The Comfort of a Makeover

Julia S., President of Wayne Hills High School’s chapter, reflects on how small gestures can provide large amounts of comfort.

It’s hard to put into words just how much GlamourGals has meant to me. When I founded the Wayne Hills chapter, I thought I was just starting a club that combined my love of cosmetics with my affection for seniors. But I quickly realized this was something much deeper, it was about connection, comfort, and compassion.

I’ll never forget Adele. On the day of her 104th birthday, she looked beautiful as always with silver slicked-back hair and a cozy knit sweater, but something was off. She wasn’t smiling. When I gently asked what was wrong, Marlon, the activities director, shared that her family had COVID and couldn’t visit. My heart sank. I was the only person from outside of the senior home that was there to celebrate her milestone birthday. So I sat with her. I painted her nails. We talked about everything and nothing. Slowly, she began to smile again. She told me how grateful she was for our time together and how her family would come when they were better. I saw her shift from sadness to hope—and that shift changed me. Adele taught me that sometimes the smallest gestures—a visit, a conversation, a touch—can bring the biggest comfort.