Leslie Ezelle, former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, artist, interior designer and mother of four did something unusual on Monday August 22nd -- she invited her friends, family and even television cameras to watch her demise on
HGTV Design Star.
Approximately 75 people sat in a sprawling Preston Hollow home to see Episode 7 of the 6th season. In addition to an estimated 200,000 households, her guests sat in front of the TV and gasped when show host, Tanika Ray, shared the grueling words, "Leslie, we will not be producing your show" near the end of the 8pm hour. Her four children, from a blended family with wife Libby Toudouze, shared the most intense reaction of shock with the rest of the deflated crowd. Her family and house guests expected Leslie to win the episode challenge.
At the show's conclusion she grabbed a microphone to share that the end of this reality show is the beginning of something more real. She went on to share that her
true reason for gathering the crowd was to emphasize her pursuits as the
2011 Honorary Race Chair for the Komen Dallas Race for the Cure® (once served by former First Lady Laura Bush).
George Tobolowsky, Leslie Ezelle, Mark Kutler
The return from the HGTV challenge in early summer empowered Leslie to not only raise $29,000 for Komen in less than four weeks but to embark on a larger than life awareness campaign with sculptor George Tobolowsky. Tobolowsky, critically acclaimed co-founder of the
Texas Sculpture Association, are currently building a 11ft high by 12ft wide metal bra that will debut at
West Village on
September 17th. This bra, entitled
Anne Girl, in honor of Leslie's family member who lost her battle with breast cancer, will mysteriously appear in a variety of metroplex venues throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month and hopes to 'bust out' of Texas in a campaign titled You Can't Strap a Good Woman Down.
Leslie Ezelle and Georgia FisherOnce the nomadic strappy bra makes its appearance, the surrounding area will turn pink via paint, lights or other creative method. The goal is to raise awareness for the Susan G. Komen foundation and to help shed the limelight on the artistic movement in Dallas, And Leslie, with Susan G. Komen, are producing a documentary film to capture the evolution of this one-of-a-kind bra structure and its Texas tour.
Leslie Ezelle is the new “it” girl of design, pushing the boundaries with her sharp wit and smart sense of style and creativity that was at times lost on HGTV Design Star. She is a woman of enticement and isn't afraid to speak her mind. She more importantly is using her battle with breast cancer and her TV debut to make a difference by giving back to the local and national community and to Susan G. Komen.
