Sally Van Swearingen sat down recently with Sue Reynolds from the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita to talk about her partnership with the shelter and their Fairy Shelter Breakfast and Auction.

Van Swearingen, author of “It’s Not Over Yet – Reclaiming your REAL Beauty Power in your 40s, 50s and Beyond!,” is very involved with the center and has been a great supporter by donating part of the proceeds from her book.

“We feel that we have mutual mindsets, women who are starting their lives over again, they are reclaiming themselves, reclaiming their mindset,” Van Swearingen said, “my book is all about reclaiming your beauty power.”

The shelter’s third annual Fairy Shelter Breakfast and Auction is a two-part event that welcomes mothers, fathers, daughters and sons to get together and build handmade “shelters” together that are auctioned off to support the DVC.

Van Swearingen with Linda Davies at the Fairy Shelter Breakfast and Auction.

“Beauty power is a lot more than just physical looks, so we feel like the domestic violence center and ‘It’s not over yet,’ are a perfect pairing,” Van Swearingen said, “and that’s why I’m so involved, and I just want to get even more involved.”

For many, the event is more than just a way to help with a cause that affects millions every year — it can begin a healthy conversation about, and raise awareness for, a topic that’s often difficult to approach because of the “taboo” around it.

“Those shelters will help us have shelter for our shelter,” said Sue Reynolds, Vice President of the DVC, “and help us remember that domestic violence is no fairy tale.”

The construction portion of the Fairy Breakfast took place May 2, and the houses that were built by volunteers who paid a $10 registration fee which also supported the shelter, were auctioned off to the community at the Fairy Shelter Breakfast and Auction on Saturday, May 16.

“Domestic violence is something we need to talk about, and yet for most people, it’s taboo,” said executive director of the DVC of SCV, Linda Davies. “We want to get people engaged, help one another and understand that domestic violence affects more people than most think.”

About “It’s Not Over Yet”

“I would say that my life’s work has been to bring out the total beauty in every woman with whom I have worked,” she said. “I truly love my job and have never tired of it. I also know a thing or two about growing up a pretty, vivacious blonde, and being content with it, taking it for granted, then seeing my beauty power slipping away after childbirth, weight gain and aging. People treated me differently. In my business, doors didn’t open as easily as before.”

Van Swearingen said women don’t need to get a facelift or endure other cosmetic procedures to reclaim their “beauty power.”

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