True Beauty: Caymanian Style

Meet Lindsay: Miss Cayman Islands Universe

Photo Courtesy: Fadil Berisha

Lindsay Japal is the epitome of island beauty. Hailing from Georgetown, this Caymanian has her sights set big for Miss Universe. A.T. and I have known Lindsay for a while now and the ease she presents in her confident demeanor is quite fitting with her beauty queen status.

Lindsay joined us in Vegas this year to enjoy the Miss USA Telecast and we had a blast! From fittings with the one and only Sherri Hill to an insanely gorgeous photo shoot with the incomparable Fadil Berisha, Lindsay's preparation for Miss Universe is in full swing!

This photo above is just a sneak peak at Linday's gorgeous shoot with Fadil.  I can only imagine what the rest will look like!

Fadil has shot celebrities and high-profile people from all around the world - not to mention his amazing work with Donald Trump and the Miss Universe Organization every year. He is high in-demand and travels in and out of the country on a monthly basis. But the good news is that he has made himself available stateside to thousands of pageant contestants in various fields.

The key to having solid pictures with him, is to realize you are bringing the beauty to the shoot.  He is the mastermind that knows how to create your look and bring out the best in you. But you have to first know that your beauty is the entire foundation for the shoot. Once you realize that, any nerves get left in the makeup room.

Lindsay did a fantastic job on set and rose to this occasion, channeling her inner Miss Universe. It really was spectacular to see. She has commercial and high fashion looks that will now expand her portfolio in a very glamorous nature.

Fadil was set up behind Sherri Hill's working showroom at Planet Hollywood. It was a great locale because the traffic of beauty queens and store owners alike kept the energy high.  A must for a photo shoot!

A.T. and I have always loved Fadil. His heart is bigger than his talent and the passion he exudes in his work makes everyone feel wonderful when they leave his presence. Lindsay was definitely on cloud 9 when we left! 


Stay tuned for more updates on Lindsay's preparation for Miss Universe, coverage on the competition and how you can get her looks! 


XoXo,
Chelsea

A Miss USA Review!

Man oh man, I feel like I have been on the road for a year!  Okay, well maybe that is the story of my life. Ha! But whisking away to L.A. for meetings - I mean BIG meetings - hours after the telecast and then coming home sick, was enough to do me in for the weekend! But I am glad to be back and in action. I have SO many pictures and updates from our time at Miss USA, that it's kind of hard to know where to start.

The telecast was genius. The production was the absolute best I've ever seen.  I loved the "fashion show" themed opening with the girls stomping it down the runway.  The various Sherri Hill collections were amazing!! Plus, the girls looked like they were having a blast. And isn't that what it's about anyways?  Everyone at home, in the audience and on the judging panel had a clear shot of each girl.  It was the best way to open the show!

Fadil's Glamour Shoot channeling goddess beauties was my favorite shoot of all time! The girls were so classically and fiercely beautiful and it was great to see Fadil's work highlighted during the show. To have their images displayed behind them during Top 10 Gown was FAH-ABBBB-YOOUU-LOUS! And we are of course oh-so-proud of our above StandOut girls for being in the finals along with all of our amazing girls!

Akon and me after the show.

The Top 5 Final Look will always hold such a special place in my heart. Maybe because it was after that moment, that I knew everything was all in God's hands. I had worked so hard, felt so good about every single thing I had done and that moment will now be forever etched in my memory.  So when Akon performed his new single, "America's Most Wanted," I could've started dancing in the aisle right there on the spot! Perfect performance, with the perfect song, for the perfect moment during the pageant.

Everyone and their brother came to Miss USA this year and we loved it!  I wish there had been more hours in the day to see everyone but that's how it goes sometimes. From the incredible directors to the current teens to all my formers to the awesome state contestants, there was just not enough time to see all of our friends. So I apologize now and am sending the biggest cyber-hug to all of you!!

Me, Alex, Miss WA Teen USA, A.T. & Karsen, Miss VT Teen USA.

MUO had some great events set up for the Teens this year which was very cool. Their schedule was jammed packed the day before the pageant, giving them a little taste of the life of Miss Teen USA. And a pageant is definitely not the same with these two around! From the moment Alex and Karsen met at our retreat in February, they became instant best friends. So we love jumping in the mix of their love fests!!

