Sisterhood of the Divine Makeover event helps change lives and outlooks

You know how good it feels to leave the hair salon with a fresh haircut? Well, take that feeling and multiply it many times and you’ll sort of know how four women felt after a head-to-toe makeover.

The Sisterhood of the Divine Makeover is an event that raises money for a charity — and this year’s beneficiary was Raise My Head, an organization for women transitioning out of human trafficking into safe, healthy and sustainable lives.

People nominated women who they felt deserved a makeover due to difficult circumstances in their lives. A committee selected four winners from the nominations and one instant makeover was done during the luncheon on Oct. 9 at The Wichita Marriott.

The winners sporting their new looks were presented at the luncheon. Smiles were big both on and off the stage, but also tears were shed. Happy tears.

After the winners were contacted in September they made appointments at the participating salons and retailers and the makeover process began.

Here’s a look at the very appreciative winners:

Beverly Barnes was at one time battling addiction and neglecting her health including her diabetes. At one point she went into acute heart failure. She completed a substance abuse treatment, got a full time job and was doing fine until she had a stroke in July. Now she’s doing well and looking good.

Beverly got to choose her outfit with the help of store owner Allison Baker and manager Mariah Campbell at Aspen Boutique. Beverly walked into the dressing where some outfits were hanging for her to try on. She got tears in her eyes and said “I don’t need to try anything else on, I want the green one.”

Jessie McMillan did her makeup and Klaiborne Arnold cut and colored her hair. Both are stylists at Planet Hair.

“I feel so good and I learned that even being a plain Jane how beautiful you can become,” she said.

Marti Dougherty was nominated by a friend who described Marti’s divorce as one that was especially humiliating, but that Marti remained poised and continued being generous and loving. She has five adopted children and many friends who supported her through a tough time.

Marti said she enjoyed the makeover once she got over being afraid of change. “I’m so thankful for Pam Cutler at Salon Knotty for her talent and making me a stronger person. I love my hair color and cut. And this outfit! Frou Frou is now one of my favorite stores!” Betsy Morrison , owner of Frou Frou, helped her.

She says the whole experience taught her to quit taking herself so seriously. Like the other winners, Marti said she was very nervous but enjoyed the fun and attention and was very appreciative.

Christy East has battled drug addiction starting at the age of 14. Two marriages ended in divorce. Through most of her life she has been verbally, physically and sexually abused.

But through her determination she is now doing well. She’s been clean and sober for three years and has reestablished healthy relationships with her children and grandchildren.

Christy admits she was very nervous about this adventure but said “the ladies at K-Lane’s and at Charisma made me feel worthy of being there and I relaxed.”

Diane Schmidt, the owner of K-Lane, helped her with clothing and footwear. Christine Dohmeier at Charisma cut her extremely long hair, colored and styled it.

Sondra Stieber has had an unbelievable number of traumatic medical events. In 2008 during a teaching trip in Israel she was accidentally shot in the arm. The doctor there decided it would be best to leave the bullet in her arm. This caused many problems which after several years required her arm to be amputated below the elbow.

She was to be one of the first to get a prosthetic arm that is controlled with the mind. As the pandemic caused delays the cost mounted with insurance refusing to pay for it. Once she had the prosthesis there were challenges and additional expense, but this mother of 10 and grandmother of 10 continued to persevere. She maintained and still has a positive attitude. She continues to volunteer with several charitable organizations.

She says her favorite part of the makeover experience was “realizing that things I never would have chosen for myself could look so great. A new look really led to a new outlook.” She says she’s going to trust the experts from now on.

The experts she was referring to were Jenna Donavon-Wineburg, store manager and staff at Nouveau and also the staff at LBD who put Sondra’s outfit together. “They really spoiled me. I’ve never shopped at such nice places.”

Also Tod Ernst at Planet Hair is another of her favorite experts. “He is as amazing as his reputation,” she said. She loves the honey tones in her hair and the soft curls.

Sondra echoed what all the makeover winners said: they love their new look and appreciate the generosity of everyone so much that they cried. Some said they had given up on the idea of ever looking or feeling pretty again. Then the tears would come again.

“But I can’t cry now because my eyelashes will come off!” Beverly Barnes said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. Then they laughed.

The instant makerover: Donna Ford

At the beginning of the Sisterhood of the Divine Makeover Luncheon Donna Ford was stunned when her name was called and she was asked to come on stage. Eric Fisher of Eric Fisher Salons and Mariah Campbell of Aspen Boutique went to work.

They had one hour to do the makeover. Eric cut her hair shorter and made use of her natural curl. J.J. Serrano did her makeup. Her casual outfit from Aspen Boutique also was a hit.

The Raise My Head Foundation

The mission of Raise My Head Foundation is to provide women who are breaking free from sex trafficking a safe residence away from damaging influences where they can receive healing and restoration.

The women in the program are provided a large array of support services to give them the opportunity for recovery, growth, and transformation.

For more information visit raisemyhead.org.

This story was originally published October 16, 2021 at 3:09 AM with the headline "Sisterhood of the Divine Makeover event helps change lives and outlooks."