Growing up in the small town of Del Rio, Texas, you come in contact with individuals who will unknowingly shape your life forever. The first time I learned who Courtney Hamill or at the time Courtney Jones was, I was 14 years old and had just won the title of Miss Val Verde. My mom and I were looking through the Miss Del Rio Texas contestant headshots when we stopped on Courtney's, we both knew she would soon be the next Miss Del Rio Texas. I watched Courtney compete and win, then go on to grace the stage of Miss Texas USA. She quickly became an inspiration and role model for me. Fast forward five years, Courtney is now someone I call a friend. Not only is she a talented business owner but is such a genuine and empowering woman. She embodies what Glam By Sam stands for.
..............................................................................................................................................................
My name is Courtney Hamill and I am twenty-six years old. I currently live in Riverside, California with my daughter, Ellie, and my husband, Tyler. I grew up as a military brat moving all over the United States and when I was thirteen years old my parents moved to Del Rio, Texas. While in Del Rio, I graduated high school, obtained my Associates Degree and am currently one semester away from obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Being a full time mother and running my business takes a lot of my time away from going back to school but I have every intention of finishing that degree for myself and for my daughter one day.
What is your profession/passion?
At this time I currently own my own business, Air Crafting Mom, selling customized gifts such as tumblers, apparel, and accessories. It truly is a creative outlook that simply started as a hobby. When my husbands’ military squadron approached me on creating merchandise to be sold at their booster club booth. They travel all over the world participating in air shows and the money they raise brings their squadron immense support. I was honored to have been selected and chosen to create designs for them. From here the name Air Crafting Mom really took off. The name just made sense being that I love to craft, my husband flies an aircraft, and I’m a mom as well.
My Air Crafting Mom merchandise can be found on my Instagram account @aircraftingmom.
When did you learn about the importance of self love?
Self love came for me when I truly began to accept myself for who I am. Throughout life, many girls love to compare themselves to others. I always seemed to beat to my own drum in high school, wore what I thought was cute or acceptable without the need for acceptance of others, but I struggled with always trying to look my best. Whether it was to the grocery store or the gas station I always wanted to be dressed to impress. Although this may not be a bad thing, it can be tiring to keep up and deep down I was struggling with feeling like I needed to keep it up for everyone else and not myself anymore. It became more makeup, extensions, fake nails, lash extensions, you name it, I was trying it. When I met my husband, he truly made me feel special and beautiful with no makeup. I had boyfriends in this past that always said I was pretty without makeup but with my now husband, it was so genuine, I truly knew that I finally was. It was okay to have a pimple or break out on my face (which truly became a huge issue in my life during my pregnancy with my daughter) or not put my extensions in every single day regardless of the fact that it was slowly causing balding as well.
My husband for once truly made me feel the most comfortable with myself that I ever had in my life, and although I can’t truly explain why or how it happened, it did.
As a mother, how do you teach your daughter the importance of self love?
As a mom, I always want my daughter to know how important and special she truly is. Every mom strives to provide their daughter this feeling and now that I am a mom, I try implementing it the way my mother did with me. I tell her every morning how important she is to me, how smart she is, and how she has a heart of gold.
I want Ellie to know that she has more than a pretty face.
She is kind, gracious, and such a funny soul. As she grows, I will always continue to encourage her in whatever her goals are and ask her daily what she loves about herself. When you ask a child what they love about themselves, they will slowly share things they do not, and therefore you can try to help them with these matters.
What does Glam By Sam's Motto ("find your glamour within") mean to you?
I met Samantha when she ran for Miss Del Rio Texas Teen as I was a previous Miss Del Rio titleholder. The pageant industry taught me so much about myself and what it truly meant to find my own glamour within. What Samantha has created is not only such a positive and uplifting platform, but it is an honest one.
Finding your glamour within is something I wish I truly would have been able to find much earlier on in life instead of slowly conforming to society and finding the glamour in a life that didn’t particular fit me.
That glamour outside simply won’t last forever, but your glamour within will always continue to grow if you only allow it to.
My absolute favorite bible verse of all that I try to live by each day is
Mathew 5:16 - Be a light for all to see.
..............................................................................................................................................................
These are amazing words to live by, thank you Courtney for sharing your message of finding your glamour within and being true to who you are.
XOXO,
Sam💋
For all things Courtney and AirCraftingMom check out,
@courtney.j.hamill on Instagram
@aircraftingmom on Instagram ✨
Message from Courtney- I chose to do a family photo instead of a headshot because my family truly is my joy. Renewing my vows to Tyler and having my family and friends present meant the world to me. Tyler and I originally got married in a courthouse with one witness. When we said, “I Do”, it was perfect in every way but the vow renewal was the fairytale I always dreamed of.
Comments