Spotlighting Our Mother’s Day Glow Up Contest Winner: LaQuita K. Williams 🌟

At Essential Elements, Mother’s Day is a time to honor the unwavering strength, grace, and resilience that moms embody. This year, we launched our first-ever Mother’s Day Glow Up Contest—a heartfelt tribute to moms who inspire us daily. Out of the many incredible stories we received, one stood out in a way that touched us deeply.

Meet LaQuita K. Williams, a mom of two adult children who keep her grounded, an Office Administrator at the UIC School of Law, and the culinary force behind LaDelish Catering. If that’s not enough, she’s also the granddaughter of the legendary blues icon Muddy Waters, with his first-born son, Mud Morganfield, as her father. But it’s Laquita’s own voice that captured our hearts:

“The past 9 months have been mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging. I'm nominating myself because I know a makeover would be life-changing. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2024, had a double mastectomy in October, and completed my breast reconstruction in March 2025. I am cancer-free, and I thank God for His healing! During this time, I've questioned my beauty, my body, and my self-confidence. As I prepare to walk into my new norm, I’d also like to do it while wearing Essential Elements.”

LaQuita’s story is one of courage, hope, and unstoppable faith. As a working mom and entrepreneur, she faced breast cancer head-on, never letting it dim her light. She sings on the Praise Team at church, infusing every space she enters with positivity and song.

When she walked through our doors for her photo shoot, we knew it was going to be special. We greeted her with flowers, balloons, and a complete glow-up session with Marisa’s magic touch. Jackie then stepped in to make her feel at ease in front of the camera, guiding her through nine stunning looks that captured her essence—bold, beautiful, and resilient.

LaQuita was blown away seeing herself in the mirror after her transformation. She even made her debut as a model on our website, a well-deserved moment that turned her into a local celebrity of sorts! To cap off her day, she treated herself to a pair of shoes she loved, using her Essential Elements gift card—a perfect ending to a day of self-love and celebration.

A special thank you to Team Essential Elements for embracing this concept and bringing it to life so beautifully. And an extra shout-out to Marisa and Jackie—your warmth and talents truly made LaQuita’s day unforgettable. If ever you need your own special glow up from an established and very talented makeup artist, look no further than our own Marisa!

She’s a traveling MUA—check her out on Instagram: @marisar.makeup. Or stop by Essential Elements on any given day—she’s also our website order fulfillment pro!

This was our first Mother’s Day Glow Up, but certainly not our last. Reading through all the entries, we were moved to select a second winner as well—though she was unable to join us for the photo shoot, we’re already looking forward to future glow-ups.

To LaQuita, thank you for sharing your journey and inspiring us all. You reminded us that beauty is not just what we see—it’s what we conquer, how we rise, and how we shine through life’s challenges. Here’s to your new chapter, LaQuita. We’re so honored to have you as part of the Essential Elements family. 💚