293. Living Out My "Dream" as a Model: What a Small-Town Fashion Show Taught Me About Starting Scared

SPEAKER_00: Hey friend, welcome to the Star Scared Podcast, where we are mamas who are wanting craving meaning more in our lives outside of just being a mom. We love our babies, but man how we lost ourselves in the chaos of everyday mom life. My name is Christy, and I'm a wife, a mama, a teacher, an Indian gram sticks, and a projector who used to be bound by what I thought I was supposed to say, do, or be. So much so that I'm trying to discover who Christy is right now in real time. Together, we're gonna have honest and real conversations, just like girlfriends chatting over a cocktail or a coffee on the back porch. We're gonna cut through the VS stories we tell ourselves and find clarity to start scared about putting ourselves first. Because, girl, who you are outside of being a mom still matters. It is time that we live out the dreams and the desires that God has placed on our hearts, even if we don't know what that is quite yet. But I got you. We're in this together. So grab your drink, meet me on the back porch, and let's do this. And sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone is super scary. Um, and you do something that you have never done before. But because you step outside your comfort zone, you get to meet these amazing people, and you come home with the biggest grin on your face, your cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and you're like, that was so freaking fun. Okay, well, that is the story I'm going to tell you today. But I have to rewind and go back to June. So we were at my friends, uh, my friends Tamara and Josh's wedding. My husband, Frank, and I actually officiated their wedding in June, and such an honor, such a blessing. Several of my friends were there, and um, Tamara's mom, honey, has a best friend named Deb. And Deb owns a boutique called in Dripping Springs, Texas, called Mercer Street Chic Boutique and Art Gallery. And while we were getting ready for the wedding, we found out that Deb was going to be hosting a fashion show at the end of September, and she needed about 20 models. And so she asked us if we wanted to participate. And we were like, um, yes, are you kidding? Like, heck yeah. So Tamra signed up, I signed up, my friend Callie signed up, Joy signed up, Joy, um, Tamra's daughter signed up, Tamara's mom, honey, signed up. Of course, Joy wrangled her friend Megan into signing up. And we were, of course, there were lots of other women that we met um while we were at the fashion show, but I was I was so freaking excited. Um, but I was also really, really, really, really nervous. And here's a secret that not many people know. Um, I always kind of wanted to be a model. And like as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a part of pageants and fashion shows. And I had these little dreams in my head when I was growing up. And thankfully, my mom, she said no, that you know, wasn't for me. And I say thankfully because like looking back, I actually think she was protecting me because I don't know that the modeling and pageant world would have been great for younger Christie. Um, I mean, like, there are so many stories about pressure and comparison and body image and eating disorders and trauma. And I'm actually really grateful that I wasn't exposed to that, um, to that world as a teenager. But there was still like this little part of me that always like wondered what if. And I was a sophomore in high school. Um, and I got the opportunity to try out um for a fashion show at a local mall. And um, I was so excited. I tried out with a friend, she made it, and I didn't, and I was devastated because I already I was a teenage girl who didn't exactly have the strongest self-esteem. I had braces and I always felt like the uglier friend. I felt like I wasn't as popular, I wasn't as world-like, I wasn't as as smart, and I already had all of these teenage insecurities swirling around my head. And when I auditioned for this thing that I really, really wanted and I didn't get chosen, like when you're 15 or 16, like that feels enormous, right? And obviously it was a big deal to me. I still remember it to this day. And you know, it feels like a judge banging the gavel like a verdict that says, like, someone looked at you and said, You're not good enough. And I think I have held on to that insecurity of not being enough for a long, long time. And obviously that wasn't what happened, but that's what me as a 15 or 16 year old heard. And so, fast forward, I don't know, 25 years, almost 30 years later, here I am. I'm signing up to walk at a fashion show that I didn't have to try out for. I just got picked because I wanted to do it and because um I was a friendly face. And I thought, oh my gosh, like I'm finally getting to do this thing that I really wanted to do one day. And, you know, it wasn't like some huge, like professional runway. Obviously, it wasn't New York or Paris Fashion Week. Um, it was for a small boutique fashion show in Dripping Springs, Texas, and it was really special. It was really, really special. So a few weeks before the show, we went to Depp's boutique to get fitted. And um, I went with Megan and Callie and Joy. And while they were getting some really dressy outfits, I got this really fun casual look, which I was really pumped about. Um, I had these leopard print wide-leg trousers trousers with um a red stripe down the side. I had a red tank top and a black puffy vest, and then I got to wear sneakers. Everybody else was wearing heels or boots, and I got to wear sneakers. It was great. I loved it. I felt, I felt like myself. And um, I was comfortable and easy to walk in. So I wasn't worried about like tripping and falling and you know, falling on my face in front of everybody. And so at the time of this recording, um, the fashion show was yesterday, and it was so much fun. Hey girl, I wanted to share something really quick with you because if you are raising kids right now, you already know that teaching them about money feels overwhelming. Where do I even start? We want them to be responsible. We want them to understand work, we want them to understand saving, we want them to understand generosity, but also we're busy, we're exhausted, and we're doing the best we can. That's why we use Greenlight for our son, Bruce, and honestly, it has been a game changer. Greenlight is a money app and debit card made just for kids and teens. We can send Bruce money instantly, we can assign tours, and we can help him learn how to earn, save, and even invest, all in a way that actually makes sense for his age. What I love most is that it opens up conversations. He's learning responsibility, decision making, and confidence, not just spending, and we're guiding him instead of stressing out about it. If you've been thinking, I