12/27/2025
Pepper Sharpe here…and I feel it’s a beautiful time to close out the year with Story Time…
Bat for Sashes was never just a business. It was a battle cry. A battle cry between me and one hell of a kind, hilarious, selfless little Flamingo. It was a phrase born from time with a woman who opened her home to me, shared joy and Thai Curry and cats with me, a woman who shared getting ready for our third contest with me as we did each other’s hair and makeup and walked the stage together. Her support made that first title I ever won worth more than just the crown and the sash. She was a treasure to me. The freinship grew closer and closer after that contest. It has lasted, even though she is no longer with us.
I went into this page and webseries not just to teach anyone a quick fire way to win and win and win. I went into this to make sure that people could use these tools to take anxiety away so they could focus on the real point of this rollercoaster - the beautiful people you will meet, the community you represent and serve, and the love you should have for yourself. To be able to be a supportive and kind human and make friendships that last forever.
Speaking as someone who has been fortunate enough to have titles and crowns and sashes…they mean so much to me, and represent hours and days and months of hard work. But I have a phone full of the most beautiful, tough, kind, loving friends that I have made at every show, that I have in-jokes and memories with from every backstage, and collages of photos of us being cute, goofy, and our real selves. That’s the true prize I carry every day. I found a family by getting on those stages and putting my heart into the people around me.
If you are just out for crowns and sashes with no thought to the others on that stage or in your community…you are blocking out a lifetime of memories and happiness that comes when you walk off the stage. You are missing the best part.
We have to have each other’s backs. When women turn on other women, we all lose. When women give into societal pressure to be jealous of each other and use that to destroy each other or cut each other down or lessen the victories fought for…WE. ALL. LOSE.
That’s not to say that bad behavior should be ignored. The number one rule of life is be accountable for yourself first. Take responsibility for the mistakes and bad things. Then do better. End of line. Always be better, always do better, and leave every room you walk in a little brighter and tidier. Make the jokes, give the hugs, cry the tears, and make sure there is just as much room for others to stand as there is for you to stand.
It may be a competition, but it doesn’t have to be a cold pixelated boss fight. People remember the bad just as much as the good. So be good.
That’s it…just be good.
I wish you all a 2026 full of magic, sisterhood, warm hugs, big laughs, wild adventures, and good coffee in your favorite mugs sitting next to the people you love.
Bat for Sashes, babes.
Let’s do that New Year Thing.
