BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Forget the beads — the hottest throw at Saturday night’s Neptune Parade will be decorated bikini tops. One krewe is throwing a curveball to traditional Mardi Gras and catching close friendships along the way.
“There’s no better group of ladies that I would want to be a part of than our fabulous Salacias,” said Cheli Strumila, founder and captain of the Krewe of Salacia.
“You have to be energetic,” said Vanessa Aucoin-O’Neal, a member of Krewe of Salacia. “It makes it more fun, more lively, and it’s part of the Carnival season.”
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Aucoin-O’Neal and the Krewe of Salacia get ready for Mardi Gras by decorating bikini tops. The group will throw about 600 of those elaborate tops into the crowd.
“I have a Biloxi one, Mardi Gras-themed one, an LSU one, and a Wicked one because that’s big this year,” described Aucoin-O’Neal. “Each top is different. Some people theme all their tops with one vibe, but mine are different.”
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Strumila named the krewe eight years ago.
“Salacia, in mythology, is Neptune’s wife, the goddess of the sea,’ said Strumila. ”The goddess of the sea is perfect for the Mississippi Gulf Coast."
A trip to a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans led to the idea after Cheli saw sparkling high heels being tossed into the crowd.
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“I’m Cheli’s best friend, and I took her to New Orleans Mardi Gras,” explained Mary Cracchiolo, another member of the Krewe of Salacia. “She saw Muses for the first time and was blown away. She said, ‘We need to do that on the Gulf Coast.’”
“I had to think of something that we could do to represent us, just like the shoes represent Muses and the purses represent Nyx,” said Strumila. “We’re a beach community, so what is better than a bikini top?”
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Sylvia Izlar found Salacia not long after moving to the area.
“The crowd loves us,” said Izlar. “We feel like rock stars, and they look forward to us. It’s the costumes, energy, and it’s how we interact with the crowd. They come from far and wide with their signs that say, ‘Throw me a Salacia bikini top,’ and it’s awesome.”
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The formation of the krewe dressed as mermaids has created a sisterhood of more than 60 women.
“All of these ladies are like family to me,” said Michelle Cueves, 2024 Krewe of Salacia Queen. “If one of them calls and needs something, then we’re all going to show up.”
“This has given us an outlet as professional women to gather with other like-minded women, support our community and still be able to take care of our families and businesses,” said Strumila.
Inspired by New Orleans parades, Salacia is now a signature moment of Mardi Gras on the Coast.
“It’s turned into something bigger than we ever imagined it to be,” added Aucoin-O’Neal.
Along with the bikini tops, the ladies will also be throwing out a variety of unique gifts to the crowd during the Neptune Parade.
For more information on the Krewe of Salacia, visit their website at www.kreweofsalacia.com.
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