Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Laprocido-Stutts.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I want to thank you for recognizing me as a person and friend to Central Florida. My name is Kelly Laprocido Stutts. I am a wife of ten years married to Fred. One day we decided to do what most find difficult and bring my son Brandon and his two sons, Josh and Dylan, together as a family and breathe deeply throughout their teen years. Inevitably, we developed patience and good nerves. I believe that our Faith and devotion is an essential quality taking full advantage of all of the blessings given to us as a family.
In my life, I have always kept a sense of perspective about what’s most important. As a young girl, I had dreams and a passion for what most little girls do and was absolutely committed to making my dreams come true. Goal-oriented and being a transplant from the Jersey Shore, Orlando, Florida was a magical place for my parents and three older sisters to call home. With a confident feeling, I would be that much closer to where my dreams could come true. After all, Walt Disney World had recently opened and fed right into what I wanted to be when I grew up.
As I kept my dream insight, life had a series of pushes and pulling. I entered high school with difficulty at home and tough times were not a part of my well-thought-out plan. My commitment to my education was first and foremost. While in my 11th year of high school, my parents decided on another move out of state that went against everything I aspired to be. Many people know the disappointment that comes with trying to cope with a major crisis at a vulnerable age. To be transparent, after long hours of discussions to no avail, I surprised myself and my family and became a runaway at the age of 16. I was a disappointment to my family however, I was determined to make possible the goal I was committed to. I worked two jobs without a vehicle and graduated high school in 1981. When everything seemed to be a problem, I was looking for solutions. I received my AA degree from the local community college and never looked back. I believe that having a dream carried me through the difficult times.
I have always had a social personality. I loved the aura of the fashion and cosmetic industry. Following my passion, I enrolled in Cosmetology School with no intentions of working in a salon. I was trendy and fascinated with every hair color and style that was fashionable. My passion brought out my creativity and it was fun. My work would not be just a job. I believe that my intense interest to relate to people right where they are in life and comfortable acceptance regardless of where they come from gave me eyes to see the importance of building relationships along my journey. Everyone has a story and I was eager to listen. As I acquired experience in the industry, I also kept that sense of what was most important; my participation in my community. I was given great opportunities to donate my time by giving back to people in need of my skills. I was making a difference with young ladies at the House of Hope and was blessed to help make a difference giving haircuts at the Coalition for the Homeless. I met very interesting people who also had a dream but had fallen on difficult times. They needed to be lifted up and I had much more then a skill to provide, I had a heart that was open as I examined my own experiences in a harsh world just a few years prior. It’s important to value people. Everyone has a purpose.
Soon my dreams would become reality. If you work hard and put aside the naysayers, anything is possible. I took a risk of being rejected but volunteered my time to work with a well known Make-up Artist. We had different strengths and developed a relationship working on production sets within the emerging Hollywood East movie industry. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Nashville opportunities were calling. I met a lot of celebrities, worked as WESH/NBC’s resident Make-Up Artist and traveled with production crews across the nation. I was blessed to work with the Children’s Miracle Network and the Muscular Dystrophy Association as their dedicated National Celebrity Make Up Artist working to build a better future through fundraising efforts. Don’t let anyone tell you something can’t be done. With persistence and confidence, I gained an impeccable reputation and spent 25 years as a Production Make Up Artist in the most magical place on Earth!
My passion became my business. It was never a job. I took every opportunity to learn new skills and gain new experiences. My interest in people came naturally. Some people describe me as a “magnet for conversation” or “the listener with all the secrets told in the Make-Up chair.” I genuinely pay attention and care what interests or heartaches people have. I make the effort to greatly improve every individuals outlook on life.
In 1997 while working on a series for television, my five year relationship would soon end with the announcement of my pregnancy. This major life event would bring life to my premature son born at 24 weeks weighing less then two pounds. His Father, a Physician, made the decision to part ways. I became a single mother of a very special child. With my steadfast Faith, endurance and perseverance, my son was my motivation to keep now what would be “our dream alive.” After he was released from NICU, I returned to work locally as a freelancer with a CPR certified baby sitter by my side. I gave it my best shot to work through the elementary school years and remain resilient as his responsible, loving mother meeting all of his needs.
