Queen for a Day

If you’re old enough you may remember a television show  called Queen for a Day. Described by Wikipedia as the forerunner to today’s reality television shows, the show started out as a radio show in the 1940s and successfully transitioned to the brave new world of television sometime in the late 1950s. It featured a selection of real-life women, all suffering some sort of devastating financial or emotional reversal, each of whom would describe their troubles in heartrending detail to the studio and television audience. After all the tales were told, the audience would vote for the most deserving, who would in-turn receive a variety of “big prizes” certain to ease her suffering and lend the promise of a brighter future. The show ended with the winner, dressed in a tiara and fur-trimmed velvet robe, parading tearfully down a runway to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Hence the title “Queen for a Day.” It was quite the commerical success, with an almost 20-year run on television and radio complete with an expanded time slot to accommodate all the commercial sponsors clamoring to get onboard at $4,000 a minute. 

 The point of this trip down memory lane is to draw an analogy between that 1950s television show, which I was most taken with as a child,  and my participation in this issue’s fashion shoot. At the behest of my co-workers, I set out on my own “Queen for a Day” adventure (sans the personal tragedy and prizes). First I spent a fun afternoon with Nancy and Donna at Summerville Rags playing “dress up” in order to choose something from all the finery to wear for my fashion shoot debut. Then on the day of the shoot, Patty Thelen from Modish did my hair and Cille Galante from Pout in Columbia did my makeup. The finishing touch was exquisite jewelry from Windsor Fine Jewelers, then on to a photo session with Chris Thelen.

Though I didn’t get any new appliances at the end of the day, I had a great time and hopefully proved that makeup and professional styling and photography can make the woman, at least for an afternoon. 

The other thing I discovered while planning this shoot is the treasures to be found at the Aiken County Museum of History, where we did all the photography,  including its charming Executive Director Elliott Levy. Housed at Banksia, a former Winter Colony mansion, the collection is extensive, well-documented and infinitely fascinating. I spent a couple of hours with Elliott touring the exhibits and barely scratched the surface. The musuem isn’t just about static exhibits; the museum offers a variety of programs and events from quilting classes to old-fashioned ice cream socials in its reconstructed vintage drug store. I plan to visit again the next chance I get and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone of all ages.

While you’re there, be sure to tell Elliott I said “hi” and ask him about his Civil War uniform.