Monday, Nov 24, 2014
With support from Rider, communications major Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien traveled to London for the awards ceremony
by Janeen Rodgers '15
Choosing from more than 46,000 entries, Cosmopolitan selected a Rider University communications student as a finalist for a 2014 Cosmo Blog award.
The selection came about after junior communications major Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien's readers nominated her blog, Adorned in Armor, for the contest. Shortly thereafter, the U.K. version of Cosmopolitan magazine hand-selected her as one of the only two American bloggers chosen to be finalists in the International Fashion Blog category.
"The feeling of being chosen was indescribable,” Saint-Elien says. “There are no words. It was just beyond exciting.”
Adorned in Armor highlights Tarah-Lynn's personal style along with some inspiration and the occasional celebrity post.
The Cosmo Blog Awards recognize the best bloggers who are writing about topics related to fashion, beauty, food, relationships, lifestyle and more. Sponsored by the magazine and NEXT, the awards are announced at a show every year in categories such as best new fashion blog, best wedding blog, best travel blog, best social media blog among others. Saint-Elien's blog, nominated for the international fashion blog category, focuses mainly on style, inspiration and the occasional celebrity-related post.
With funding from the University, Saint-Elien was able to attend the Cosmopolitan UK 2014 Blog Awards held at the XO2 Tower in central London. Aside from participating in the ceremony, Saint-Elien was able to meet other bloggers she had only interacted with online, all while being pampered with a makeover.
She’s grateful for the assistance Rider offered to help her get there. “It's amazing to realize I attend a University that cares enough about me to give me this opportunity,” she says. “I couldn't have done it without Rider's support."
Saint-Elien is now back home with a goodie bag stuffed with make-up, magazines, hair products, jewelry and an assortment of other beauty product — some of which she plans on using for a giveaway via her blog.
Saint-Elien's blog can be viewed at adornedinarmor.com, and a video of her adventures in London can be seen at http://youtu.be/m7IdESoH1lk.