Decked out in some of the season's newest Belk fashions, a number of local women strutted down the catwalk Thursday evening in support of a cause close to their hearts at the second annual Simply Pink breast cancer awareness fundraiser at the Pineywoods Country Club.
"This gives me a chance to venture out of my own comfort zone," said Rosie Felks, a model who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Felks and many of the other models, many of whom were breast cancer survivors, spoke about their experiences with the disease as they got ready for the show.
Diana Hensley, a five-year survivor of breast cancer, said she was amazed to learn that the first day she and Felks met at Belk to pick out their outfits, Felks had been through a round of chemotherapy earlier that day.
"She inspires me and so many women here," she said, adding she couldn't imagine doing anything, let alone picking out an outfit, after a chemo treatment.
Hensley, who also participated in last year's inaugural show, commented that finding inspiration from fellow survivors and celebrating life were some of the reasons she enjoyed being able to participate in the event.
The evening kicked off with a vocal performance by Sue Kennedy, followed by a introduction by Kathryn Lewis, MD, medical director of the Loma Laird Cancer Center at Nacogdoches Medical Center.
Lewis acknowledged all of the breast cancer survivors in the room, and then turned the microphone over to Susie Gillian to begin the main event.
As the models walked into the main room of the country club, hugging and waving to friends, Gillian remarked on those who were currently battling or had overcome their battle with breast cancer and offered details on the fall ensembles they donned. The women stepped off the main stage and weaved in and out of the tables where guests were served pink champagne by pink-bow-tie-clad doctors and administrators from Nacogdoches Medical Center.
In between the models' outfit changes, New York-based professional Estee Lauder makeup artist Derek Miller took the stage, demonstrating classic, easy-to-achieve, fall makeup looks.
He explained that this season's look centered around a simple, smoky look, and showed with an onstage demonstration how the local ladies could achieve it.
Event coordinator Debbie Stevens said the event had more than doubled in size from its inaugural, a fact she found "very exciting."
She said the money from Thursday's event will go to the local American Cancer Society Resource Center, which does a number of different things relating to education and awareness.