And the party didn't stop there! Immediately following the show, Giuliana Rancic, hosted the official after party at LAVO.  It was a nice reunion with formers and sponsors alike. But this mama could only handle so much.  A.T. and I had some major meetings the following day in L.A. so staying out all night was not an option. But at least Allie (my Teen USA) and I got some good pics on the red carpet before heading into the party! 

And no we did not coordinate our outfits....we just got style like that! LOL!

All in all, A.T. and I had such a good time at Miss USA this year. A big thank you to Paula, Larry, Tricia, Carlos, Shawn and all of our friends for making it such a great trip! We are SO ridiculously proud of our StandOut girls and will be posting more highlights on them this week. So stay tuned to the fabulosity that is Miss USA!  


XoXo,
Chelsea

Opening Day at Miss USA!

The gorgeous Taylor, Miss SD USA.

I cannot believe that Miss USA is already here!  Girls have been arriving in Vegas all week and today it all goes down. Registration is in full swing and as the girls are discovering, is a crrraaazzzzyyyyy fun day.  

With a checklist longer than the strip, girls are shooting with the fabulous Fadil, are getting dolled up with Rain Cosmetics in their best Sherri Hill's, topping it all of with the best Farouk has to offer. There are goodie bags galore and more glamour than you can shake a stick at! 

Beautiful Brittany, TX USA & her Rain Cosmetics Make-Up Artist.

Here's a sneak peek into the hustle and bustle that is opening day at Miss USA.



Our fashion blogs from last year's Miss USA extravaganza were so popular that we are bringing the glam back to you this year. Full fashion updates on your favorite titleholders can be exclusively found here. So stay tuned for some standout style!

Hot Fashion Finds: Under $30!

It's no secret that tan heels will work impeccably well with your swimsuit for this area of the pageant competition. They elongate your legs, give you the added height and leave nothing to distract from your hard-earned physique. It's the end of season, so if you're still looking for the perfect shoe to compliment your swimsuit, then look fast! These deals are fading as quickly as summer is!

This Tinley Road Guilia Tan Heel is a gorgeous accent. Adding 6.5 inches to your frame and ON SALE for a limited time, this heel is only $24.97!!


Click here to grab this heel!

DV by Dolce Vita is an amazing shoe line. I love how they craft their platforms and this heel in particular is a fab find! With rave reviews, this Florence style gives you 5 inches and is ON SALE for $29.97! The only size left is 8.5, so jump on it ladies!

Click here for this luscious look!







With Summer Style coming to a close, so are the great pageant finds. But these looks offer more bang for your buck because they're so cute, you can wear them on and off the stage!

Beyond the Rhinestones

It's 8:49 am and although I've been up for two hours already, I am still exhausted. It's a good kind of tired. It's the accomplished kind of tired. It's the kind of tired that longs to see your new friends again. It's the kind of tired that enriches you as a person. It's the Monday morning after our Summer Retreat.

I finally made it home last night around 9:30 after a long trip. I had a few emails and workouts to send for this week and while I was sitting at my desk, I came across this note:

Danielle Doty, Miss Teen USA 2011

Dear Chelsea Cooley,

Thank you so much for an incredible life changing weekend! I loved meeting you and am truly touched by what you do for girls just like me! StandOut Productions is the best!

Texas Love Forever,

Danielle Doty, Miss Texas Teen USA 2011

Since attending our Titleholder Retreat in January, Danielle has now become the new Miss Teen USA. She, like hundreds of other girls, like the girls we just spent the weekend with, have shared in our retreat experience. A.T. and I tell every group, our goal is to change at least one life before the weekend comes to a close.

What they don't realize is how much we are changed by each girl. Beyond the rhinestones, each girl stands hoping to reach their goal in an opinion-based competition. In a split second, months, even years of hard work can be over or can lead into a new chapter. No matter what happens, who you are, when you are standing in that moment, remains THE most important thing.

It was and continues to be a blessing for us to share this journey with our girls. Thank you for letting us be a part of your life!

We love you,

Chelsea & A.T.

Congrats to our amazing Miss Teen USA girls!

Miss Teen USA was so much fun to watch on Saturday night! Allie LaForce, the most incredible girl you will ever meet, was the best host! She looked gorgeous and as a former Miss Teen USA, knows her stuff! The contestants this year are easily some of the most beautiful girls to grace that stage. 

