Life Is a Party. Dress Like It (Audrey Hepburn)

By Elinor Tinsley
Last Wednesday, April 15, 2026 22 ladies and 2 gentlemen did just that, they dressed for a grand party at the Eagles 3719, for the Salty Mermaid’s semi-annual fashion show spearheaded by none other that Shauna Williams and her faithful crew from the store. This was the largest fashion show to date, with 24 models total, with most wearing two outfits a piece.  You couldn’t tell the new models from seasoned veterans because each of them seemed right at home on the runway.  The room was decorated beautifully, and Taylor and the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary had a small feast set out for us with everything from sandwiches to desserts.  What a great place to have this great event.    

The evening was kicked off by Jim Denys from the Eagles, presenting two of our Crenshaw Environmental Science Magnet students with national art awards from the Eagles.  Each year there is a national contest for elementary students to pick drawings that will be featured in the national Eagles calendar.  Crenshaw kids have placed in four of the five years they have participated.  Donna Mittendorf, Auxiliary Madam President, Buddy Rice, Aerie Worthy Vice President and Jon Lippleman, Aerie Director of Charity and Community Development helped present the Eagles National Art Contest winners, Lennon Comeaux 3rd Grade 2nd Place and Arya Stout 4th Grade First Place certificates for their achievements.  Art teacher, Anna Liddell and Principal Tracie Camp were there to help the girls celebrate with their families.    

Next, Jim introduced Shauna Williams, who welcomed everyone and informed the standing room only crowd about how the fashion shows benefited the Eagles, whose most recent charity of choice is Service Dogs International , who main mission is to train service dogs than have all been rescued from shelters and provide life changing help to many, including a large segment of veterans..  This fashion showed marked the 6th time that the Salty Mermaid has so generously contributed to our local Eagles chapter who in turn, have donated to many worthwhile projects Shauna thanked Cindy Rider, owner of the Hydra Luminous Spa, for contributing the swag bags and explained that each bag also contained a 10% coupon for the Salty Mermaid.  For the rest of April each customer that utilizes their coupon receives 10% off their total purchase and then the Salty Mermaid contributes an additional 10% to the Eagles. This donation is after the Salty Mermaid has already donated !00% of ticket sales to the Eagles.  That little 10% from the fall fashion show enabled Shauna and the Salty Mermaid to present the Eagles with a $1,100 check.  Now it was time for the party to really begin.

Stepping outside my comfort zone, I was asked to kick off the show, and I chose a great little bathing suit to do so.  My other job was photographer for the evening, and Jill Chumley graciously stepped in to shoot all the photos I missed.  Shauna and her team assisted each of the models in finding and putting together their perfect outfits, and if the audience applause was any indication, they got it right for all of us.  Our MC extraordinaire, Bob Hibbard announced each of the models as they hit the runway and even though there were behind the scenes snafu’s, you would never have known it by the way each model strutted their stuff, gave their walk their own little flare and hammed it up with more than a few of them.  After exiting the runway, the models quickly had to go change into another outfit, not missing a beat, and went smoothly into their next walk.  

Shauna chose to close the show with five models highlighting the large Americana collection in honor of our country’s 250 anniversary this year and Wendy Dozier closed the show, wearing an amazing dress with sparkles, a lighthouse, sailboats and of course fireworks all over it.  When it was all over everyone who modeled and the Salty Mermaid crew came on stage for their final bows.  Thank You’s and accolades were again given to all that helped with this event and Shauna shared that the Salty Mermaid would become a chain, hopefully by the middle of May with a new location on the Strand, taking over the space vacated by Tina’s.  Tina is retiring and this is the perfect spot for some mermaid tails and tales.  

Thank you Shauna Williams and Christopher Williams for all you do for the Bolivar Peninsula, and we know your new endeavor will be a great success too.  Can’t wait to see all the shop will have to offer and can’t wait for the next show in November!

Elinor

Elinor Tinsley been a permanent Crystal Beach resident since April of 2017, after building her home with her husband, Pat Tinsley in 2011. Elinor has spent many years in service to others from Girl Scout leader to youth group leader to volunteering in many organizations, with the Bay Vue Methodist Church and the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation being the two that she commits most of her time to.

See Full Bio