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The book “Art of Charm” has been written for young people who never had the chance to experience a charm school the way a lot of us did. Even though I was a professional model and trained by Powers, the charm schools had something for everyone. I loved teaching them and found myself adding professional steps to a little girls program when she showed style, and love for the art.
My modeling career was demanding when Vandever’s called to see if I wanted to take the job as Fashion Coordinator for their store. I was trained and put to the test with a trip to NY within a few weeks. I worked with Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour and Seventeen. The fashion editors were wonderful and each had their own fashion story for the coming season. The French fashion shows were outstanding and remarkable. A lot of information and it was the best…
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Modeling on television was always fun, but the most excitement came when I had my own daily talk show on the ABC affiliate station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I received “Who’s Who” and TV Radio Mirror for best show. The golden mike award was given when I sent film from the show and later covered the Democratic/Republican conventions as special events reporter. Sometimes I’d cover for a radio station as well when at the conventions. KOMA Radio (Storz) station. Radio, was fun since it was always adlib.
Moved to the CBS affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a weekly show I produced. After a year, I decided to work special events for the Wards stores setting up the Wendy program (charm schools) and doing their local radio and television commercials. During this time I was a judge in the state beauty pageant and called on to help out where I could with young people. My job took me on to become a district director, in Denver, Colorado, setting up the Wendy program in different cities and doing on camera television commercials for the Wards stores on a national scale.
All the training and work led me into the advertising business. I opened my own Bland & Associates Advertising and PR firm. Working behind the camera became more fun for me at an early age – Not to mention seeing my creative work used to sell Cadillac as well as Fashion. We walked away with our share of Addy awards.
The television field, the love for fashion and charm schools is forever a part of me. My life had been so rich because of it. “Art of Charm” is dedicated to you. Here are the tools, use them with style.