want to teach my kids about money, but I don't even know where to start, this is such an easy first step. You can sign up using my link at greenlight.com or just click the link in the show notes. And when you do, you'll earn$30 when you join. You do not have to do parenting perfectly to do it intentionally. Small tools like Greenlight can make a huge impact. So check out Greenlight, set your kids up with skills they'll actually use, they'll actually need, and take one thing off your mental load. Don't forget to use my link, it's in the show notes. And when you sign up, you can earn$30. All right, girl, let's get back to the episode. So much fun. So much fun. Um, I was so freaking nervous. Like my armpits were sweating. And obviously, that's a really shitty thing to be having, like while you're about to walk the runway in a fashion show. Luckily, I wasn't wearing short sleeves, or I think you probably wouldn't have been able to see them. But I was so nervous, I was so excited. Um, I was probably just like acting like my 15, 16-year-old self who like finally got her chance. And and what made this fashion show extra special was that there was not one body type of woman or one type of woman represented. Like we were all different ages, we were all different sizes, we were all different shapes, we all had different backgrounds, and everybody was just there celebrating, you know, like nobody looked at us and be like, oh, you're not a model. Oh, why are you here? Everybody was, you know, we were walking down this red carpet runway that was lined on both sides with chairs, and the women that were sitting there watching were cheering and they were clapping and they were reaching out to touch the clothes and they were giving high fives and they were smiling, and and it was just I don't know, like I felt I felt celebrated. And it wasn't about being beautiful enough, and it wasn't about having the perfect body, it wasn't about having the best catwalk. Um, it wasn't about being the youngest woman in the room or being the skinniest or the most fashionable, or you know, it wasn't about being chosen over someone else. It was just look at us, look at these women, women, look at these, look at these lives that we've created and our beautiful bodies and the stories that we're making with our um our clothing and you know, all of these different seasons of life. And we were just celebrating each other. And one of my favorite parts was seeing Tamara and her mom and her daughter all wearing the same dress, like three generations of the same dress, three totally different women, three, you know, different seasons of life. And it it was such a beautiful reminder that clothes don't have to be about, and really your life, right? Your personality and you know what you choose to do with your life. It's not about fitting into a box or fitting one mold. You know, we get to make our own. And um, you know, after the fashion show, we got to um check out all the vendors and the beautiful grazing board and the mimosas and the cocktails. And um, I there was a uh permanent jewelry vendor that I got a beautiful bracelet. I also got a beautiful necklace. There were a couple local shopping uh coffee shops from dripping springs. Um, there were mahjong tables because there was a mahjong game happening after the fashion show, tons of raffles. I didn't want anything. Um, there were just women everywhere laughing and talking and connecting. And I got to spend time with my favorite people, and I got to meet women that I never would have had the chance to meet otherwise. And, you know, I even got a new contact in my phone, which was so fun. So her name is Bristol, and she was there um participating in the fashion show, and her family owns one of the coffee shops that was there. And I'm like, this is what happens when you say yes. Like, you never know who you're gonna meet. You're never gonna know what door is gonna open, you never know what you're gonna get to experience, and and you never know the stories that you get to tell afterwards from getting to have that opportunity from just saying yes. And I think that that's what I want to leave you with today. Like, not some giant lesson, not you know, a three-step, this is what you need to do, but just an invitation to say yes. Maybe it's just something silly. Do it just because it sounds fun or exciting, or you get to, you know, spend time with your friends, you know. Do something that was not on your 2026 bingo card, you know, do something that may make your armpits sweat and give you butterflies in your stomach because, you know, sometimes we're so focused on being being better moms and better wives and better employees or better daughters and, you know, just better versions of ourselves that sometimes we forget that we're just allowed to play and we're allowed to have fun. We're allowed to be silly, and we are allowed to wear leopard print pants and walk down a runway with sweaty armpits. And, you know, we're allowed to get to try something at 42 that we didn't get to try when we were 15 or 16. And, you know, we're allowed to do things just simply because it makes us happy and it brings us joy. And, you know, I think I think it's time for us to get a little bit more comfortable just saying, you know what, I want to do that. I want to try that. And so I'm going to. And I'm so, so glad that I said yes to this. I'm so glad that I got to do this with Callie and Tamara and Joy and Megan. And I'm so glad that I got to spend time with these amazing human beings. I am so grateful for Deb. So grateful. Um, because she's just someone who just makes you feel so special. She's kind and generous and thoughtful, and she's created this beautiful space where women can come together and celebrate each other. And so I told her afterwards, I was like, if you ever need models again, give us a call because I am so in. I am so down to do this again. She told us she does about four passion shows a year. And I'm like, girl, call me. I'll be there. I will put on whatever you want me to put on and I will walk that runway again. And um, honestly, I just I hope that you have something like that in your life, something that makes you feel like a kid again, something that just makes you laugh and smile so much that your face hurts. And, you know, something that maybe scares you a little bit, but it also makes you feel alive at the same time. And, you know, it doesn't have to be big, it doesn't have to make any sense, you know. Just something that just brings you joy. And um yeah, um, I'm really, really grateful for the opportunity. It was a great, great time. And um, I'm just grateful that you are here with me today, sitting on the back porch with our coffee or our cocktail. And um yeah, remember, I love you, I'm reading for you, and you matter. I will see you next week, same time, same place. unknown: Bye.