When the Homecoming Queen candidates walk onto the field Saturday night, a couple of crazy weeks of preparation, campaigning and appearances will be behind them.

Thankfully, so will their best friends.

“From the moment Lindsey got nominated, I became a publicist, a stylist, a hair dresser, a make-up artist and a therapist,” said Amanda Duckworth, a Versailles senior who has been helping Kappa Delta candidate Lindsey Houchin.

Before the big night, candidates campaign and attend various events through the week.

Cincinnati junior Rae Daniel, the Residence Hall Association candidate, said she has gotten strong support from her hall directors and fellow resident assistants at Hugh Poland Hall.

“They put computers at the entrance of the dorm so people could vote,” she said. “The support has been amazing.”

Versailles junior Lesley Greenwell is making sure her friend, Honors College candidate Nikki Deese, is prepared.

“Nikki’s a busy person — all these candidates are,” she said. “But they need moral support. That is what a best friend is supposed to do.”

Greenwell caught mononucleosis at the beginning of the week. But it didn’t stop her from helping Deese, a junior from Franklin, Tenn.

“I Skyped with her while working on picking out her outfit and working through some practice interview questions,” Greenwell said.

Creating posters was a large part of campaigning.

Houchin, a Bowling Green senior, said the night before she got her picture taken, she and Duckworth were in her bedroom looking at potential outfits.

“She was trying everything of hers on, and I started to go in my closet and pull things out,” Duckworth said. “There was this one really ugly grandma jacket and she said, ‘I am not wearing that.’”

Houchin said they finally narrowed down the massive wardrobe to five choices.

“But at the last minute, I chose to wear the jacket that we had initially vetoed,” Houchin said. “We laughed it off.”

Campaigning also meant making Facebook groups and spreading the word to different organizations.

Duckworth said it was hard to pinpoint one reason Houchin should win.

“She is all about Western,” she said. “She’ll tell you she was born and raised with a red towel in hand.”

Once Homecoming week began, candidates had events daily, including community service at the Salvation Army.

“When I think of Homecoming Queen, I think of helping other people,” Daniel said. “Whoever does become queen becomes an asset not only to Western but to the Bowling Green community.”

TopNet was only open for voting on Tuesday.

“I think the nerves are starting to set in now,” Duckworth said. “We’re all nervous, anxious, excited and happy.”

Houchin said Duckworth has been an invaluable friend.

“I would say we’re inseparable,” she said. “But the truth is that we can exist without each other. We just prefer not to.”