Jennifer White

Meet Jenny from Wisconsin! She is a 26 year old who works as a Registered Nurse in a Children’s Operating Room. When not working at the hospital, she volunteers as a princess for both birthday parties and Make-A-Wish Foundation events. She competed 3 years for the title of Miss Wisconsin USA, placing in the Top 15 twice before her 3rd Runner Up placement this last September, her last year of eligibility. Jenny's platform is the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This organization is very dear to her because of her involvement in sick children’s lives as a nurse. The patients she cares for have taught her so much about life, and volunteering is a different way that she can give back to them. Her favorite part of competing is being able to share this platform through the interview process. Also, she loves meeting all of the amazing people involved in pageantry. Jenny has learned so much over the years and is so thankful for the experiences/people she has met.  Some memorable moments during her pageant prep includes wearing cute lamb slippers with her Sherri Hill cocktail dress during a headshot photoshoot with Fadil Berisha!  She also says that she has never used the pageant staple, "butt glue!" Instead she uses double-sided scrapbook tape from Target!  Who knew?! 

Name: Jennifer White

Age: 26

Hometown: Madison, WI

Movie: The Holiday

Book: Unbroken

Food: Kabocha/Buttercup Squash!

Season: Fall

Beauty Product: Bold Lipstick

Celebrity: Taylor Swift – fearless, driven, and genuine

Quote: “If You Keep On Believing, The Dream That You Wish Will Come True.” - 

Cinderella

Three things you love: 

Working out! I love CYC Fitness (spinning), running, & TurboKick classes (choreographed kickboxing) Coffee Shops and Whole Foods Market. Baking! My favorite is Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter Banana Bread 

Three things you hate:

Grapefruit, disorganization, noise

Do you have any pets?

Yes! I have an orange tabby cat named Cubbie. He resembles Puss In Boots from Shrek with big, dark eyes. He also has quite the personality: very social, playful, and cuddly!

What would your dream job be?

Disney Princess at Disney World! I’ve always wanted to dress up and be part of the Meet & Greets, parades, and shows.

Name one thing you really like about yourself.

I love that I stay true to myself and my beliefs, even if I am in the minority.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

Christmas! It’s my favorite holiday and includes the best activities: baking, movies, drinking hot cocoa/holiday tea, shopping, and family!

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

Gymnastics. Through all of my Cheerleading years, I have always admired the ones with tumbling abilities. It’s a talent that requires such strength, dedication, and determination. I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to be able to fly through the air like that!

Tori Inman

Meet Tori Inman!  Tori is a junior in high school and a typical 17 year old girl.  She loves cheerleading, hanging out with friends, going four wheeling, bon fires, and volunteering in the community.  This past July, Tori won the title of ANTSO National Sweetheart 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.  ANTSO stands for America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization. To find out more about the pageant check out their website!  Learn more about Tori in her own words!

Name: Tori Inman

Age: 17

Hometown: Murfreesboro

Three things you love: the beach, shoes, and traveling

Three things you hate: seafood, history, and shots/needles

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Santorini Greece.

If money and time was no object, what would you be doing right now?

Sitting by my pool on the back patio of my beach house in Gulf Shores, AL.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

Become a manicurist.

Name a gift you will never forget?

My Eiffel Tower Necklace my mom bought me during our first trip to Paris, France. I wear it every day.

Favorites:

Movie: The Notebook

Book: Gone Girl

Food: Chicken

Celebrity Crush: Kenny Chesney

Quote: “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

                             Lots of love,

Olivia Landrum

Name: Olivia Landrum

Age: 17

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Favorite Movie: Mean Girls

Favorite Color: Bright Red

Favorite Show: Project Runway

Favorite Quote: "The only real elegance is in the mind; if you've got that, the rest really comes from it." -Diana Vreeland

Olivia is a self proclaimed fashion lover!  She is always a step ahead of the trends and constantly experimenting with different looks.  She uses her love of fashion to help out in the community by volunteering with her local mall fashion board and youth action team. She loves shopping, watching Netflix, talking, and modeling. She is currently signed with Dan Talent Agency and Talent Link for modeling and acting.  She is a hight school senior and plans on attending Auburn University in the fall.  She hopes to one day become a lawyer!

Olivia was National American Miss Georgia Jr. Teen 2013-2014 and has competed in a few other pageants.  She has gained a lot from her year as a titleholder.  Some of her most memorable experiences were meeting the Georgia governor, being in parades, and attending the national pageant.  But one of the most important thing she gained was her good friend, Miss Florida.  They met up over the summer and have texting parties during televised pageants. She found herself loving the interview portion of pageantry because of the conversations it entails.  She enjoys talking and sharing her views on things, as well as making small talk with the judges.  Showing her personality through conversation has to be her favorite part of competing... alongside finding the perfect evening gown!

What is your favorite type of food?

Although coffee is not a food, how much I drink it makes it seem so. I am a huge lover of coffee and yes, you guessed it, a Starbucks addict. Trying new flavors and the seasonal drinks are my favorite, as well as enjoying just a simple brew from home.

