I’m in a Duluth Trading TV Commercial!
I’m so excited to be a part of the Duluth Trading Company’s “No-Yank Tank” national commercial! Here’s how it happened:
The evening chill had settled in, and the glow of lights lit up the fields. Bob Marley was crooning over the speakers while the sweat of a cold beer trickled down my glass, wetting my hand.
I looked around at the glow of the setting sun, listening to the excited chatter of the crew with whom I had just spent the last five days shooting a national TV commercial as a Duluth Trading Company Woman.
Silently I muttered to myself with a squeal of excitement and gratefulness, “Thank you, God.”
While I’m not wildly religious, how could I not thank the universe for bringing into existence a life that has afforded me the opportunity to travel and see places I had never seen before?
The location was absolutely beautiful…
How could I not thank the universe for yanking me from a “day job” that sucked me into the fear of ever venturing out on my own?
When did these beautiful fields and fun locations become my “office”?
I sipped my beer, enjoying the pizza, and watched the laughing faces around me rewarding themselves for a job well done, celebrating the success of shooting an amazing commercial.
Earlier in the week, I had been comparing myself to the other two models, apprehensive that I was a third wheel that didn’t really belong.
After all, they were tall and thin. And I, dear readers, am tall but curvy with a mom-gut.
They had straight hair. And I, curly hair.
Their pictures graced the pages of the catalog, and mine had barely graced the bottom of their promotional emails.
Their smiling pretty faces hung in the store, inviting customers to be beautiful, strong, and confident. And my pictures were likely stashed in a “Can’t Use These” folder on someone’s over-crowded external hard drive.
I didn’t want to feel like an insecure teenager, but I couldn’t help but feel like the new kid on the block that had to prove herself worthy of being included with the in-crowd.
We were all three model winners, yet they’d come so far and were clearly photogenic favorites. (And rightly so. Their pictures were amazing!).
But during that week, as we dined together, laughed together, joked about taking care of our “lady business,” shared our families, our thoughts, and our opinions on hot topics in current events….it became clear on why we were all there.
We were there because we were beautiful, yes, but because we are bad-asses. We’re strong women, physically and mentally, in careers that are both physically and mentally demanding. We’re building things, creating things, digging up things, working in fields, yet still feminine and soft and pretty. We’re not afraid to work hard and look good while doing it.
We’re women that go for seconds, who say “yes” to junk food, who love a good beer.
We’re not fussy and pretentious.
We’re tomboys at heart who know how to pull our weight, yet are beautiful, inside and out.
And I, power tool and paintbrush in her hand, am one of them.
Photo courtesy of David Nevala
It didn’t matter that they’re hanging in stores and I’m not.
It no longer mattered that I haven’t yet been in the catalog. (They earned it, after all).
What mattered is that I was there.
I was included. I was asked.
Someone saw value and potential in me and this blog and what I could bring to the image of being a strong woman.
Yes—beauty is a woman, tall and thin, with pretty side braids and tendrils framing her face as she sweats it out in the field.
But a beautiful woman also has a mop of curls, a curvy butt, and a power tool and paintbrush in her hand. (She may even have a mom-gut from birthing a litter of kids. HA!)
So I let go of my insecurities this week in trying to find where I belonged and determined that I was now creating a new standard of what strong and beautiful is for a brand that is just beginning to show that side of other types of women.
And as I boarded the plane to head back to Maryland, thoughts of their compliments drift through my mind (“You’re a natural on camera”….”You take direction in front of the camera so well”…”The camera loves you!”) and I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity to be such a trailblazer.
Photo courtesy of David Nevala
Yes, this is my life now.
This is what I’m meant to be doing.
There’s no turning back now.
Here’s the Duluth Trading Company “No-Yank” Commercial!
So excited that this commercial has aired on DIY Network, HGTV, MSNBC, OWN Network, Lifetime, and more!
Thanks for following along on this journey!
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Congrats Serena! You deserve every bit of the recognition for beautiful, strong, driven, energetic, hard working women! As far as I see of the women depicted for the advertising, a selection representing an array of American women are well represented. ALL beautiful and REAL! Bask in all of the limelight while you have the opportunity and enjoy 😉
You are correct, Leslie! They made good choices! And once you talk to everyone, you see why they were chosen. Everyone has been awesome!!
