A New Image

Our image makeover contest called for a 250 word or less essay explaining why each entry deserved to be chosen. The winner, Sonia Murphy, decided just one word summed it up for her: divorce.

After months of proceedings, the 39-year-old real estate assistant said she could no longer recognize herself in the mirror. "I always resembled a much younger age than I am," she said. "Since the divorce started I went from looking like I was in my late 20s to an instant 39."

The post-makeover Murphy has been singing a different, much more uplifting, tune. "I think I've done a 180 and I feel really good now," she said. "I see more boxes of shoes on the floor of my closet and that's good."

Shoes comprised just one portion of the goodies she won, valued at close to $2,000. Murphy enjoyed a slew of treatments every woman, divorce or no divorce, dreams of.

PAMPERED AND PRIMPED

Courtesy of the Spa at Red Rock, Murphy indulged in a Top of the Rock Facial ($195); Swedish Massage ($135) and cut ($80) and color ($80). The facial and massage brought Murphy a little overdo R&R as she was rubbed, lathered and spoiled with all the right concoctions. Because Murphy intended to make a real transformation, the cut and color brought a little expected anxiety.

When hairstylist Raquel Bray lugged out a board with 100 color swatches to choose from, the medium brown-haired Murphy became overwhelmed. Bray began placing swatches on Murphy's forehead, one by one, until a deep brown with subtle red highlights turned out the victor. Once the color was applied, washed and dried, the verdict from Murphy was: "It's different." In the morning, when she returned to the Spa at Red Rock for her long pixie cut, she had changed her mind. "I'm really liking this color," she said. The cut, from hairstylist Jessica Miles, received a thumbs up, too.

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

A $1,000 shopping allowance could turn most any woman's frown upside down. Murphy didn't flash that megawatt smile, however, until hitting the accessories department. Then it became very apparent there was a shopping spree winner in the Dillard's at Fashion Show mall. She scoured the purse shelves to find the perfect match to a red and white ensemble until she finally came across a Dooney & Bourke zebra bucket bag, $175. She held onto it like a newborn child as her clothes were collected (Pat Camardella, a Jones of New York specialist, assisted in finding them) and toted to the register. When Murphy was told her Lancome makeover, provided by Luci Cascio, D&B bag, Guess heels and assortment of other clothes had left her more than $200 under her $1,000 limit, she made a beeline to the shoe department.

"It's been a great experience," she said, carrying back two more boxes of shoes.

WINE AND DINE

In her Nygard Hampton Blues slacks ($68), Matty M crossover top ($78), Antonio Milani linen belted jacket ($159), Guess "Gwmerri" heels ($66.33) and D&B zebra bucket bag ($175), Murphy sauntered out of her Summerlin home and straight over to Michael's inside South Point. There, she and a friend dined on a delectable seven-course meal until they couldn't possibly eat another bite. When they finished inhaling it all, from stone crab to chocolate mousse cake, the staff brought a bowl of fruit and coffee to let them "wind down." They had plans to go out afterward, but their full bellies and seemingly immobile bodies cancelled that out. "I couldn't eat for two days after," Murphy said. That's OK; she had plenty of delicious shoes to consume.