Living The Dream
So what about the tour? Surely it must be magical, and somewhat of a dream to step onstage and have fans sing along with their songs! After touring for months on end, does the glitz and glam start to wear off? Is life on the road starting to feel normal?
Kayli, “I would say that it never is 'normal.' Every show is different and every fan is different. It's so special though, just getting a moment to love on them. All of us just want to love on anyone we come across, whether it's the man at the gas station where we're stopping on the road, or a person that we're meeting at a show. So there are moments that it's surreal like, 'Yes! I finally made it to that place.' And there are other moments where it's like, 'Woah! I didn't know I signed up for that!'”
Kelsey, “I think what you dream about is kind of a glamorous lifestyle and um.... it's not that. Actually in a really different way, I am thankful for that, because it keeps us very humble, and it keep us remembering where we came from. Our situation is really unique that we are part of a tour that's bigger than us. We're not just a band whose part of the set, we are integrated into every piece of the show from the set up, to the tear down. We set up the merch tables, we do all of that.”
Lindsay, “And fourteen-foot backgrounds on the stage!”
Kelsey continued, “But it's really cool because it's teaching us how to be servants, and it's great for all of us, and we're really thankful. But like Kali said, it's hard. It's harder than we thought too, I think, but it's more rewarding. It's harder than we thought it would be in a lot of ways, but it's more rewarding than we thought it would be too.”
True Beauty? These Girls Have the Message!
At Crown of Beauty Mag, we love connecting with other females who are passionate about the same thing we are, reminding girls that they are beautiful and loved! Since this is our Beauty Issue, I just had to ask their thoughts about true beauty!
Kayli replied, “Something that I always try to implement when we get to talk to people such as yourself, is that we are five girls from very different places. We all come from different states and different families, and we all have different bodies, and we all have different styles! There are things that we want to do, to just tell girls and guys everywhere that they are beautifully and wonderfully made in the Creators eyes, and that's perfect. And it's okay to be different! Let's embrace our differences, and let's all unite together. That's what we feel that we five girls have done.”
Kesley, “We have a song on the record, actually called 'In The Eyes,' and honestly it encompasses that whole idea. Because, as five girls, we did not skip over those struggles in High School and Junior High, and even currently. Those are things that I think you never really grow out of. It's a battle that you have to remind yourself of everyday, when you feel unbeautiful and see the images from the world that say you need to look a certain way to be good enough or to be “pretty,” or when you listen to what the scale says. And we are not about that. We have talked extensively about image and how important it is for us to realize that image is not just what's seen on the outside. Image has so much more to do with the condition of the heart. And so, this song, 'In The Eyes,' kind of nails it and brings it home. It's about finding your identity in the One who created you because He is perfect. And in His eyes you are perfect. And to the world, their standards look different than ours do, and that's a good thing! We are set apart, we're called to be different. Finding your identity in who God says you are and who He created you to be, is so much more important than what the world tells us we're supposed to be. So yes, it is a struggle, and it's something that we have to encourage each other in every day! It's really cool because it's a bonding thing. It's a bonding experience for our group. And also, it's just good to be reminded of the fact that there are going to be days when you don't feel good about yourself. But you're always perfect and created specifically for a purpose.”
Lindsay, “It's also been really good to see these little girls, some who are as young as seven years old, and when we sing that song, and when Susie the speaker talks about that concept, how they finally get it. Like you see the girls talking to their Moms, and they tell their Moms what they don't like about themselves, and then they pray about it. And that's been so emotional to watch. We have made it a point, for each of us to make eye contact with one girl each show and sing to her, like whoever we connect with. Because I feel like there is always someone who relates to one of us. And so, when you see that girl, just connecting with her while you sing those words, and every time I have seen little girls, and ones a little bit older, just bawl, they're crying because every girl deals with this. Even Moms are crying! It's been really cool. I think that's one of the coolest things I've seen yet on this tour.”
9) Be A Classic, Not A Trend
Trends come and go, but some forever pieces will always be in. Make sure you have some of the classic items that never go out of style. Jeans, jean jackets, leggings, tank tops for layering, black pants, and dressy flats will always come in handy.
10) Out With The Old &
In With The New!
Don't be a clothing hoarder. When your closet is stuffed full of so many clothes that you don't have enough days on the calendar to wear them, it's time to pass them on to someone who needs them more than you do. Your local clothing pantry at church, Salvation Army, or Goodwill are some great alternatives. A younger sibling or cousin might also enjoy the benefits of your yesterday clothes!
~*~
22