past. Whatever you are going through, don’t quit. If you really want it, make it yours. Keep going and make it happen. You can do it! What you want also wants YOU!

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author Unknown

Remember, the obstacles are there just to determine how bad you want it. So turn that obstacle into an opportunity for you to show how AMAZING you are. Hang in there! The prize is almost yours. Don’t quit.

About President James Hendrix:

James Hendrix joined Toastmasters in December 2012 and stepped up to lead Chicago Speakeasy as President in Fall 2013.  During this leadership opportunity, James though it would be the perfect time to fuel his author pursuits. He put the pen to paper and got started on his dream. This book gives honor to all of the extraordinary people he met on his journey who have left a positive impact on his life. It all starts with his parents, then teachers, friends, co-workers, and the people that God placed in his life. 

James noticed that the older and wiser folks always had years of stories they would share, but they were always presented word of mouth. So he decided to put his story to paper for his 

Children; essentially giving back to create a legacy of children who would know who they are and have guidance to get where they are going.

So what obstacles did this fierce leader have to jump over? The obstacles James faced during his journey were simply learning curves. This is what happens when you step into new territory and commit to doing something you have never done. After a couple of years of pain, he gave birth to something that he hopes and prays will stand the test of time. 

On behalf of Chicago Speakeasy Toastmasters Club, we thank James for his leadership. On behalf of all the of the individuals who have the opportunity to read his masterpiece, we thank you for sharing your story with the world! Book is currently under edit. Stay tuned! 

Keep Creating Endless Opportunities,

Ms. Corporate America 2015

*Visit www.Toastmasters.org to find a club near you! Contact me if you want assistance. Chicago Speakeasy meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 5:30 PM in downtown Chicago. 

Dear Future Executive and Rising CEO,

Are you ready to become the CEO of your life? Follow these steps in order to prepare for the executive lifestyle that you have always dreamed of.

1) Like the CEO Unlimited Facebook Page
2) Purchase your CEO Unlimited Shirt. You will immediately gain credibility and executive attention in your one of a kind executive shirt. Email me at charlene@charlenerhinehart.com to place your order. Shirts are available in size SMALL - XXXL. A portion of the proceeds will support the Alain Locke fundraising goals for the Associate Board.
3) Let's keep in touch! Subscribe to the Ms. Corporate America Blog and check out my new website at www.charlenerhinehart.com.

Contact CEO Unlimited for a strategic personal development consultation. We want to help you create endless opportunities so that you can fall deep in love with your dreams.