If you had one day to live over again, what day would you pick?

Even though it was just a brief few months ago, if I could relive any day it would be my first day of senior year. We hear the saying all the time to never wish your senior year away, enjoy every moment and embrace the present. I cannot emphasize enough how relevant that is, as I watch my high school years disappear in front of me. If I could go back, I would start my last first day of high school over again with that exact mindset and make the most of that day.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

Surprisingly enough, if I could learn any skill it would be to golf. My brother and dad are both big golfers and I wish I could play alongside them. I am certainly not looking to be the next Phil Mickleson, but being able to properly swing a club and have some fun is more of what I have in mind. Being from Augusta, Georgia, where the Masters Tournament is held every year, golf has always been in my life, and I only wish I could play the game.

If you could talk to any one person living or dead, who would it be and why?

As a ‘Swiftie’ fan from the very beginning, I would adore to sit down and chat with the one and only, Taylor Swift. She seems very intelligent and well-spoken, and seems to exude elegance.  I have followed her career for years now and am constantly learning new and interesting things about her. Taylor appears to have such a deep understanding of herself and seems to have it all figured out. I feel that even just a simple conversation with her would be very intriguing.

What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

At the end of fifth grade, my best friend moved halfway across the country… somewhere around 1,300 miles away. Since I was just a fifth grader, most people thought that we would both move on to other friends and continue on as if nothing had happened, but , this was not the case. After she moved, we were constantly calling, sending letters, and doing anything in our power to stay as connected as possible. Ever since she moved, we have revisited each other in both towns every year during the summer and winter. It is still a struggle for me to this day to have my absolute best friend live so far away, but I am extremely grateful that we have stayed so connected and are able to visit each other yearly. She has been there for me for everything and I wouldn’t trade our friendship for anything, even though having her as a long distance friend has been hardest thing I have ever done.

                           Lots of love,

Tiffany Eickhoff

Today on the blog is someone pretty amazing... literally! Meet Tiffany Eickhoff, National Miss Amazing 2013. Tiffany is an identical twin and was born with a physical disability called Cerebral Palsy. Tiffany never thought in a million years she would ever be a pageant queen, but on March 23rd, 2013 she won the title of Missouri Miss Amazing in the Miss division.  That summer, she went on to make history by being crowned the first ever National Miss Amazing Queen in the Miss division!  Tiffany described her year as "absolutely extraordinary!"  She wrote a weekly blog and appeared in several speaking engagements, including a feature on the Today Show and Fox 2 News!  She loved spending her year inspiring and meeting new people.  Tiffany is truly a hardworking, determined, and inspiring woman! 

For those of you who are not familiar with the Miss Amazing Pageant, it is a pageant for girls and young women with physical and mental disabilities that gives girls the opportunity to learn important life skills through pageantry such as public speaking, interview skills, and feeling confident and beautiful.  Miss Amazing is a nationwide organization. To find out how you can be involved check out www.missamazingpageant.com

Name: Tiffany Eickhoff

Age: 27

Hometown: St Louis, MO

Celebrity Crush: Keith Urban

TV Show: Ellen 

Movie: The whole Harry Potter series! 

If you could go anywhere in the World, where would you go?

My new love is CrossFit! I absolutely love it! I would love to attend the Reebok Games that happen every year! So far with the help of CrossFit and the Paleo diet since June 22nd I have lost a total of 44 pounds! My balance has gotten so much better and my muscles are getting stronger! I'm doing things like air squats, pull-ups, and for the first time in my life sit-ups! I love my my CrossFit family. They're all amazing!

Name a gift you will never forget?

The illustration you drew of me in my National Miss Amazing dress. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It brought me to tears when I first saw it!

What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Graduate college! After 8 years of hard work I finally made it! I graduated on May 10th, 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

If you could have any question answered, what would it be?

The full reason as to why I was born with Cerebral Palsy. For my own curiosity, so I can have a better understanding of what happened.

What would your dream job be?

My dream is to write a book about my life to inspire people all over the world and be a motivational speaker!

Ellie Holtman

Meet Ellie Holtman! There is so much I could say about Ellie, considering she is one of my best friends!  Ellie was Miss Missouri USA 2013 and I loved drawing her gorgeous Miss USA gown, designed by A. Renee! The highlight of her year as Miss Missouri USA was rooming with me at Miss USA and spending her entire year connected at my hip.  Just kidding, however I'm sure it's top ten :) She loved making people happy and putting smiles on their face.  During a visit to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, a little boy told her she was cooler than Cardinal Baseball player, David Freese! Ellie is currently a pharmacy student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.  Find out more from Ellie herself!

Name: Elizabeth Holtman

Age: 22

Hometown: Montgomery City, MO

Chocolate or Vanilla

Morning or Night

Fruits or Veggies 

Book: Anything Nicholas Sparks!

