Mom: Catherine (56)

Daughter: Gabriella (22)

Location: Clinton, Connecticut

Mom Occupation: Advertising Sales At A Radio Station

Daughter Occupation: Cosmetologist

A Pageant Story 

Gabi is a 22-year-old stylist that aspires to be crowned Miss Connecticut USA, just like her mother did years before! Following in mom’s footsteps Gabi is also hoping to win the coveted Miss USA title! Though many people in her life (including her sisters) say that Gab is superficial, inauthentic, over the top, extra, and bougee, perhaps it’s simply in her blood, inherited from her mother. 

After many years of competing in Miss Connecticut, always a runner-up but never actually winning, Catherine finally achieved the state crown. Finally able to compete for the national title, Catherine was ecstatic; however, tragedy struck. As Catherine was preparing for the pageant she worked for years to get to, her mother passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. Catherine found herself unable to focus in the wake of her grief, and her pageant career came to an end shortly after. 

Now, Catherine is determined to give her daughter the love and support she didn’t get to have in her twenties, and when it comes to Gabi’s pageants, no expense is spared. For headshots alone, Gabi and Catherine traveled to Florida, spending over $5,000. They’ve spent thousands on pageant gowns. Catherine pays for multiple pageant coaches and expects to sit in on sessions (which not every coach agrees to, much to Catherine’s dismay). The one thing that Gabi can contribute is doing hair and makeup. As certified cosmetologist she has her own salon chair and setup in their home and is the go-to beauty maven of her household, doing hair and makeup for friends, family, and clients. 

Of course, mom is there every step of the way inserting herself into every detail of Gabi’s life and especially in her quest for the crown. It’s clear to Gabi’s sisters that mom is reliving her failed attempt at a title through her daughter. Mom so desperately wants to be young, hip, glamourous that she’ll do anything to experience that with her daughters. Unfortunately, Gabi is the only one of her daughter’s that will allow mom to live her out of her fantasy with. 

The extremes they go to in order to win borders on the absurd. To everyone else it’s ridiculous, but to them it’s serious business. Gabi’s sisters think that Gabi is more concerned about walking and looking pretty than about her platform or her brains. Even more wild? Catherine is fully devoted to following the advice of medical medium Anthony William who heralds the life changing benefits of celery juice. Every single day, Catherine and Gabi drink celery juice convinced that it supplies vital nutrients that aid in mental and physical wellbeing.

Catherine is also involved in Gabi’s friend groups and love life. On more than one occasion Catherine will interview random young, handsome men as potential matches for her daughter. Catherine met her now husband during a chance encounter at a car dealership, so Catherine is always on the lookout for a match for Gabi. Gabi doesn’t love mom always inserting herself into her social life, but she tolerates her mother’s presence. 

Todd, Catherine’s husband doesn’t understand the duo’s fascination with the glitz and glamour, but it’s so important to them he has a hard time taking away their joy. Catherine admits that their marriage is loving but stale and unexciting. In truth, the excitement, passion, and sense of partnership she has in life comes from her daughter not from her husband.

Because Gabi lives at home, Catherine does everything for her. Catherine does all her laundry, makes her bed, and cooks every meal. In fact, Gabi doesn’t even know how to do her own laundry. Gabi thinks she’d be able to be independent on her own and often yearns for her own space. The two have even fought about moving out before, but Gabi’s never made it past the “looking casually for apartments” stage. Catherine is certainly overprotective, but Gabi is so reliant on her for literally everything, Catherine loves the situation. In fact, Catherine thinks that when her oldest daughter Lauren left for college and became independent marks the time that their relationship was significantly impacted. For the time being Catherine does have her fantasy life: all four of her daughters under her roof. But how long will they realistically stay before they want a life outside of their mother’s home?