FAIRMONT — Every woman deserves to be treated like a queen ... pampered and catered to, all while wearing a formal gown and sparkling tiara.

Recently, a group of women were treated like they were high royalty, thanks to an event called “Queen for a Day.”

Local businesswoman Anita Johnson came up with the idea.

“The Lord laid it upon my heart,” she said. “I wanted to bring Christian women together from as many churches as I could to basically fellowship together.”

Her only problem was because of space, she had to limit the number of women to 100. But with the success of this year’s event, she plans to bring it back next year for 200, maybe even 300 women.

“I wanted them to see what it was like being pampered,” she said. So she brought in some beauty experts who provided free demonstrations of their skills to the women.

Maresa Kozul and LaMeekiaa Horton provitded massage therapy; Julia Boone and Cynthia Darcus, hair styling; Gwen Washington, facials; and Debora Byrd and Nicki Black, make up artists.

“This was a way for the ladies to see the services these women do, and also a way for (the beauty experts) to network. I wanted to help get business to these businesses, and bringing them to the ladies was an easy way for them to hopefully get more clientele.”

From the instant the invited women stepped from their cars, they were treated like royalty.

They were escorted in by men dressed formally in black suit and tie, and greeted by pastors of the invited churches.

Once inside, the ladies walked the red carpet and were bestowed with a long-stemmed flower. At the dining hall, they were given gift bags and tiaras. They could order professional photographs.

“There were wall-to-wall appetizers,” Johnson added. “And two hallways full of women doing demonstrations.”

A catered dinner followed.

Pastor Jo Twyla Moore gave prayers and words of encouragement before the dinner. Royce Johnson sang selections and Jacqueline Aaron gave the toast. Donated door prizes were given out.

“I was not expecting this kind of response,” Johnson said.

“I’m still getting phone calls. I was just so overwhelmed and thankful to help someone. I just wanted to help. It seemed like it was much needed.

“Sometimes you just need to get together and fellowship. I can’t stop smiling. I am so excited by the responses I got. I’m just so happy this turned out so wonderfully.”

The professional women volunteered their services.

“I chose them by what churches they went to. We are not strangers to each other,” she said.

The 100 women were from six churches.

“Tickets were sold out within one service. It’s not hard to get women together, especially when you mention formal wear. There aren’t many places around here where you get a chance to dress up.

“And women love to learn about beauty. These ladies might not have known these services were available and accessible to them. I wanted to make it easier for them. And they were all very appreciative.”

The $20 tickets went toward the catered dinner, she said.

“I paid for everything else, plus donations.”

“It gave me personal satisfaction seeing everybody so happy with smiles on their faces. Making them happy made me happy. That’s what it’s all about.

“It was worth all the hard work to see and hear the responses from, the women. They’re still talking about it. Some of them were wearing their tiaras to church on Sunday.

“I felt this was something that was needed, just to get together, fellowship and get dressed up like a queen. That is how they were greeted.

“I said, ‘Hello, my queen’ and gave each of them a hug and kiss. It was worth it all to me. We weren’t doing it for anyone to make any kind of money or anything, just for us to get together.”

She didn’t pull this off alone, she’s quick to point out. There were the women who baked the cookies ... “hundreds of cookies,” she said. And the woman who sewed and embroidered 100 gift bags on her own.

Delois Cummings said she will be there next year.

“I thought it was really, really nice. Anita is such a person that if anyone could pull this off, she could.

“We fellowshipped together and met people. You really know them now. It was just a great idea she had to do this.

“The women at our church enjoyed this fully.”

She especially liked the vendors.

“They came to advertise their business. We were able to see a lot of things we didn’t know about, like massages. We already knew about manicures and pedicures.

“I’ve been in West Virginia for 12 years and had not met a black hairdresser until then.”

“Queen for a day” was a most appropriate name, she said.

“This made us all feel like queens. Just to dress up. You don’t get a chance to dress up. But to put on a nice dress and jewelry was nice.”

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.