Food: Fried Chicken and vanilla cake

Movie: Rocky

Quote: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford

Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like?

I am a huge animal lover! I recently adopted a dog from a shelter and she is like my child. Her name is Stevie (yes like Stevie Nicks) and she is the sweetest dog I have ever met.

Who's your favorite cartoon character?

Pocahontas! I use to dress up like her everyday when I was a kid! 

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

Entered and won the Miss Missouri USA 2013 pageant.

If you had one day to live over again, what day would you pick?

The day I won Miss Missouri USA!

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

I have actually eaten fried crickets. One of my friend’s parents always threw a New Years Eve party and each year they would try a new daring food at midnight. I went one year and we ate fried crickets to start off the New Year. To be honest, they tasted a lot like potato chips and weren’t too bad.

If you have already purchased an Ellie L. Illustration and want to be a featured girl on the blog, contact me! 

                              Lots of love,

Ashley Firth

I met Ashley when we both competed in the America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization national pageant in 2009.  Years later I noticed her Facebook status asking where she would be able to get an illustration of her wedding dress, and that ladies and gentlemen, is how Ellie L. Illustrations came to be.  

Ashley's drawing is always going to be so near and dear to my heart because she was the first ever Ellie L. Illustration, so it makes sense that she is also my first featured Ellie L. girl on the blog!  It was great to hear about her big day and a little bit more about how amazing Ashley is!  Hope you enjoy the first featured Ellie L. Girl!

Ashley and Christopher

The two met at work and quickly became best friends.  He was her rock and pillar of strength when she was going through a rough time in her life. Ashley has a very rare gastrointestinal disorder and was frequently treated in Boston.  Boston became a special place for them both and decided to have their wedding at Boston's Museum of Science. 

The Proposal

Ashley dreamt of having a certain type of champagne flute at their wedding.  On 12/22/12 Chris wanted Ashley to open an early Christmas present. It was the Swarovski crystal-stemmed champagne flute!  One flute was full of tinsel, and one was empty.  When Ashley picked up the flute full of tinsel she heard a delicate "ting!" as her ring clinked against the flute. 

The Dress

Perhaps you may have seen Ashley shop for her dream dress, as she was featured on TLC's I found the Gown! Being a pageant girl, Ashley has had a number of sparkly gowns in her lifetime.  She wanted something more simple on the most important day of her life.  The dress she chose was absolutely stunning and she accented it with hot pink and orange accessories that complemented the colors of her wedding. 

Get to know more about Ashley and her wonderful photography on her website. Keep your eyes peeled for another blog post on Ashley in the future ;)

                                                   Lots of love,

Color Me Happy Giveaway!

I am so happy for all the love and support this year that I am having the ultimate giveaway!  Here is your chance to not only win a custom Ellie L. Illustration, but also a MATCHING PHONE CASE!  

Here's how to enter...

1. Follow me on instagram at @ellielillustrations

2. Repost the Giveaway picture tagging @ellielillustrations

3. Hashtag #ellielillustrations

4. Subscribe to www.ellielillustrations

Good luck!  I will be announcing the winner at the end of the month! 

           Thank you all for coloring me happy :) Lots of Love,

Saks Fifth Avenue

Along with recreating gowns, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Saks Fifth Avenue this past year during their shoe and handbag event.  I recreated high fashion shoes and handbags for VIP customers. It was a dream come true drawing Jimmy Choo's, Chanel, YSL, Prada, Giuseppe Zanotti, Manolo Blahniks, and not to mention to be commissioned by the most recognizable luxury retailer in the world! I look forward to working with Saks again in the future. 

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                                                 Lots of Love,

Welcome to Ellie L. Illustrations!

Hi!  I’m Ellie Lorenzen. Yes, the one behind Ellie L. Illustrations!  I’m a 24 year old former Miss Nebraska USA living in St. Louis, MO.  

As a little girl, I had sketch books filled with fashion drawings.  My love of fashion illustrations started when I was 5 years old and watched 101 Dalmatians.  I would spend hours playing "Cruella Deville" and drawing fashionable outfits.  I then moved on to drawing my first fashion catalog at the age of 11 called, “Skinny Minny”. Growing up I was too skinny to fit into regular, fashionable clothes so I designed my own!  

I pursued my dream of studying fashion as I got older and attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO and majored in fashion design.  In 2013, I fulfilled a pageant dream when I was crowned Miss Nebraska USA 2013.  I went on to compete at Miss USA in Las Vegas, and was able to design my dream pageant gown with Sherri Hill and Michele Strom, owner of Winning Crown Boutique in Omaha, Nebraska.  

After graduation, a friend asked me to draw a fashion illustration of her in her wedding gown; and since then, I’ve been recreating girls in their wedding dresses, pageant gowns, and prom dresses. I’m hoping to use this blog to feature some of these incredible, beautiful women that I’ve had the honor of drawing.  I also hope to have guest bloggers and plan to add some of my own lifestyle to the blog, too!

Hope you enjoy!

                                             Lots of Love,