Women of Style & Substance

I am launching an exciting new feature today- Women of Style & Substance will pick up where the fashion magazines leave off- we'll learn more about women that I respect and admire, and you will too. They're stylish, sharp and smart, and they're just what we need more of these days! Sometimes, I'll feature a celebrity, like Natalie Maines for my first edition. Other times, you'll get the story on a local woman making her mark. Stay tuned for some great photos and great stories! Now...

Natalie Maines
















She's from Lubbock, Texas, age 33, and as you can see, she is a woman of many styles...and haircolors! Just like me. *Sigh*. She turned the Dixie Chicks into an international hit-producing group when she joined them as the frontwoman. She co-writes many of their songs, and they became especially personal on their latest album, "Taking the Long Way". Her comments about George Bush while at a UK performance caused an uproar among conservative fans in the States, many of whom began boycotting the group and destroying their CDs. However, these events turned into a positive experience for Maines and the "Chicks" because their music began to take on a more personal tone, and Natalie has considered it a form of therapy. Their audience has shifted, and the publicity introduced many new listeners to their sound, who might have dismissed them as "country" before. They have become genuine crossover hits with their Grammy winning album.

Natalie has been selected as the "Woman of Style and Substance" for this edition because she stood up for what she believed in, even when it was unpopular. To do so, and to be in a very public role, must be incredibly difficult. She handled the controversy with grace and guts, and I applaud her. She seems to have gained more self-confidence since "The Incident", and her unique beauty and style are magnified. You go, girl!

Check out the Dixie Chicks' website: www.dixiechicks.com


Photos from IMDB.com and WireImage.com