Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Wonder Woman Suit

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If you don't know who Wonder Woman is or love her deeply, you should stop reading this post ahora! I'm serious, go find something else to do!!

I have always loved Wonder Woman #realtalk She was a warrior princess. She had superhuman strength. Her accessories (aka her bracelets & tiara) were indestructible and could be used as a weapon. The woman was badass, plain and simple. Beauty, brains, and brawn - everything I aspired to be!

During my off-season (2011), I decided that I wanted to purchase a new suit for the 2012 season. This was not because I did not love my Tamee Marie suit (because I do, deeply!) but I had worn it for three shows including the same show in my hometown I planned on competing in again.

2011 Orange County Muscle Classic

2011 NPC Terminator

2011 NPC Border States

I wanted to present a whole new package to the judges and that included a new suit. I spoke with The Boss #1 and she said that if I found a suit and fell in love with it, then I should buy a new one. She also told me that if I didn't find one that I loved, it would be perfectly fine for me to wear my blue suit again.

I wasn't "actively" searching for new suits but I would definitely check out the new postings in the "Suits for Sale" forum on Siouxcountry, facebook, and Diva Exchange. One morning while on Siouxcountry, I saw a post from a member who was selling two suits she had previously used while competing in figure. I opened up the post and instantly fell in love with one of the suits shown. I was hesitant to contact her because I didn't know if I loved it right at that second or really really loved it. After three days of constantly looking at the picture of the suit, I decided I would contact her and see if she would be interested in renting the suit to me. Long story short, I had waited too long. She was totally interested in renting the suit to me  but that would only happen if the person who had contacted her before me changed their mind. In the end, the person didn't change their mind and I was back to square one.

The Boss #1 then suggested a suit maker she had recently worked with and had a wonderful experience with. The person she recommended was Ellen from Crystallini Bikini. I emailed Ellen and asked if she would be willing to send me some swatches of colors I thought I might want. It took me longer to decide on the color of my suit than it did for Ellen to send me the swatches! After multiple email exchanges with The Boss #1, I decided on a red suit.


Y'all know I'm not one for fluff and saying things just for the sake of saying them so trust that I am being completely honest when I say Ellen is nothing short of amazing. She promptly replied to every email, answered my questions thoroughly, and had my suit in my grubby hands W-A-Y before I expected to receive it! She's so incredible that when I emailed her a week ago about possibly altering my suit, she replied and explained me what my options were.

After receiving my blank suit from Ellen and making sure that my badonkadonk would fit into it, I sent it off to be stoned. The person stoning it for me was none other than The Boss #1.

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She has stoned many of her own suits including those pictured above and graciously offered to stone mine! After we argued agreed upon a price and I sent her pictures of suits I liked, I packed up my blank suit and sent it off to the other side of the country.

A couple of times, she sent me a sneak peek of the suit but I really didn't know what it was going to look like once I received it back. After many years and months two measly weeks, it arrived!!


I tore into the package the same way The Princess tears into her gifts on her birthday and Christmas! Once I had the package open, I sat there and just stared. It was beautiful and utter perfection!


The Boss #1 had told me that she used my family as her inspiration for the stoning. (umm...how frickin' awesome is that?!?) The flames on the top are for Tom. My man is a kick ass firefighter and I'm a proud firefighter wife :) And to incorporate The Princess, she did this -->



A crown!!! Try and tell me that is not the cutest thing you've ever seen!! Not only did she incorporate my family into my suit, she used the same colors as the suit of my idol Wonder Woman! The first time I put the whole look together (wig, suit, clear heels, etc) for progress pictures, I swear I strutted - I'm not kidding -  I was the Black version of Wonder Woman. Look at my face in this picture and tell me that I don't think I'm the sh!t :)


I could go on and on about how much I love this suit but I'm going to have to wrap up this gush fest. I highly recommend you contact Ellen at Crystallini Bikini if you're looking for a suit. Her prices are incredibly reasonable and her work is top-notch. If you're looking for someone to stone a suit for you, The Boss #1 is your woman. I've already put my order in for next year so you better get your's in now!!



10 comments:

  1. Once again, learning new things about your sport. Had no idea about "stoning" suits. Makes sense but I had never put two and two together. Absolutely LOVE your suit.

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    1. Stones are essential! You want your suit to pop on stage so sometimes, the more stones the better :)

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  2. Damn you! I am blushing and embarrassed. I guess I don't take well to compliments. LOL! Thank you so much! SOOO glad you love your suit!! Love you!!!

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    1. Stop that blushing!! You are amazing and take such great care of me! I love ya!!

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  3. So awesome! I had no idea Genie stoned the suit - how cool is that?! LOVE how you and your whole fam are incorporated into the design. Simply perfect!

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    1. I love her! The woman is amazing and the suit is perfection!

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  4. Amazing suit. That is just the most awesome thing to have your family as an inspiration for the stoning.

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    1. Thank you! I'm really lucky to be able to work with two talented ladies :)

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  5. The suit is gorgeous on you and I LOVE the inspiration for the design. :)

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    1. Thank you, D! My family means the world to me so the suit is extra extra special :)

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