|
 Terrell
twosome honored for domestic violence work
By Silver Hogue:
silver_hogue@terrelltribune.com
DALLAS - The Hilton Anatole went all out Sunday
for the Xcellence Unplugged general session in which
two Terrell natives were honored for founding the
Healing Hearts Ministry.
The hotel's large conference room was so expertly
decorated to resemble the fashion runways of New
York and Milan that it was easy to forget it was the
hair that was on display.
A booming sound system blared sleek eclectic music
as hair models cat walked down a long runway that
stretched to the center of the room. Each of the six
featured stylists had a different theme and workshop
for the aspiring hair stylists in attendance.
Mary Mann and Susan White were honored with
makeovers, compliments of North American Hairstylist
of the Year Marjorie Clarke, for their work in
creating the Healing Hearts Ministry in Terrell.
Clarke heard about their center, which assists
victims of domestic violence, while attending the
“Cut It Out” program of the “Salons Against Domestic
Abuse Fund” in Miami.
“I've had so many dreams come true this year and
I wanted to give something back,” Clarke said.
“While we were in Miami, my friend told me the
survival stories of these two amazing, beautiful
women and I just had to meet them.”
Clemons and White arrived at Clarke's salon in
Dallas the morning of the show and were video taped
while receiving a cut and color from Clarke herself.
Later, the women were whisked away to the hotel
where their makeup was professionally done back
stage before the show.
Both women were seated backstage and beaming with a
cool confidence amidst the chaos of models and
designers.
“We're about to have our lips and hair touched up a
bit before we go out,” White said smiling. “My
family is all here and this has just been so
great.”
In front of more than 800 hair dressers, designers
and industry insiders, Clarke presented a film
montage of her emotional interviews with the women
on two huge video screens on either side of the
runway.
The women were taped sitting on a couch at the
New Beginning Center of Garland. Fighting back
tears, both women described their long journeys out
of the abusive relationships that almost took their
lives.
“The bruises aren't what is bad, it's what it does
to you emotionally that's hard to heal,” Clemons
said. “You just have no self-esteem or self-worth.”
White had a similar story, but emphasized that she
thought she had the perfect marriage in the
beginning.
“Things were going so well and before I realized it,
the verbal and physical abuse got really bad,” White
said.
The video also provided alarming abuse statistics
including the fact that there are 3,800 animal
shelters in the United States and only 1,500 women's
shelters.
Things began to lighten up when the tape cut to the
women coming into Clarke's salon for a day of
pampering. Through the humorous close-ups and back
stage antics, the women showed they were not only
making positive changes in their appearance, they
had changed their lives for the better as well.
When the video ended, the runway lights lit up and
the curtains opened as Clarke, Clemons, White and
several other domestic abuse survivors boldly made
their way down the runway to a standing ovation from
the audience.
The Terrell Tribune
September 11, 2006
Info about the show
www.hairforce.ca |