THERE'S NO PARTY LIKE A LIFE STYLED HONORS PARTY BECAUSE A LIFE STYLED HONORS PARTY DOESN'T STOP!
There's no place like Life Styled Honors, There's no place like the Life Styled Honors, There's no place like the Life Styled Honors!!! As I click my heels together three times, I'm wishing I could be back in the ATL right now to do it all over again!!! Where do I start the recap of an event as amazing as this one???!! From the Venues to Honorees, from vendors to the entertainment, from the models, to the attendees, all wrapped up into multiple days of awesomeness, a short recap could never do the week in Atlanta justice!!! Maui Bigelow @mauibigelow and the entire team did an excellent job with a top-notch presentation and enough flare to keep all in attendance wanting more after it all was done. It's honing in on the two-week mark, and we are all still raving about our time spent while living vicariously through the awesome content captured by Rick Jones @rjonesphotography and his team, being released by the day. A huge shoutout to all of the honorees, National Curves Day @Nationalcurvesday, and District of Curves @Districtofcurves, for celebrating ten years with the Life Styled Honors Family, aiding year eleven in becoming the event to talk about through the remainder of 2024!!
Let's dive into the week's lineup, venues, and everything in between. The festivities commenced with R&B Karaoke, an electrifying prelude that set the stage for what was to follow. The Black & Brave Ball Sneaker Ball at Tiger Tiger (Celavi) in Marietta, held in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, was a poignant testament to resilience and solidarity. Actress Nzinga Imani's grace and poise infused the evening with profound meaning as she hosted the evening. Then came the LIFE STYLED HONORS (Fashion & Empowerment Event) on Friday at Ali Events at Lakewood. Saturday was the Rosé All Day Party at Whiskey Mistress Atlanta, and we wrapped it up on Sunday with the Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch at Slush Restaurant and Bar. Atlanta and its surrounding areas provided the perfect backdrop for these events, with each location adding its unique flair to the Life Styled Honors experience. Despite venue changes this year, Atlanta's aesthetics combined with the vibrant crowd made every day unforgettable.
The transition between venues each day was seamless, and even when we had to move Sunday's brunch indoors, everything ran smoothly. The venue sizes were just right for each day's activities, ensuring that the Life Styled Honors puzzle came together perfectly. If you ever want to see what can get a huge crowd out into Atlanta traffic on a Friday evening after work, it is the greatly anticipated fashion show event. The Designers and Vendors for the Fashion Event brought out some head-turners and showstoppers this year. Our designers showed up and showed out leaving nothing behind on the table. The talent that filled the Ali at Lakewood Event Center @aeatlakewood on that Friday, whether hand-crafted or personally curated, showed in every single pass of each segment. It seemed like hardly anyone left the place empty-handed. The number of people still shopping the tables or purchasing something they saw and loved on the runway was very telling of the caliber of the night we all experienced. Some were returning, some it was their very first time, but each and every one of them ate a heavy serving that night. We definitely couldn't have a show without the amazing Models. How can I describe the Life Styled Honors models without sounding downright bias???!!! Oh, what the heck!!!! I was one of them and we were ALL amazingly awesome!!!! How often can you get that many larger-than-life personalities together for a show of this pace, not having to get together beforehand, and it flows as perfectly as it did??!!! I'll tell you how!! The models that graced the Life Styled Honors runway stay ready so they don't have to get ready. The level of professionalism and flexibility was unparalleled!!! Nadia did an excellent job keeping it all together and ensuring things flowed from the moment we entered the place and for the entire show. This entire group works as though we see one another all of the time and have been working together for years. It's truly a great feeling and what keeps bringing those familiar faces back each year. Oh but as always, we have to highlight some of our favorite looks from the runway.
Curverra
City Chic x District of Curves
A Plus LA
Jolie Noire
Roots of Fatima
Vintage Karma
Nina Sharee
Bodied By Patrice
Kelly’s Kloset
The roster of honorees was nothing short of exceptional, showcasing a diverse array of talent and determination. From Felisha Caldwell, an esteemed educator, to the entrepreneurial prowess of Premadonna, each honoree exemplified the ethos of fearlessness and resilience. We have to give all of the honorees their shine though right? Congratulations to Wondrea Gilmore, Model/Actress, Dominique Morgan, Activist, Krystal Garner, Creative Director/Digital Influencer, Cherie Washington, L’Oreal Senior Manager of Diversity, Kimberly Lockett and Keyondra Lockett, Owners of Jolie x Noire, Sheena Postell, Model/Influencer, and Alexis Felder, Digital Influencer. In partnership with The Breonna Taylor Foundation, Life Styled Honors also recognizes four exceptional young women with the “She Is HER” award. Congratulations Porche Madre, PR Specialist, Tyera Thomas, Hairstylist/MUA, Arrion Burris, Stylist and Tequeria Barrett, Progressive Organizer.
Let's keep this party going!! Hosts, Honorees, and Performers we all know will make or break a lineup of events. Those chosen definitely took their charges seriously. Our R&B night was driven by Josh Waters @joshwatersmusic and Sunnidread @sunnidread, and they didn't disappoint. The beautiful Nzinga Imani @nzingaimani always rises to the occasion and gives us a night filled with fun, and that's exactly what we got for Thursday’s ball. Everyone knows a show has no fluidity without the skill of a seasoned host or hosts and that is exactly what we got from Big Sexy @bigsexyofficial and Nikki Lee @IamNikki_Lee!!! We got jokes stockpiled with humor and laughs, authenticity because nothing seemed forced, and such professionalism that made it very easy to have them navigate through Friday's event!!! When I tell you the performers Pretty Big Movement @prettybigmovement, were excellent, they were EXCELLENT. They came and brought the entire house down!!! These ladies got on that runway and showed us how it's not at all about your size when it comes to dance and performance, it's the heart, passion, and purpose that ignites you and causes you to move!!!! Yasssss!!! The Rose All Day Party stood on its own without an actual host, but to open the day @Nationalcurvesday started us off right with an empowering Love My Body Mass Photoshoot lead by the @Queensizemagazine team. Everyone was draped in hues of pink, and the scene was to die for. Lastly, the Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch sponsored by @L'Oréal and powered by Maui Bigelow, was hosted by the beautiful Alex Bonds @loadingdrbonds and she did her thing. We were serenaded by the sweet sounds of Bell Darris @belldarris. The scene for the brunch was a bit different from the last couple of years, but it was a joyous time that partnered the ultimate party with a purpose vibe, and all who attended left with their cups in overflow.
The beauty of these events and the entire week is the marrying together of both celebrity and non-celebrity attendees in or around the Curvy community and everyone blending and socializing together seamlessly. You were able to walk through the doors each day and see all of your well-known faces seen daily on the internet, right there before your eyes. We had in attendance, everyone from Nzinga Imani, Big Sexy and Premadonnan @premadonna87, just to name a few. All of our Curvy community from one end of the country to the other under one roof, made the entire event one we can't help but remember!!! Needless to say, if you were not in attendance, you surely missed out!!! Maui Bigelow and her entire team and sponsors truly outdid themselves!!! Whatever is in store for year twelve, has some pretty big shoes to fill, but I know they are up for the challenge!!!
Kudos to Maui Bigelow and the entire team for exceeding expectations. Year twelve has big shoes to fill, but knowing this team, they'll rise to the challenge. Follow @Life Styled honors, @Mauibigelow, @rjonesphotography on Facebook and IG for more photos, videos, and updates on future events. You can also follow Philip Drew @photosbypdrew and Queen Size Magazine for more images and recaps.
Until next year!
event images shot by Philip Drew @photosbypdrew
