Page 26 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2024

PEOPLE
story by Cherie Ward photo by Nico Hopkins
Ms. Black Mississippi Alexis Williams to Compete in Ms. Black USA
When charisma meets tenacity coupled with sincerity, anything is possible.
That’s the message the reigning Ms. Black Mississippi Alexis Williams has for women and young ladies everywhere. Her mantra is simple, she believes women should live boldly and love themselves wholeheartedly while using their voice and fashion to promote living their life in color.
Affectionately known as Lexi, the Gulfport native has promoted her platform, Live in Color, across the Magnolia State bringing awareness to children and resiliency since September. She will continue to spread her message when she competes in Ms. Black USA on August 3 at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington D.C.
Williams is the visionary and CEO
of the popular Aloha Glamour, a
brand that artfully blends African and Hawaiian styles to inspire and uplift. Her journey, shaped by personal loss, has transformed into a powerful narrative
of resilience and empowerment where
her entrepreneurial spirit shines in
the fashion world and her leadership has led to groundbreaking initiatives including the inaugural Black-owned Business Awards. The Gulf Coast event highlighted more than 250 black-owned businesses.
And her influence transcends beyond fashion.
Williams is a celebrated media figure, gracing print pages and screens with
her compelling and multifaceted story
of survival. A hero in her own right, she served more than 17 years in the U.S. Air Force and saw actual combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. On a personal level, she lost both a marriage and pregnancy within the same year. Through it all, she shares and continues to touch lives through her humanitarian work.
With numerous accolades, she has solidified her impact in business and community with a testament to the power of turning adversity into strength and encouraging women everywhere to embrace their voices and live vibrantly.
She has been honored by numerous outlets including the 2019 Top 50 Black Women in Business in Mississippi, the 2019 Top Influencer Recipient from Gulf Coast Woman magazine, a 2019 Young Careerist Finalist, a Lighthouse Business and Professional Women Winner, a 2019 Heart and Soul Award Recipient, a Mississippi Gulf Coast Black Owned Business Network, and the 2020 Best of Mississippi Awards Entrepreneur of the Year.
As a mother and community pillar, she exemplifies the essence of leadership, energy, and innovation. Williams has not only changed the fashion landscape but has also inspired a brighter, more colorful world.
She will crown her successor, on September 2 at Belhaven University in Jackson. The Ms. Black USA Pageant
is for women ages 27 to 45 who are single, married or divorced, born female, and of African descent. Visit www. missblackmississippiusapageant.com for additional pageant information.
26 | July 2024 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living