Cowboys “Kissing For a Cause” and Ambush Makeovers at the 2013 Reichert Celebration
Why are JR Reichert, Jon Barry, Troy Compton, Tate Oakley, Dave Archer, Troy Oakley, Carl Yamber, Bruce Walquist, Butch Campbell, and Adam Wainscott wearing lipstick? Well, these good-natured cowboys generously agreed to participate in a fun project with Mary Kay Beauty Consultant and amateur exhibitor, Kelly Kay Johnsrud, in order to raise money for cancer research and help find solutions for domestic violence.
The Mary Kay company is the creator of the original “Kiss For a Cause” concept, but Johnsrud has taken the idea one step further by bringing it to the horse show.
“Mary Kay has done it at the CMA Awards and Teen Choice Awards,” she says. “What they usually do is get lip prints from celebrities and auction them off. We thought it would be fun to do here. What ‘Kiss For a Cause’ is going to support are donations to the Mary Kay Foundation, which supports cancer research and fighting domestic violence. They donate millions each year, and they make big grants to hundreds of domestic violence shelters around the country.”
Caption: Jon Barry gives his lip print. Image courtesy of Kelly Kay Johnsrud/Reichert Celebration
“What we are doing here is just going around to trainers and asking for their lip print and autograph, while wearing Mary Kay lipstick of course. We will be making a donation for each lip print that they do, so it’s really fun. Some of them were a little reluctant, but they got peer-pressured into it by the other guys that did it. We’ll be doing that throughout the whole show.”
Not only is Johnsrud spearheading the “Kiss For a Cause” campaign here at the Reichert, she is also the official beauty sponsor of the show. As such, she has set up an elaborate mini-makeover studio in an air-conditioned room in the Will Rogers Coliseum. Competitors and spectators can enjoy complimentary facials, makeovers, and check out the latest Mary Kay products.
“This room is set up to do complimentary facials and makeovers throughout the show,” she says. “People are welcome to come in here, and they can do a hand treatment, lip treatment, microdermabrasion, or a facial if they want to freshen up. I’ve had a lot of girls stop in and say that they need a new lipstick color to match their outfit. So they come in and we match them up with a sample. They get to try the products and learn some application techniques and tips for the show pen.”
In her past experience as a beauty consultant, Johnsrud has found that most women who don’t feel confident applying makeup have never received professional instruction or an explanation of proper application techniques.
“If you’re going to spend that much on a pretty jacket, then why not have your signature, which is your face, look its best,” she says. “For a lot of women it isn’t lack of try; it’s lack of knowledge. We teach people how to do it so they can do it themselves at home. [We want them to] feel confident that they can actually achieve that look again with whatever products they are using.”
“Sometimes it’s just the simple things. People don’t know how important it is to have lipstick on while you’re showing. Cheek color [is also important]. When you’re wearing a hat, your face is totally shaded. [Cheek color] totally makes your face stand out from that far away. [It might be a] color they normally wouldn’t pick at the office but that would work 50 feet away on the rail. It can make such a difference, and then they look good in their pictures.”
If you know of someone who might be interested in receiving a complimentary facial or makeup session here at the show, all you have to do is call or text Kelly Kay Johnsrud at 940-355-0059.
Caption: Even JR Reichert got in on the fun! Image courtesy of Kelly Kay Johnsrud/Reichert Celebration
