A Remarkable Experience
Nearly a year ago, in the midst of the chaos that was our holiday season (stomach flu! delayed flights!), I was notified that I was selected as one of 4 local finalists for CBS17’s Remarkable Woman Program. My aunt (a truly Remarkable woman herself) submitted the nomination on my behalf, and once the experience started, I was eager to see how it would unfold.
Within days, the CBS17 crew was slated to visit the studio to film my package, and they were a delight. Angela Grant was tasked with the job of telling my story.
After this initial period of hustle and bustle, there was a lot of waiting.
In the month of March, CBS17 featured one local Remarkable Woman Finalist per week. These women are all making impact (I’m including their video links below, so you can see the good that is happening in our local area).
Then, in the 4th week, there was the reveal of my video:
Seeing a piece of your story told and interpreted on this platform was incredibly moving. In the midst of all of this, I was processing the recent death of my dear Granny, and my emotions were stretched in every direction.
When we all gathered to record the recap show, I walked into the station and immediately saw the same Western Show she and I watched the last weekend she was alive.
I took that as a sign that I was in the right place at the time.
When they announced my name as the selected finalist for the National Remarkable Women Celebration in Los Angeles with Nexstar Media, I was moved to tears.
In a season that had felt very difficult, this was a light.
Only a few days after the announcement, I packed my bags and headed to LA- ready to represent Raleigh!
Below is a recap of that experience.
Day 1: ARRIVAL
I hopped on my 6:20am non-stop flight from RDU to LAX and had a relatively uneventful and quick flight (woohoo!). I did some work and watched the movie I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
When I landed, luxury transportation was waiting to take me to our home base the Loews Hollywood Hotel.
(One day, I’ll tell you about a personal experience I had in this exact hotel in 2017 that was quite opposite of this experience- it felt like a very full circle moment that we would be based here out of all of the places.)
HQ for the 2023 Remarkable Women Celebration!
Welcome Signs Waiting Upon Arrival!
Welcome Gifts Waiting in the Room!
I checked in, walked around the immediate area and found a local place to grab a burrito bowl outside.
When I travel alone, I think… a lot.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
Do I belong here?
Will I fit in?
Should I be home instead of on this trip?
(fact: from nearly all of my travels, I find these exact thoughts are frequent and universal for women)
After lunch, I made an appointment at one of my favorite spots, Drybar. Regardless of where I am and under what circumstance, it feels familiar, and I like that. It also alleviates the tasks of drying and styling my hair, which are two of my least favorite things to do.
Tip: If you are doing something new or beyond your comfort zone, I highly recommend adding something to your schedule that is equally familiar.
The familiarity of the shop helped snap me out of my overthinking, and I spent some time shopping the Sunset Strip (where I grabbed my son Bash an adorable Elvis shirt).
I headed back to the hotel to freshen up for the evening’s activities, which would officially kickoff the 24-Hour Remarkable Women Celebration.
Day 1: EVENING WELCOME PARTY
On the evening of the first day, we had a poolside Welcome Party that dazzled. From the lush RW 2023 flower display to the illuminated “Hollywood” lights, it was the perfect way to meet the exceptional caliber of women at this event.
It was a great starter session for the day ahead.
Wolfgang Puck catered the food (I was a big fan of the Sweet Pea Ravioli). and we were introduced to our emcee for the celebration, KTLA’s Cher Calvin.
After the formalities, the evening turned into a dance party where we danced and danced and danced some more!
Day 2: DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
On Day 2, we woke up, had breakfast, and headed out for a delightful double decker bus tour with Starline Tours. We had the most knowledgeable tour guide, which, for someone that loves entertainment, history, and trivia, was a true delight.
Our first stop was the Chinese Theatre for the taping of the Remarkable Women broadcast show. Upon entry, we were given popcorn and soda, and you could feel the history and reverance of the space. I loved it!
I especially enjoyed seeing the production elements come into play in the film medium. While it is different from the stage, there are a lot of parallels in showbiz.
During the taping, we were able to see a few featured stories of our fellow Remarkable Women, which continued the emphasize the legitimacy of the impact of this group of women. We were all moved, and as we left the theater, you could feel the momentum and pride pouring out of the space.
We enjoyed box lunches in the courtyard for lunch and headed back onto to our buses for more touring. During the afternoon, we stopped for Intelligentsia Coffee and received complimentary tickets to Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood.
After that, it was back to the hotel to refresh for the evening’s gala dinner.
Day 2: EVENING EVENT
Once we returned from our full day of events, we had a few hours to freshen up before the evening gala. This event, started with the signature purple carpet and included a cocktail hour and seated dinner.
As a part of the presentation, we heard from several women with tremendous experience, including Cookie Johnson, Leeza Gibbons, and Jennifer Hudson.
The dinner also named Mona Highline of The Joseph Center as the $10,000 awardee.
We each received a “Hollywood Star” to commemorate our whirlwind experience!
Day 3: HEADING HOME
In a blink, the experience was over, and it was time to go home.
In my transportation to the airport the next morning, I met another Remarkable Woman, and she and I shared so much in common in the arts sphere.
The stories of these women were so inspiring and high caliber, and we’ve all continued to stay in touch.
It is exciting and humbling to see the marks are that being made in communities across the US. From gaining greater funding for their initiatives to running for office to uplifting others, they are making it happen.
The best part?
None of us require a recognition to do the work we do, but to have us all in the same room, celebrating and sharing stories, was quite the Remarkable Experience.
I am grateful and honored that I was a part of it.
Call to Action: Nominate a Remarkable Woman in Your Life!
To see the Los Angeles Celebration in action (and to learn more about some of the 2023 Remarkable Women), watch the nationally televised show.
My affiliate station, CBS17, is currently accepting nominations through November 30 for the 2024 Remarkable Woman of the Year. Submit your nomination here!