The fashion business may be often characterized as superficial, but Bonnie Pollard-Blewett always stood out as somebody genuine.
Pollard-Blewett, 42, died Tuesday after a 14-month battle with cancer.
Barbara Coultish, owner of modelling agency Coultish Management, said she still recalls Pollard-Blewett as a young teen arriving from dance class. Right away, Coultish saw a smile and a joy that filled the studio.
“There was nothing fake about Bonnie,” Coultish said Wednesday. “There was never any fake, ever, ever, ever.”
Pollard-Blewett spent her life in fashion mostly under the name Pollard and always in Victoria. She was a model, actress, makeup artist, consultant, coach and general go-to person for help at various events.
Even during cancer treatments, Pollard-Blewett continued working as fashion stylist at Mayfair Shopping Centre.
Husband Scott Blewett, 49, said the two first dated when Bonnie was 18. It was the year after she was Miss Teen Victoria, something he never stopped teasing her about.
Blewett recalled he “did the typical guy thing” back then and stopped dating her for a spell because she was “too nice.”
Years later, they reconnected, married and created a family. The week before she died, he arranged for the two of them to renew their marriage vows.
After the ceremony and a speech, her strength gave way and she collapsed on the lawn.
“And she didn’t let it matter,” Blewett said. “We just took our pictures on the ground.”
“When people look back and remember Bonnie, they see she was always just there, a real smiling and happy person.”
Pollard-Blewett is survived by her husband and children, Travis, 19, Ria, 8, and Jaxson, 5. A memorial service will be announced later.