FANCY FOR PROM

If the long list of volunteers and donations is any indication, much of the community is solidly behind the O-Town Glam Squad.

As young women moved from station to station, having their hair, nails and makeup done by professionals, the organizers continued to name the people who made it all happen.

As Sarah Radtke describes it, “a bunch of moms came together” to make prom a bit more special for Owatonna High School students who wanted a boost.

The third annual event was held last Saturday at United Methodist Church; OHS prom was that night at the Four Seasons Centre.

Food, flowers and more

In addition to the “glamour” services, the attendees could choose flower arrangements from a local florist and have professional photos taken before heading out the door with a swag bag. There were raffle drawings for prizes, as well.

El Rey Del Taco had provided lunch for everyone; when that ran out, “Basilio’s came through for us,” said Celia Anderson. Hy-Vee provided breakfast items.

Anderson, Radtke, Ali Ziegler and Shannon MacRunnels – who provided the photo service – are the four main organizers.

Along the way, they receive help from places like Community Pathways, which saves donations of new makeup and toiletries for the girls to take home, and hosts a free prom drive each March to provide dresses, suits and accessories at no cost.

Ziegler received donations of jewelry – new, sparkly and prom-perfect – that was available.

Michelle Pittman, owner of Stargazer Designs in Owatonna, provided the option of fresh flowers in a hand-tied bouquet or a wrist corsage. There were boutonnieres available for the boys.

“I like to help out the community in a lot of different ways, and this is one I choose to do,” she said.

Old memories

The idea for that “bunch of moms” came from Anderson, who “didn’t have a very good prom experience. We were poor, and I didn’t get a real prom dress; I didn’t get to get my hair done, and I just remember feeling so self-conscious – seeing the other girls.

“It was hard, so I just thought it would be so cool for the community, just for the girls (and guys) of Owatonna, if we had a place where they could come,” Anderson said.

There are no financial boundaries, “one way or the other,” she said. “It’s just … this is for everyone. Your prom is pretty much taken care of. It fills my inner prom girl with so much joy, just seeing this for them.”

Ziegler said she didn’t have a bad experience – because she didn’t even go to prom.

“I worked full time, and I didn’t have a date,” she said. “Prom is different now – you can go by yourself,” or with friends.

New memories

Like Adrian Schutt and Nevaeh Swain, who were going to prom together that night.

The whole experience, said Schutt, a junior at OHS, “really means making memories with your friends.”

Swain, a senior, attended the glam squad event last year, too.

“It helps me a lot, because I’m not good with makeup and all that, so it makes me look 10 times better than if I was to do it myself,” she said. “I enjoyed it last year – it was very nice, and all the ladies are really super kind.”

She and Schutt planned to change into their prom dresses and be photographed, once their hair and makeup were complete.

Kaylee Ruhlig heard about the glam squad from a friend “who had been non-stop talking about it,” and suggested Ruhlig go.

The OHS senior had never had her hair and makeup done professionally before Saturday.

“It was overwhelming coming here, but oh, my god, I feel so special,” Ruhlig said. “It’s so great, that something like this exists. I’ve only done my hair once before in my life, and it just makes me feel like I’m pretty, for once, on a special day.”

Giving back

She was trusting her hair to a former classmate, Isabelle Vance, who graduated from OHS last year.

Though she didn’t attend prom herself, Vance said volunteering her talent is a way to give back to her hometown.

She was one of 12 students from Nova Academy of Cosmetology in Mankato who came to Owatonna to provide hair and makeup services.

Instructors Ash Cummins and Chancellor Yang oversaw the work.

“I love this,” Cummins said. “I wish there were more things like this. We try to do events like this, give back to the public” through free back-to-school haircuts and free haircuts for the unhoused.

The work is applied to the number of hours the students need to complete the cosmetology program, “and this is the stuff they love to do. It’s something they’ll never forget,” she said.

Probably true, said Ferrari Mason, who attended the event the first year it was held. She graduated from OHS that year, and has returned the past two years to volunteer with the glam squad.

Not many girls knew about it in 2024, she said, “but it helped with the money aspect a lot. If you’re going to a salon, you’re paying – I don’t even know how much money – to get nails, hair and make up done. So I saw the sign, and thought, you know, this might be fun. And it was.”

Mason still has the photo MacRunnels took of her that day.

“Helping out and knowing that I can contribute something is …” she trailed off. “It’s just nice.”

Maria Rosales, owner of Sakura Beauty Bar in Owatonna, had a line waiting for her nail work last year. On Saturday, she had Serenity Zirngible, of Blooming Prairie, to help with nails.

Casey Salinas was also providing nail services.

“I love being able to give the girls an opportunity that maybe they wouldn’t have,” Rosales said about providing some of the “fancy.”

“It’s something that I didn’t really get to experience when I was younger, so doing this almost kind of fulfills that for me, seeing them leave with such beautiful nails,” she said.

All the feels

Jose Cruz, of Owatonna, watched as his daughter, Lily, had her nails done.

“It’s really good of them to help out the community,” he said of the event. “I think it’s a great thing – you don’t see things like that.”

Cruz was a bit of a fish out of water, one of just a few males in the building.

“All these girls, but I’m just being myself. I’m all up for it – I’m doing it for her,” he said, nodding at Lily.

Between photo shoots, MacRunnels reflected on the day.

“I love giving back – and it just touches my soul,” she said, eyes filling. “It just means the world, because it’s so great to see our community come together to help the fortunate or less fortunate.

“No matter what your status is, we’re here to help you. It’s just a great feeling.”