From their glittering crowns to their sparking gowns, Mardi Gras queens are true Coast royalty! Meet the women who reign over the festivities in our Royal Revue, featuring the 2025 Queens of Carnival from your favorite local krewes. Want to feature your past queen in Gulf Coast Woman? Email jen@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com. Carnival Association of Long Beach […]
Shanna Pegues is the chief of workforce development for the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, where she oversees employee education and training. She also is the founder/CEO of MommyGyrl Custom Creations, an online retailer specializing in custom, handmade wreaths, apparel and more (MommyGyrlCC.com). Shanna and her husband, Eric, are the proud parents of Dejà, […]
April Hoyt is chapter president of Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport — a nonprofit dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational and social needs of children in our community. Through hands-on projects, financial assistance and community partnerships, the organization works to make a lasting, positive impact. Q: Share a bit about JA Gulfport’s background. A: Junior […]
Amy Doescher is a Coast native and a residential architect dedicated to rebuilding and strengthening her community. She opened her own firm, Doescher Designs PLLC, over seven years ago. With a deep understanding of the coastal way of life, she strives to design homes that reflect how people truly live here — welcoming new residents, […]
Cardia Williams was born in Louisiana and now resides in Biloxi. She’s a lead teacher with MSU Extension Head Start and has been with Head Start for nearly 16 years. MY HEALTH CHALLENGE I’ve dealt with two major health scares. The first one was an ischemic stroke in June 2020, and the second happened when […]
Struggling with what to get your loved ones this holiday? The best gifts come from the heart — and satisfy the sweet tooth. Why not give some homemade treats made with love in your very own kitchen? Three of the Coast’s most talented bakers have shared their go-to holiday cookie recipes — the ones that remind […]
If you had asked me three years ago whether I wanted to open my own optometry practice, the answer would have been yes, I have the desire — but I never dreamed I would make it a reality. I previously worked as an associate in a joint optometry/ ophthalmology practice, where I was content providing […]
Here, we catch up with Ronald Chambers, executive director of Bethesda Free Health Clinic in Ocean Springs. In his role, Chambers oversees daily operations, from coordinating staff and volunteers to managing programs, partnerships and outreach — ensuring the clinic delivers high-quality, compassionate care to those who need it most. 1. What does the clinic do? […]
MY HEALTH CHALLENGES When I was 16, I overcame suicide. I was bullied badly in school, and then one month after my 16th birthday, I was put in a mental hospital for my safety. That night, I lost my uncle, who was like a dad to me. In April of 2023, I was diagnosed with […]
Judi Thames has been a successful hairdresser in Biloxi for 34 years, 14 of which she’s spent at Salon Richoux in Biloxi. Married to the love of her life, David, Thames is the proud mother of two daughters and one bonus daughter and “JuJu” to three grandchildren. In her spare time, she loves to go […]
