Name: Bethany Norman
City of residence: Timnath
Occupation: Owner of NOCO Glow, founder of Leading with Legacy – The Heart Project 501c3, Mrs. Colorado 2024
Tell us about yourself, where you live and what you do for work.
I’m a wife, mother and business owner. I started NOCO Glow, a spray tanning studio, about two months before COVID, so I’m a COVID-born entrepreneur. Two years ago, I started a nonprofit called Leading with Legacy – The Heart Project, which I run in honor of my mom and in support of heart health, both physically and emotionally. This last year, in April 2024, I won the title of Mrs. Colorado.
What does Mrs. Colorado involve? What are you most proud of in this role?
I’ve been involved in the world of pageantry for about two decades. I started in my early 20s just as a way to fulfill a lifelong dream. I got it, and I failed miserably. But something happened where it brought this confidence out of me. I don’t know if anybody has gotten onstage in a swimsuit and heels, but it kind of does something to you. It took me out of my comfort zone, and it’s just been my sport.
We moved to Colorado six years ago, and I entered Mrs. Colorado because I wanted to build community. Fast forward six years later, and on my sixth try, I won. One of the things that pageantry has taught me is that you can walk into a room and be confident regardless of what other women are bringing to the table, so I try to do that in my business as well.
Tell us more about Leading with Legacy – The Heart Project.
I never thought I would run a nonprofit, but I worked with the Windsor Chamber for several years when we first moved here and started what we called Women of Windsor Goes Red, a luncheon in the month of February. About three years in, I decided I wanted to make it a little more specific to me and my story. So in 2023, I launched Leading with Legacy – The Heart Project, where we want to get people proactive about their health and thinking about it. My mom was 50 years young, and I want to share her story in the hope of saving and helping someone else.
What do you love about living in Timnath?
What drew me to the area was this small-town feel. My son was five when we moved here, and it was really important to have a family-friendly environment. We got more than we even asked for. I love that there are things for kids in college all the way to grandparents and everything in between. I just love that it has a small-town feel even though it’s grown significantly in the last six years.
What’s something people might not know about you?
Whenever I enter a pageant, everybody’s like, “What’s your talent?” Thankfully, the Mrs. pageants don’t really have a talent portion, but if they did, I would do puppetry. For most of my high school years, I was a puppeteer, and people think it’s the wildest thing. It was one of those experiences that kind of opened my eyes to the world that’s out there. I loved putting a smile on kids’ faces, and when I was 17, we got to travel to Europe and go to Scotland and London and perform puppet skits.
If you had a loved one visiting Northern Colorado, what are some things you would take them to go do?
I love that we have a wide variety of places to eat, so anything from Windsor to Fort Collins to Timnath. I would take them to one of the breweries, maybe even The OBC Wine Project because they have the brewery and the wine. I’m not really the outdoorsy type—even though I’m trying—but if I attempted a walking trail, probably Horsetooth. It kind of gives you a glimpse into the rural feel of the area.
Back to your tanning salon, do you have any advice or tips for brides who are getting ready for their wedding?
I love my brides. The reason I got into the industry was to really pull the glow out of my clients. I started because of being in the world of pageantry, and one of the things you need to take on that challenge is to find your confidence. I think sometimes, especially coming into a vulnerable situation, you’re like, “Oh my gosh, I have to get undressed in front of a stranger.” It becomes vulnerable. My goal is always to make them feel as beautiful as possible. So there’s that, which I think brings out the inner glow, but it’s also like, how do you take care of yourself? Are you fueling your body? Movement is medicine, drinking your water, all those things. Really just taking care of yourself from the inside out: body, mind, soul and spirit.
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