A.T. and I were so excited for all of them and if I had been a judge, the Top 15 would have been a Top 34 this year! Our girls killed it and should be SO proud of themselves!! A HUGE congrats to all of our Top 15 and Alexis Swanstrom, Miss CA Teen USA & 2nd Runner-Up, Audra Mari, Miss ND Teen USA & 1st Runner-Up and Danielle Doty, our new Miss Teen USA!!

Kristen, Miss GA Teen USA, Kirsten, Miss MD Teen USA, Keyla, Miss SC Teen USA & Jessica, Miss IN Teen USA all look wonderful during the finals of Miss Teen USA!

The girls donned their gorgeous Sherri Hill sponsored dresses during the opening number. Then, nerves heightened as the Top 15 were called. After a quick outfit change, the semi-finalists emerged to compete in the Swimsuit Competition.

After fabulous entertainment by this year's, Miss Kentucky USA, Kia Hampton, the girls worked the runway for Evening Gown. I always love this part of the show because it's interesting to see each girl's sense of style.

There are a million gowns to choose from which makes finding the perfect gown a fun focus for your prep. As these girl's proved, the cut, color and fit are super important but in the end, the dress has to really be you.

If you can master this, then you will knock it out of the park like the Top 15 did in the gown portion of the competition!

Danielle Doty, Miss TX Teen USA & now the new Miss Teen USA struts her stuff in her custom designed gown. Audra Mari, Miss ND Teen USA & 1st Runner-Up answered her Top 5 question about bullying. I was especially touched when Audra shared her personal experience in being bullied. It's something most of us have unfortunately experienced so we are very proud of Audra for having the guts to talk about it on stage! 

Alexis, Miss CA Teen USA & 2nd Runner-Up, handled her Top 5 question beautifully. I do think it was a bad shot at Caite Upton, in referencing her answer on maps in the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant. Knowing Caite personally, I wouldn't want people to keep focusing on something that doesn't define who I am. But Alexis took the question and ran with it and the audience definitely backed her! 

Madison Longstreth, Miss PA Teen USA, was so fresh and poised during her announcement of Top 15, that I had to share this personal fav pic of her! 

After spending time with these girls at our Pageant Prep Retreat and their State Power Weeks, we really had a good insight into the heart of these girls. 

Caley, Miss CO Teen USA, Hannah, Miss MN Teen USA, Susan, Miss WV Teen USA and Alexis, Miss ME Teen USA all have proven they are wonderful role models for young women all around the country. 

From overcoming adversities, to building charities at their schools, these girls are forces to be reckoned with! Miss Teen USA is just a stepping stone to anything they want to achieve. A.T. and I are so proud of all of our Miss Teen USA girls!! We love you so very much!!

This is their starting point, so now it's your turn to follow in their footsteps next year.

For more information on how you can be the next Miss Teen USA, please click here!!

Our Miss USA Review!

What an incredible Top 2!

A HUGE congrats to all of our Miss USA girls and the gorgeous Alyssa, Miss USA 2011! Welcome to the sorority!!! A.T. and I were blown away by the bevy of beauties at Miss USA this year. Well, we weren't totally surprised....we did get a sneak peak at our retreat. :) After working with 44 of the girls and then seeing the rest of the contestants, what an amazing showing for our 60th Anniversary!

The format for the show definitely enticed my nerves as we watched it all go down at Planet Hollywood. With 11 of the Top 16, 5 in the Top 8 and a fantastic finish with the Top 4, we couldn't be more proud of everyone!

We get so close with the girls throughout the year so it is amazing to see all of their hard work pay off. These young women are some of the most inspiring girls we have ever worked with. We know that ANYTHING they aspire to in life, can be theirs!

If you want to be the next Miss USA, you're only one click away from following in these gorgeous footsteps! It all starts at the state level with a weekend pageant produced by highly professional Executive State Directors. 

I can honestly say that being Miss USA was a huge dream for me. I watched the show every year when I was growing up and not until I entered my state pageant, did I think I could be Miss USA. How do you get to where these girls are? Start today by entering your state pageant!

It is a weekend full of opportunities that I promise will change your life forever...just like our awesome Miss USA girls! This CAN be you!!!

Fore more information on how you can be the next Miss USA, click here!