Found Alive NC - Mom of 3 who vanished 24 years ago while Christmas shopping found ‘alive and well’.

[BeginnerSleuther]

It's interesting that you describe that as a "glamour shot", as in the UK "glamour" photography was essentially boudoir material - women in sexy lingerie draped across beds and chaises longues and pouting at the camera.

In the US, Glamour Shot was actually the name of the business. They were all over the malls. You'd go in and get a makeover from a professional makeup artist, change into whatever costume they had (or you'd bring your own if you wanted) and they'd take a bunch of photos of you that you could then buy.

They're still around in some states, believe it or not, though not nearly as big as they were. They also do couples and friend group sessions.

I agree that the photo we see of this woman looks very much like a Glamour Shot.

MOO.

 

[GatorsNorth]

In the US, Glamour Shot was actually the name of the business. They were all over the malls. You'd go in and get a makeover from a professional makeup artist, change into whatever costume they had (or you'd bring your own if you wanted) and they'd take a bunch of photos of you that you could then buy.

They're still around in some states, believe it or not, though not nearly as big as they were. They also do couples and friend group sessions.

I agree that the photo we see of this woman looks very much like a Glamour Shot.

MOO.

I destroyed mine a long time ago lol. I was sitting in a big wicker chair and I was embarrassed by it.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I destroyed mine a long time ago lol. I was sitting in a big wicker chair and I was embarrassed by it.

My friend group and I did it before high school graduation. I have no idea where it is now, probably in a box with my yearbooks and trophies in my parent's attic.

 

[GatorsNorth]

My friend group and I did it before high school graduation. I have no idea where it is now, probably in a box with my yearbooks and trophies in my parent's attic.

Arrggghhhh…. Mine’s gone forever (thank goodness!)! MOO

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I have to vote with @fsngruv on this one. This is a typical glamor shot from the US in that era. Everyone I knew had one, including me lol.

I'm not challenging fsngruv's comments. I simply find these cultural differences interesting because they have the potential to mislead or confuse some posters.

 

[Bounceycat]

DM did an interview with Michelle Hundley Smith's son, and Michelle herself (separately). It provided a lot of info and back story that answers a lot of our questions. There's much more than the below snipped in the linked article.

Son of missing woman found after 24 years says she is a 'stranger'

The son of once missing Michele Lyn Hundley Smith who was found living in her trailer after 24 years, says he doesn't want a relationship with her and that she's 'nothing more than a stranger'.

www.dailymail.co.uk

They revealed further details of her secret life over the past 24 years, saying she had been living off-grid in a truck for more than a decade.

They said that after she left in 2001, she met a truck driver in Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border, and lived with him in his 18-wheeler on the road, mainly traveling the West Coast.

Smith revealed to the Daily Mail that she had met a truck driver called Randy Johnson and they traveled together for years before returning to North Carolina in 2013. Johnson died in November 2024.

She said Johnson had never pressed her for details about her past, but eventually, she said: 'I just told him what I went through.'

 

[GatorsNorth]

I'm not challenging fsngruv's comments. I simply find these cultural differences interesting because they have the potential to mislead or confuse some posters.

Yes, I know you weren’t challenging their comment. I apologize for not being more clear.

 

[nao]

Moo...I know so many people who.. their sire..just disappeared. (My sire my son's sire)That is just acceptable, but if a woman walks away, it makes headlines. I do not understand the double standard....moo

 

[airportwoman]

Moo...I know so many people who.. their sire..just disappeared. (My sire my son's sire)That is just acceptable, but if a woman walks away, it makes headlines. I do not understand the double standard....moo

In this case, the family WANTED her back, or at least to know where and how she was.

 

[nao]

In this case, the family WANTED her back, or at least to know where and how she was.

Moo.. I wanted my dad back too...but honestly I was scared of my mom anytime I mentioned him. So it's to-do with what the adults want and their issues...moo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Moo...I know so many people who.. their sire..just disappeared. (My sire my son's sire)That is just acceptable, but if a woman walks away, it makes headlines. I do not understand the double standard....moo

I disagree that there's a double standard. There are a lot of dads who make headlines for being "missing." The difference is, many of them haven't been found. In this case, she made headlines 24 years ago because no one knew if she had been abducted, if she was safe, if she ran away, or what happened. She's making headlines now because of those headlines back then. I don't see the double-standard.

MOO.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

I wonder what happened to the "Rok-N-On" Pontiac van. It was a pretty distinctive personalized plate. When a person and their vehicle go missing together it's often assumed they're going to be found in water somewhere.