Daleville woman meets pop icon

People often dream about seeing or meeting their favorite celebrity, but for Daleville native Jenny Stripling that dream became a reality.

In late August, Stripling, 29, had the once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet and interview recording artist Britney Spears.

Spears is an American singer, songwriter, producer, dancer, actress and entertainer. 

She has released seven albums and has won numerous awards including a Grammy Award, six MTV Video Music Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards. 

She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and for Stripling, Spears’ music has brought not only joy, but laughter into her life. 

“I’ve liked her since the Mickey Mouse club, and I grew up watching her,” Stripling said. “I mean I’m a huge Britney fan. I’ve always been.”

Stripling’s extraordinary journey began when she entered Popsugar.com’s “I’m A Huge Fan” contest. 

In just a matter of two weeks, Stripling was one of five finalists in the contest. 

“They emailed me, and I thought it was a joke,” she said. 

Stripling said she thought there was no way she would win a contest out of thousands of people. 

“I was kind of skeptical, but then I said, ‘I’m going to do it,’” Stripling said. “So I emailed all my stuff back.” 

Two Skype interviews later, Stripling and friend Nathan Pfau, also from Daleville, were flying out to L.A. to meet Spears.

“For her to invite me, it meant a lot,“ Pfau said. “She would have never heard the end of it from me had she not.”

Along the way, PopSugar had several surprises lined up for the pair, all centered on Britney Spears.

The pair sang with one of Spears’ vocal coaches, danced at Millenium studios where Spears has practiced, made a fragrance and received a makeover.

Stripling said her favorite part, besides meeting Spears’ of course, was dancing with Pfau.

“Nathan and I have always liked Britney,” she said. “We loved her, and we used to dance to all her songs.”

Then the day came when Stripling had the opportunity to meet Spears backstage at The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 

Spears was making an appearance with television personality Simon Cowell to promote The X Factor. 

As Stripling was watching the show from backstage, she became nervous. 

She said she walked into a room and there Spears was.  

“I started crying,” Stripling said. “I was emotional. It was just unbelievable.”

She said Spears told her not to cry, and then Stripling started to focus on the interview at hand. 

Stripling asked Spears about her favorite fashion moments, Southern traditions she holds, favorite dance on tour and where she received her sense of humor. 

“She was very nice,” Stripling said. “She was exactly like how I thought she would be.”

Stripling said she could tell Spears was nervous, but that is what she likes about Spears, the fact that she’s down to earth.

Stripling said the whole experience was a life-changing one.   

“It kind of opened my eyes to what I’d like to do in my professional career,” she said. 

Stripling currently works in public affairs at a V.A. Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.

She said she’s always wanted to work in entertainment and pop culture, whether it be in public relations, writing or editing.

“Getting to talk to the crew of PopSugar really opened my eyes to see that these people are just like me,” Stripling said. “It really helped me get a grasp on what I need to do to get there.”

Stripling said to enter an online contest and win out of thousands is something that does not happen every day. 

Therefore, it was an extremely fortunate experience.

“It was a dream come true,” she said. “It sounds so cliché, but it was.”