Words by Marla Price | Images by Al Blanton and courtesy of Krystal Williams
Young entrepreneur Lexie Flake is doing her part to strengthen business and community connections in Winston County. The 2025 Winston County High School graduate has impacted her community by helping to create a classy event to celebrate New Year’s Eve and to recognize local businesses and individuals: Winston County’s “Best of the Best” New Year’s Gala.
Lexie has always set her sights high. She previously had dreams of becoming a pilot, completing ground school requirements at the age of 16 and earning flight hours through the aviation program at Wallace State Community College. However, she had a change of heart: “I would love to go back and get my license at some point, but my views changed, and I realized that if I wanted to make a life out of piloting I’d have to travel and move away, and I didn’t really want that,” she stated.
She was then inspired by her mother, April, to seek opportunities to establish her own business. “My mom is an entrepreneur,” she stated, “and the word ‘can’t’ just isn’t in our vocabulary.”
Lexie had worked at her mother’s boutique, Lilly Abigail’s, where she learned about the retail industry. During the summer of 2024, she had her first business venture—creating a pop-up shop for permanent jewelry. After realizing that she could be successful as a business owner, she opened Lady Rae Formals in August 2024. With her family’s support, she established a storefront just two months later.
It was during that time that Lexie first heard the comments that would inspire her to create the New Year’s Gala. “Guests to the store, especially older people, would say that they just love these dresses, but they had nowhere to wear them!” she emphasized.
Lexie also desired to help other young entrepreneurs by providing a scholarship for WCHS graduates. At the same time, she was involved in creating the Double Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, and she considered ways to feature and promote area businesses.
In April 2025, she helped create a Facebook group called “Who’s Who in Winston County,” with the intent of realizing all three goals. A gala on New Year’s Eve would give an opportunity to dress up, showcase local businesses and individuals, and provide funding for the Young Entrepreneur Scholarship.
The original Facebook group is now “The Best of the Best” in Winston County, which boasts 3.4K members. Lexie explained, “The group has grown beyond anything we imagined. We had some original categories, but we posted periodically asking for more ideas . . . the manufacturing category had 40 nominees.”
After months of nominations, voting began in November. “We ended up with 54 different categories, and we took the top five nominations in each category, unless there were fewer than five, which were then voted upon by group members,” she clarified.
Over 1,100 submissions were received, with the winners announced at the Gala, which was held at Camp McDowell in Doug Carpenter Hall on New Year’s Eve.
Attendance at the Gala exceeded expectations, with 300 guests enjoying a menu of rosemary pork tenderloin, hamburger steak, and sides. “All the food was so delicious, and we are hoping to have the Gala again at Camp McDowell,” Lexie stated.
She was also pleased that guests followed the formal dress code—floor-length gowns for the ladies, and tuxedos and suits for the gentlemen. “Everyone looked their best,” she expressed.
Plans for the 2026 Gala are already in the works with the anticipation of even more attendees. “I think it will be even bigger next year. People were commenting the day of the gala that they didn’t know about it but wanted to attend,” she said.
Nominations for the 2026 “Best of the Best” will open in April.
Lady Rae Formals sells new formalwear, and Lexie is excited about an agreement with designer Jonathan Kayne. “We’ll be getting in a shipment of dresses next week,” she stated. The store also accepts consignment formalwear.
Lexie also utilizes her business to serve the community. Plans are in the works for a second annual prom dress outreach, in partnership with The Rock Family Worship Center. This year’s event will be Saturday, February 21st from 10 am – 3 pm at Lady Rae Formals. “Discounted and free dresses will be available. Last year we brought in extra racks to hold them all.
“I love those days,” she reflected, with a smile.
Lexie’s enthusiasm for building connections within her community is unmistakable. “I don’t plan on moving away,” she said. “If I’m going to live here, I want to make the best of it and help grow our area.”
With vision, determination, and a belief that anything is possible with hard work, Lexie is already proving that meaningful change can begin right at home. 67
The following Best of the Best Gala attendees were all dressed for the event at Lady Rae Formals.
