Today we’d like to introduce you to Annia Jenkins.
Louisiana natives, mother-daughter duo, Annia Jenkins and Cynthia Hightower-Jenkins accepted for themselves the monumental task of introducing and assimilating into the Dallas Metroplex, the true essence of the phenomenally-festive Mardi Gras culture, season and celebrations. While this feat has proven to be noteworthy, it is far from being the beginning or ending of this duo’s partnerships as the convergence of their talents and individual strong suits have resulted in many endeavors and most noted, “All Things Beautiful,” Lifestyle Design.
In 2009, Annia moved to Dallas and as the Mardi Gras season drew near, she began to inquire about what there was to do in the Metroplex to celebrate the season. As she talked with friends and co workers, she found that many people didn’t have any inclination as to what Mardi Gras was, she was stunned. She began to ask others that she encountered in the stores, restaurants, the gym and noted that many didn’t know what Mardi Gras was, others had heard of it but wasn’t sure what it was about and others were familiar with the party aspect of Mardi Gras but there were those whom had heard and even gone to New Orleans to the parades but even they had a most limited understanding of the ‘why’ for the celebration.
Annia decided to called her business partner, a.k.a. her mother, Cynthia Hightower-Jenkins and they begin to contemplate how great it would be to introduce to the Dallas Metroplex, the authentic culture, celebration and spirit of the hugely popular Mardi Gras season. And by 2013, they had begun to breathe life into those strong thoughts. The mother-daughter duo launched Krewe de Etoile` (pronounced cru day e` twoile) in 2013, for the expressed purpose of presenting an over-the-top exquisite, official Mardi Gras-styled Gala Bal, as is typical for the season, and for making certain that the Dallas Metroplex would become more Mardi Gras savvy.
First things being first, the duo would share Mardi Gras trivia wherever and whenever the opportunity allowed, thusly, they coined “Mardi Gras 101” taking every opportunity to share special nuggets and trivia regarding Mardi Gras. The journey has taken this duo from Board Rooms to News Rooms and Ballrooms, wherever they would have the opportunity to share their idea to introduce authentic Mardi Gras to the Metroplex. To the duo’s surprise, they found not just fertile grounds for their ideas and sentiments, but indeed watched in amazement as Dallas rolled out a Texas-sized ‘welcome mat’ to all of the spectaculars Mardi Gras season has to offer.
Fast forward to 2016, the duo produced their first mega Mardi Gras Masquerade Charity Gala in Dallas. The Gala served as a major eye-opener for many in the area whom had never experienced a true Mardi Gras celebration which included a Royal Tableau, an indoor parade and many interactives, it was a huge success and it benefit two great charities. Attendees talked, tweeted and posted about it for days as they were amazed by the spirit of the gala affair. Many began to refer to the annual celebration as Dallas’ Mardi Gras and before long, that mantra spread across the city and what had been the thoughts and hopes of Annia had become a reality. Now, the grandness is what is expected of those who participate with the gala and those A-Listers who are selected for the Royal Court and by those who come for the first time but saw pictures or was given an account of the event by a friend.
While the essence of Mardi Gras is still somewhat of a dense fog for many in the Dallas Metroplex, for others, the fog has begun to lift, thanks to the mother/daughter duo’s hundreds of conversations, its mega gala production, even their more intimate smaller mingles and kick off parties and by all means, social media has aided the duo in its fulfilling its quest to share the richness of the culture and season. “Often time, we have to dispel the myths that are for many, synonymous with Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is not about drunks behaving badly or women exposing their body for beads”, insist Annia. “It is though, about elegance, Royalty, great food, over-the-top themes, unfathomable headdress and costumes and a unique terminology all its own.” The duo looks forward to the celebration morphing into a major weekend Mardi Gras festival and parade in Dallas proper.
Annia, the daughter of the duo has become known as a Rising Dallas Millennial for her commitment to the Dallas Community and the numerous local non profits in which she serves.
Has it been a smooth road?
A very bumpy road. Carving out a different niche always has its nuances but a pro of a mother daughter duo is where one maybe weak in a certain area, the other is strong and it makes for a great team. No challenge is fought alone.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Krewe de Etoile story. Tell us more about the business.
In addition to being co-founders of the most elaborate Mardi Gras Charity celebration that the Dallas Metroplex has ever witnessed, mother-daughter duo, Annia Jenkins (daughter) and Cynthia Hightower-Jenkins (mother) morphed into lifestyle influencers as they were overwhelmingly summoned by friend and even foe alike to prescribe, counsel and manifest lifestyle changes and modification, creating their most recent endeavor, All Things Beautiful Lifestyle Design. ATB reflects the multi-faceted areas of special interest, concentration, service and lifestyle. It exposes the good and beauty in all aspects of life and living for them personally and to their clients looking to enhance from both a personal and business perspective. This duo is an avid subscriber of an active spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy as well which make them most proud.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Lifestyle consulting is an area that is forever growing. There is always a need for personal and business related guidance to grow every aspect of our lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krewedeetoile.com
- Email: krewedeetoiles@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnniaJenkins
Image Credit:
Greg Martin, Bob Manzano
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