Beyond Paradise headed to Civic Center for Rabb it Fest Pageant

By DAVID MORRIS

Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove’s one-stop shop for personal beautification will be hopping with up-dos and makeup Saturday as they assist more than 90 contestants in the return of the Rabbit Fest Beauty Pageant. Yvonne Lawrence and her staff from Beyond Paradise will take over the front offices of the Civic Center at City Park for the task and take on contestants starting at 8 a.m. as the pageants official spa and salon.

“About three years ago I returned to Copperas Cove from overseas and I was surprised to see there was no pageant at Rabbit Fest,” said Lawrence. “Our salon wanted to help bring it back and a few years ago we didn’t have the support of the community that we have now.  When Wendy (Sledd) asked us to participate, the girls from the salon all said yes.”

Beyond Paradise began booking for make-up sessions and hairstyles the week prior to rehearsal and were booked up a week out from the pageant.  

“As soon as the email announcied us as the salon of the pageant, our answering machines started blowing up,” she said. “We have 17 updos scheduled, two spray tans, 12 mani and pedi’s and 11 makeup sessions scheduled. I may have to call in some favors from my friends who do hair to make this happen but I don’t want to turn anyone away.”

The salon located at 1406 S. F.M. 116 that is open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays will remain open providing full highlights, hair extensions and Brazilian Blowouts.  Weekly hours are Tuesday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and appointments can be scheduled by calling 542-7447.

“To see the royalty working on so many community events like Lemonade Day to help earn the Presidential Service pins shows that this pageant is more than just being about beauty,” said Lawrence. “This is just like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, it helps make the kids well-rounded as individuals.”

Just as the pageant has grown over the past year, Beyond Paradise continued to grow as the all-inclusive beauty destination that added tanning and nail techs to the staff after extending to fill the shopping plaza on F.M. 116.

“We are looking to add laser hair removal to our list of services and several of our stylists are cross certified and can do nails and hair,”

All past Rabbit Fest queens are invited to the pageant for an onstage appearance. 

“All they need is their banner,” pageant director Wendy Sledd said. “We will be introducing them and any visiting queens on stage during the pageant.”

The baby division will kick off the pageant with a 1 p.m. start time.  The Ambassador crown will be the final announcement before Fester’s house is turned into a dance stage for Baila Pacifica on Saturday.