Over the weekend on August 17 and 18th Kim Hodges AKA Sparkling Divaz and now Divine Dizas was to throw two pageants. One on each date in different locations. The one on the 18th was scheduled as a make up date where she had already canceled once before saying she had been in the hospital for dehydration. I asked for my refund then because the info on her pageant paperwork says that if a pageant is in fact canceled you are due a refund. She refused to refund stating that it also says if it is rescheduled no one gets a refund. She rescheduled for Aug 18th. At this point I was already leary about anything she had to say but without getting my refund I decided to take my daughter to the pageant. She never showed up.
While there approximately 20-30 people came for the same reason. All the people attending attempted to call her cell phone and she did not answer. It would ring and ring and go to voicemail. While there no judges ever came as well.
Earlier during the week she tried to say her son was in the hospital due to an interaction with bed bugs, mold and his ADHD medication. Having two children myself with ADHD and who take the same medication I knew this was a lie. I figured maybe he was in the hospital for something else she didnt want the world to know about. Friday evening Aug 16th I contacted her to confirm the pageant. She tried to say she was unsure if she had booked the venue. I knew she had as again already being leary of her excuses we called to confirm it was even booked before driving to a pageant. It had been booked and I assured her I had confirmed this much. She immediately stopped responding until Monday Aug 19th.
At this point she began contacting other parents/guardians claiming her son was hospitalized Friday and she was unable to attend. Apparently she was unaware I had already posted a screen shot showing not only was she online talking to me when her son supposedly was being admitted to a Psychiatric hospital because of bedbugs and mold. She went on to claim she told everyone there would not be any pageants, which is surely strange because each and every person who had paid showed up. It makes you wonder who in fact she contacted? No one thats who.
Upon further research it was also discovered that she attended another pageant and put all six of her children in it, including the one who she claimed was put in the hospital (admitted) Friday night. Again I suppose she did not figure other parents would come forward to let people know she was there, and there are photos I am sure available to prove this.
Just one week prior she had also contacted every parent asking if we wanted to purchase what she calls an Ambassador package which is basically crown assurance. It means your child will leave with a large crown and trophy by paying an additional amount. I turned down her offer since once again I was already leary and had no intention of giving her any more of my money, other parents however did. What she offered seems different for each person. I was offered a 13 inch crown, 5 ft trophy, robe, 3 free pageants and entry into all Jackpots the aug 18th pageant day. Another mom was offered a 20 inch crown with two free entries into other pageants. Of course she never actually had to produce these crowns since she had no intention to throw the pageant.
It has also been found her husband is a registered sex offender out of Richmond VA convicted in 1994 for a sex crime. He however is involved with the pageants as well, and also obviously involved is committing fraud with his wife. I have reported this to the proper authorities now that I have found his name, and who is reporting to. The police have also been called and have on record she did not show up. I will along with the other parents be reporting the situation to the NC DOJ.
Please just beware of this woman. She changes the pageant names and also have been known to skip state once caught. She currently is taking money to throw military pageants in the Fayetteville ara which is pretty low and down to be taking money from our Military families and I guarantee ultimately not throwing a pageant and stealing money. I suppose I shouldnt be shocked given she is willing to literally say her 12 year old son is crazy and in a psych ward when he is just fine and competing in another pageant. So please beware!