Event co-chairs Melissa Rountree and her daughter Morgan, with honorary chair Lynn McBee, were joined by more than 250 attendees for the 7th annual ESTEEM Fashion Show benefiting The Elisa Project (TEP) on Saturday, September 17, 2016.
Hosted by Tootsies, partygoers arrived and mingled while enjoying decadent blueberry and cranberry muffins, along with seasonal fruit and mimosas, courtesy of True Foods Kitchen. With 10% of all purchases benefiting TEP, patrons shopped Tootsies’ fabulous fall fashions, as DJ Blake Ward provided the vibe. Raffle tickets were also available for sale featuring thirteen prizes including, a $100 gift card to Tootsies, six months unlimited classes at Bar Method, Elizabeth Showers Kaleidoscope earrings, workout gear from Level 3 Active, a gold necklace with lemon-green quart and diamonds from Patriksha Jewelry, a champagne and shopping soiree at Abi Ferrin including a $400 gift card, a suite of Amanda Sterett Jewelry, a $250 gift card to any Lombardi Family Concepts restaurant and more.
At the appointed time, patrons gathered upstairs in anticipation of the fashion show. Co-chairs Melissa and Morgan took the stage and thanked everyone in attendance for their support of The Elisa Project and this year’s event. Dr. Stephanie Setliff, TEP’s board president, followed by thanking Melissa and Morgan for their hard work on the event, and recognized ESTEEM honorary chair Lynn McBee and TEP co-founder Leslie McCall, who were seated nearby. She also shared some details about the work The Elisa Project is doing in the community through advocacy, education and support, which touches the lives of more than 31,000 individuals suffering from eating disorders each year.
Dr. Setliff then introduced returning emcee Gloria Campos. Gloria added her gratitude to attendees and recognized others in the room including executive director Kim Martinez and TEP staff and board of directors, as well as ESTEEM founder, event coordinator, and board member, Rhonda Sargent Chambers. She was joined by Tootsies store director Nerissa von Helpenstill, who described the two upcoming fashion scenes, “Borrowed from the Boys” and “She’s a Lady,” which would be modeled by an amazing group of TEP supporters chosen for their commitment to giving back to the community and to those with eating disorders. All children’s fashions were provided by KidBiz/The Biz.
2016 models were: jewelry designer Amanda Sterett Albritton with daughters Anna and Olivia; FOX4-TV’s Emmy-award winning news anchor Jenny Anchando; author, community volunteer and co-founder of Sawyer Collection Kim Bannister and daughter Sawyer; sisters Erin Bulcher, Sr. SEO and content manager for farecompare.com, and Nicole Bulcher, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader; WFAA-TV’s Alexa Conomos and daughter Annick; community volunteer Yvonne Crum with granddaughter Samantha; organic lifestyle and healthy living expert Holly Pellham Davis with daughter Landry; Jazmyn Dorsett, daughter of Dallas Cowboys legend Tony Dorsett and super mom Janet Dorsett;Lauren Foreman, community volunteer and communications manager for Thompson & Knight; Roshawnda Foster, Kim Dawson model, and daughter Logan; Pam Skaggs Frank, veteran Kim Dawson Model and owner of Gloss Luxury Rentals and Gloss Interiors; community volunteer Alissa Ferguson Gearing and daughter Ansley; community volunteer and 26-year Brinker International employee Nancy Gopez; designer and creator of BAHZ jewelry Britt Harless; Tiffany Hendra, wife television host, lifestyle mentor and creator of Sanctuary of Style blog; founder and creator of Model Behaviors, writer and activist Toni Munoz Hunt and daughter Darlington; lifestyle management consultant Jackson; host of nationally syndicated morning show, Eye Opener, blogger and fashion expert Hilary Kennedy; Whitney Roberts Kutch, TEP board member and founder of Hello Whitney blog; Carlotta Lennox, Kim Dawson model and entrepreneur, and daughter Alle; LeeAnne Locken, author, actor, model, producer, BRAVO-TV’s hit reality-series Real Housewives of Dallas cast member and community volunteer; wife, mother grandmother and co-owner of Lombardi Family Concepts Vivian Lombardi and granddaughter Sarah Taylor; healthcare professional and Bar Method instructor Candice Wynn Mason; Jane McGarry, host of WFAA-TV’s Good Morning Texas; fashion stylist and blogger Dawn Mellon; sportscaster and TV host Gina Miller; Allison Mitchell, designer and founder of her namesake line of clutches; model and former Miss Texas and Miss USA Courtney Gibbs Mokarow and daughter Everett; Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Scott Murray; Dawn Neufeld, reigning Mrs. Frisco and former cast member of VH1’s Football Wives; model and on-air host, with daughter Bryn; Jamie O’Banion, co-founder and president of luxury skincare line Beauty Bioscience and daughters Aubrey and Ava Grace; licensed clinical social worker Jennifer Passanante and daughters Morgan and Taylor; fashion stylist and spokesperson for Galleria Dallas Holly McCracken Quartaro and daughters Sophia, Sara and Emily; legendary Dallas real estate agent Ralph Randall; ESTEEM co-chairs Melissa Rountree and daughter Morgan; Amy Vanderoef, lifestyle expert and former WFAA-TV Good Morning Texas co-host; model and hair stylist Gary Walden; Kathryn Wahlstrom, medical marketing and media relations expert; and community volunteer Kameron Westcott and daughter Hilton.
As the show came to a close, Gloria announced the lucky winners of the raffle prizes before encouraging all in attendance to continue shopping in support of The Elisa Project. Co-founder and event producer Rhonda Sargent Chambers had the last word as she thanked the individuals who helped make the event possible, by presenting them with potted orchids.
Before departing, posh patrons grabbed their swag bags featuring items from Tootsies, VITA COCO, The Hair Bar and SCOUT Guide Dallas.
ESTEEM is a celebration of body image and self-esteem. In its 7th year, ESTEEM helps increase awareness about eating disorders and the importance of positive body image, ESTEEM encourages people to love themselves while striving to be healthy. Proceeds support The Elisa Project (TEP) and the important programs dedicated to fighting eating disorder illnesses through awareness, education, support and advocacy.
The event would not be possible without the generosity of this year’s ESTEEM sponsors, which are: Fashion Sponsor: Tootsies; DIVA Sponsor: SAP; SUPER MODEL Sponsor: ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders in Denver, CO; In-kind donors – Bob Manzano Photography; Center for Discovery; DJ Blake Ward; Eating Recovery Center; Kid Biz/The Biz; Laureate ED Program; Lawson Event Rentals; RSC Show Productions; Scout Guide Dallas; The Hair Bar; Timberline Knolls; True Food Kitchen; VITA COCO; Elizabeth Showers Jewelry; The Bar Method; Pratiksha Jewelry; Amanda Sterett Jewelry; Abi Ferrin; Veranda Health Club; Lombardi Family Concepts; Level 3 Active; Meredith Boyd/Camp Gladiator; Tootsies; GLAMBoxes; and City+Sky.