Episode 17 Alexis Williams
Mississippi, especially South Mississippi, is an amazing and wonderful place to live. An intersection of diversity, southern hospitality, coast-living charm, I’m privileged to call South Mississippi my home. Those who hail from this area are just as beautiful and amazing.
Yet, Mississippi is not without its painful memories. Stories of dehumanizing Jim Crow laws, oppressive societal norms, all spawn from an ill placed fear. Through time we’ve worked to move away from that painful past into a more inclusive, beautiful, and loving society. You can see that in the passions of those from this hidden gem of the south.
My guest today is Alexis Williams. Alexis is from Gulfport Mississippi. She is the owner of Aloha Glamour. Aloha Glamour is an Afrowaiian boutique combining the traditional patterns and wares of African clothing with the vibrant colors of Hawaiian style. Where did she get this idea?
This story was very emotional for me.
Alexis is a retired, 17-year, Air Force veteran. During her career she spent time stationed in Hawaii. That assignment, however, was met with tragedy. Lexi, suffered a loss of her child during pregnancy at only 7 months. The pain of that loss is a feeling most of us will never be condemned to contend with. During those dark times, Lexi found inspiration to find color through Hawaiian fashion. She decided she would honor her daughter by combining her daughter’s birthplace of Hawaii with her African culture, and thus Aloha Glamour was created.
Aloha Glamour is an international business. She sources many of her fabrics from African nations as well as India. Her success has garnered attention. Like many businesses during the pandemic, altering the business model was critical to success through and after COVID lockdowns. Alexis shifted to making Afrowaiian print masks and innovative ways to wear those masks. Her successful pivot helped her win the ”Bey-Good” COVID-19 relief grant; a $5,000 award from Queen B, herself. Aloha Glamour is also recognized as a Goldman Sachs small business.
Alexis has also channeled her success into a meaningful mission to promote local black businesses and business owners. We talk about how Alexis feels there are local gatekeepers who may be uncomfortable with black businesses around—an antiquated perspective, distant from inclusivity. She started the Mississippi Gulf Coast Black Owned Business Network. This Facebook group is designed to be a platform to help black business owners in South Mississippi to assist business owners with starting, managing, and promoting their businesses. Through this collective effort, Lexi is helping more than 6,000 members with their business dreams.
It’s an honor to sit down with someone so impactful to our community. Alexis has seen tragedy. She has found success. She continues to pass on her story to inspire others and help those in her community. A Steel Magnolia is a term given to a women, strong as steel and beautiful as a magnolia. Alexis and her story are the embodiment of the Steel Magnolia. She’s created a legacy for her daughter to live among us. Her daughter is the inspiration for Aloha Glamour, the passion of her philanthropy, and the love of life Alexis possesses.
Everyone please welcome, Alexis Williams.
Follow Alexis on…
Facebook: AlohaGlamour
Mississippi Gulf Coast Black Owned Business Network on Facebook