Serena,
Congrats on the tv commercial!! PLEASE, if you can, let us know when it’ll begin to air (at least here on the East Coast.) You ARE beautiful, and in all you do too. Embrace your ‘mom gut’, it’s a beautiful thing – you are a mother with three totally handsome sons! They are your legacy and I know they must be so proud to have you as their mom. By the way, I’ve seen you in your photos but I can’t see any mom gut on you! You must be mistaking it for ‘six-pack’ abs instead, my friend! 🙂
As I read what you wrote in this blog, you rally did bring a couple of tears to my eyes. I LOVE what you had to say. It was heartfelt, honest….eloquent yet so down to earth. It was REAL feelings and thoughts that I’m sure that all of us women who read this must feel at one time or another. I thank you very much for putting into words – and putting it out there for everyone to read – not only what we feel too but don’t quite have the courage to say it out loud either. You are beautiful, talented, special AND a Blessing to us!
Now, one more thing: WHEN are you going to write a book and expand on what you wrote above in the blog AND your experiences of how you went from p/t blogger and newbie DIY’er, to blogging expert and national TV superstar!! You are ‘woman’ and you are beginning to ROAR!!
(and p.s. – can I have an autographed copy?)
Love ya!
Jeanie in NJ
(Jean Karpowich)
Awwww….Jeanie, thank you for this! You are so right about the mom-gut! LOL. It’s a badge of honor. 🙂 As for the book….I actually AM writing something, but I don’t know if I can even give advice on how I did it! LOL It just sort of….happen! 🙂 Crazy, right?
Hey Serena,
Well now, you are one of the strongest, most beautiful women I know…. Okay, we’ve actually never met, but I love your ease of writing, your ease on videos, I just feel as if we’d be great friends. As for your insecurities, I think the reason they didn’t use you in the “store” photos is because you would outshine anyone else!!
Love ya’
HAHA, Patricia! I think it could be some of the photos looked funny. Some of the clothes may have been too small and just didn’t fit well. Sooo…I’m hoping I took some good pics this time along with the commercial! 🙂 And yes, we would totally chill, girlfriend. 🙂
You are very beautiful physically, I think. You are energetic and mean so well by your family and friends and blog readers. In my estimation, you have “it” just like the so-called “it group.” So don’t put yourself down, …(we all have valleys) but we pick ourselves up again…and get back in the race… and you are the race winner!
Thank you, Sherry! 🙂 I definitely feel beautiful and strong! But knowing that I’ve got to look good in the clothes shook my confidence at times! I still want to lose the weight I’ve gained since Spring! 😉 But I definitely feel more confident now that the commercial has successfully shot!
No wonder your Mother was crying as she read this. Your early insecurity was touching and your self put downs would grab at any Mother’s heart. But then as the week changed your view of yourself, you realized your strength and your own beauty, so I could just imagine your Mom’s heart swelling and her smile widening, and just a few tears., along with her pride in you! I hope you continue to count yourself among the strong and gifted women.
PS I have learned a lot from your blog, so don’t get too wrapped up in your success, that you forget your readers!
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Congratulations!!! I just got satellite back for the elections – will you let us know what time and channel the ad will be airing at so we know when to keep an eye out? :>
You’re beautiful, Serena, inside and out! We need to stop this nonsense of a single standard of beauty that undervalues the competency of those who fit the standard and hurts everyone who doesn’t… society and media needs to appreciate everyone for their own beauty, and stop making it such a big deal in the first place. And being competent should never be something women are ashamed of being!
You keep rocking your figure, gorgeous locks, and mad skills – you should be proud of all of them! <3
Congratulations on your new adventure. Why wouldn’t they pick you? You are smart, witty and multi-talented. Remember, we are woman we strong!
Congratulations!!! You are awesome. It amazes me that someone so talented and beautiful has the same insecurities as myself. So very happy for you. ????
You are a blessing to your readers!
Serena, what a privilege and honor to be chosen for this. I am proud that you representing the beautiful, strong women that we are. Thank you so much…