There was a little voice inside me that kept me going through the long days and nights. I had all the responsibilities of motherhood as well as balancing my career. Rest wasn’t always possible and I felt my health failing. I was reluctant to stop working as my work ethic drove me to do more and more.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The reality was that I had a diagnosis that was ten years in the making. I was now a patient at the MS Clinic of Orlando. I was given multiple suggestions to halt the progressive disease with no cure. As each option failed, I would become my own health advocate and slowly removed the medicines that would hindered my quality of life. I had an invisible and isolating disease that became my nemesis. I went from socializing to isolating due to the painful symptoms of MS. I had a great need to stay connected to society so I became a part-time Realtor. I stay current with my license (s) as my body weakens from the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis. I share my journey on Facebook as a blogger with my little canine companion, “Slipping into MS with Chewy.” He’s a great motivator to keep me mobile with assistance from a walker or cane. He’s also a lover of nature and all things wild as I learn to see what once I have missed; the simple things in life. Chewy has created quite a following as he takes the lead showing me how to live with this insidious disease and make it an adventure.
Fast forward to 2020, a worldwide pandemic created an important need to stay connected to community. I unfortunately had the advantage of knowing how an invisible disease can have lasting mental side effects. I was convinced that I could once again contribute to society through innovative measures. I began a Facebook group that could be a lifeline for friendships to flourish and help our communities businesses thrive. What began as a grassroots ladies group for sharing life online to six feet apart, we made immediate safe connections and put forth our effort to keep small businesses patios filled and thriving. What began as a small group of local women in Clermont quickly extended throughout Central Florida. We currently have over 850 women making new friendships, doing life together and finding mutual interests. We have a “Mod Squad” as our friends group grows and volunteer opportunities serve our communities. Our moderators create a warm and welcoming atmosphere as we are finding that “Together is really better!” We have a place, an interest, a meetup and many women in mid-life are finding that life is really better with company!
My hope in sharing my story will show you anything is possible when you believe that you can achieve your dreams. That we really are more alike then different. When life has a lesson to teach, approach it with a good attitude and devote yourself to finding the positive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to understanding the meaning of selflessness and success has had both rewards and regrets. There have been fearful moments that I have faced head on when the Doctor repeatedly told me that my son would not thrive.at his low birthweight and if he did that his development would be severely impaired. My deep Faith and endless fight to see his purpose come to fruition placed an immeasurable amount of stressful events leading up to my MS diagnosis. Life has great lessons to teach whether it be through my own illness or someone you deeply love. My regrets were that I didn’t slow down soon enough before MS had me in a stronghold. My advice would be never ignore the warning signs when your body is dis at ease. Without your health, there are so many missed opportunities to help others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a Professional Make-Artist/Hair Stylist for over 25 years, you have to be careful of wanting your own inner star to rise. When you work an industry that is highly motivated by EGO and wealth, you need to keep your own feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds. I was a lady working in a profession with proper motivation and integrity for my creativity, socially responsible and prospered due to my good work ethic. I was honored to work with cancer patients, celebrities and Presidential candidates. I looked forward every year to serving the Children’s Miracle Network filmed on Disney property. I made lasting friendships with families of very ill children and was honored to be asked to return year after year as their National Celebrity Make-Up Artist. I was very comfortable, more kind, more giving when I was serving for a greater cause. Maybe I was being prepared to persevere with what I would face with my own miracle baby. There was a very strong connection with those who wanted to do good for others and not for themselves.
I am most proud of how deeply committed I am to bringing unity and love to one another. In a world where you can be anything, being kind and less distant adds joy to life. When I began Hashtag Ladies Life over 40 -Central Florida during the pandemic, I felt that I could make a difference with women staying connected and benefit from making safe friendships. Women are very different from men. Women feel more comfortable when they have a open door to walk through with no competition or rejection . They also have many roles in life and therefore, have many hands for outreach in their communities. When women feel safe in a private group, they find mutual interests and surround themselves with support going forward in life. As we grow and build our community website, we will continue our private group so we can meet up safely and mentor a generation of young adults with privacy. Our community page will support local businesses and keep what’s happening in our area a priority. If we learned anything from the pandemic of 2020, we know that we are in this together and we are better together achieving what others may think is impossible.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
There are many causes that you can commit yourself to. Being reliable trustworthy, accepting of others and filling emotional needs where you can is also community service. Everyone should do their best to make it a priority.
Thank you for being able to speak from my heart. Make time for fun and laughter. Be that friend that you once needed. If you are a praying person, please pray for something capable of curing MS. My hope is to see a cure in my lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Email: Kelly.Hashtagladieslife@gmail.com
- Facebook: Hashtag Ladies Life over 40-Central Florida
Image Credits
Hashtag Ladies Life over40-Central Florida Ladies Kelly Laprocido-Stutts
