A full house of mainly women cheered Wednesday as former clients of Abbie Shelter strutted fresh makeovers and the latest fashions down a runway at a benefit for the battered women’s shelter.

First out, Chanaea Guzman received a roar of approval for her bouncy “red carpet” curls and curvy, color-infused dress.

“I feel awesome,” Guzman told emcee Leah Lindsay.

Part of a national “Spread the Love” campaign by Matrix hair products, the event was a joint effort with Protégé Salon, Muse-Style to Inspire shop and dozens of other local businesses. It took place at Flathead Valley Community College with support from members of Phi Theta Kappa.

Before debuting her new look on stage, Guzman sat in the dressing room with curls pinned all over her head with her 2-month-old son, Elijah, nearby. She said she always wanted to model so she didn’t hesitate to jump at this opportunity to thank the shelter.

“Abbie Shelter helped me when I was pregnant,” she said. “You kind of develop a bond when you’ve gone through stuff. One of the women was with me during the birth.”

Models Jené Martin in form-flattering white jeans with a purplish-pink top and Natasha Smith in a curve-accenting white shirt and dark slacks also got rousing cheers. “Before” photos flashed on large screens, underscoring the magic of their hair, makeup and fashion makeovers.

“I’m fabulous, sexy and flawless,” Smith told Lindsay.

A single mom to 8-month-old Delylla, Smith said she loved her new look that sheared her shoulder-length hair into face-framing layers with multiple highlights. She chose “I’m Bringing Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake as her runway theme.

Her haircut was a joint production of several Protégé stylists including D’lon Lambright. She said the sassy look suited her personality.

“She’s a fun girl,” Lambright said. “She has a kick in her step.”

Martin said she sacrificed hair that reached midway down her back for Protégé co-owner Cindy Eklund’s vision of her with a trendy, angle-cut and layered bob.

“I keep reaching for a ponytail that’s not there,” she said with a laugh. “It was a much-needed change. I love it.”

Speaking as she dried Pink Flamingo nails and had her toenails pedicured at the salon, Martin said that her cut had at least cured her 1-year-old son of trying to eat her long hair. She said she was looking forward to helping out the Abbie Shelter that evening.

“It’s a cause very close to my heart,” she said. “They gave me a chance to get on my feet. It was a good, safe place to go when my world fell apart.”

Her words summed up why Protégé’s staff chose Abbie Shelter to support when the salon was contacted to sponsor Montana’s “Spread the Love” event. Eklund and fellow co-owner JaCarla Corne were first flown by Matrix to Palm Desert, California, by Matrix for training and to learn about the national campaign.

“They chose six recent [stylist] graduates to travel across the country to learn about the industry and salon owners and team up to bring impactful events to communities,” Eklund said. “We decided to do a style show. Kayla [McCormack] and LaKeisha [Michelle] came here to help us.”

The two were at the salon observing as the models got their final hair styling.

“We’ve been to 19 states since Jan. 28,” McCormack said.

 For the vital fashion component, Eklund said they tapped a salon client, Darlene Michlig, who co-owns Muse-Style to Inspire in Bigfork.

Just prior to the fashion show, the former Abbie Shelter clients received finishing touches as Terri Adams and Tina Provo, Herberger Estee Lauder consultants, applied dramatic runway makeup.

They dipped brushes in a large assortment of colorful powders to render the latest trend of bright eyes and bold lips in colors from smoky to corals. Provo pointed to Guzman as an example of the power of coral to set off eyes.

She looked like the model she always dreamed of becoming.

“It’s nice to be pampered on,” Guzman said with a smile. “I haven’t been pampered on for a long time.”

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at [email protected] .