Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association’s Queen Myea Elenora Rice

If ever a royal has made us stand at attention and take notice of their accomplishments, it’s Queen Myea Elenora Rice. Every bit a role model, she’s not only charismatic, beautiful, and accomplished beyond belief, she is more than the ideal choice for Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association’s (MAMGA) Queen for 2022. A graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point and a Captain in the U.S. Army, she’s a woman fully formed. From the trenches of Afghanistan to embracing her heritage, she’s not only an inspiration, she’s a point of pride for all of us.

By Amber Wielkins; Photography by Stevye Murray

With a megawatt smile, killer biceps, and a gracious manner, Queen Myea is the definition of adisciplined,ambitious, and thoughtful woman. Immensely grateful for the royal honor bestowed upon her, she is more than ready to reign over the return of Mardi Gras to her hometown of Mobile and looks forward to a much-deserved celebration.

Queen Myea is the daughter of Ronald Harbin and Marcella Rice. Hailing from a large family, she has eight adult siblings: Ronald Harbin Jr., Glenn Harbin, Shenika Harbin, Chez Rice, Patrick Harbin, Ronnie Rice, Myron Harbin, and Cameron Rice. Recalling her childhood, Myea says, “The Crystal Ice Factory (now The Ice Box Bar) right on the parade route was the rallying point for my extended family to watch parades, catch up, take photos, and connect with one another each year.” One could say Mardi Gras was more than a holiday for her family—it was a reunion, as well.

With so many choices, from family gatherings to parades, one thing in particular comes to mind when asked her favorite part of the season. She shares, “When I think about Mardi Gras, I think of listening to our very own Excelsior Band. Many people are not aware of the deeply rooted history the band has in Mobile. Since 1883, members of the Excelsior Band, like the late Mr. Charles Hall, have provided the atmospheric soundtrack for Carnival in our wonderful city.”

There are too many things that make Mobile special to list, and we could say the same about Myea. “I graduated from John L. LeFlore High School. During my tenure there, I dedicated my time to service through organizations like the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated youth auxiliary program, the Zeta Archonettes. When I was not enhancing my leadership and service skills, I was playing for the school volleyball team,” she states. Go, Rattlers!

Myea’s hard work and diligence were rewarded when she earned acceptance into the elite United States Military Academy at West Point, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology and completed West Point’s Electrical Engineering Core Engineering Sequence. “While at West Point, I continuedto participate in organizations dedicated to mentorship, including the Cadet Gospel Choir, Cultural Awareness Seminar, and the National Society of Black Engineers,” she says, further establishing she is, indeed, a phenomenal woman.

Stationed in Virginia, Myea explains her current assignment and what’s on the horizon, saying, “I’m a U.S. Army Logistics Captain with over five years of experience providing supply chain support to managers in high-paced environments. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to explore the unique ways in which supplies are globally distributed. In the spring, I will gratefully get to experience my next promotion to the rank of Major.”

Multi-faceted and filled with integrity, Myea has many interests outside serving her country. Most are related to giving back to the African American community, especially young girls. “Some of my many passions include music, continuing education, relationship-building, professional coaching, mental health, and recreational volleyball,” she states. “I dedicate time and effort through many mentorship-based organizations, including Do More Together, The National Board of the Rocks, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Association of the United States Army.” In what little free time she has left, she enjoys “exploring local wineries in the Virginia area, taking the occasional swing class, finding new trails to explore with my furry companion, Pico, and going to the driving range,” adding that these activities enhance her creativity.

Queen Myea’s royal regalia is a glimpse into all she holds dear. She explains, “My train, completed by the wonderful team at Royal Clothiers and led by Johnny Weaver, is a representation of things I am very passionate about. At the bottom of the train is the Rice family crest. Moving up, you will find the ‘Athena Shield’ logo, which is one of West Point’s most compelling symbols, as Athena’s Helmet represents wisdom; the sword symbolizes righteousness and justice; and the star represents the connection to the U.S. Army as well as the American people. Located directly above the logo is an homage to the Black women who served as examples to me in my life; I consider it extremely important to acknowledge the existence of the myriad Black women who played critical roles in allowing me to be who I am today. Lastly, at the very top of the train, is an acknowledgement of my background in information technology, a field I remain interested in enriching.” Her coronation gown was inspired by the colors in her train

As she modestly lists these accomplishments while having a ball dancing and glamming it up during our photoshoot at the highly anticipated and oh-so-chic new downtown eatery, West Food Bar, we can’t help but notice she’s just as comfortable in a ball gown as she is in combat boots. In fact, she’s so incredibly selfless she barely mentions her three tours of duty in Qatar, Bahrain, and Afghanistan, leaving us speechless. She then blows us away with her commitment to the natural hair movement so many African American women are embracing. No color, no relaxers, just her big, beautiful. graying-at-the-temples God-given hair. Talk about gray pride!

Makeup Courtney Matthews Makeup Artistry, Cocokat1978@gmail.com

Hair Jason Chambers, HeadDress Salon, 251.689.7427 

Shot on location at West Food Bar, opening soon at 69 St. Michael Street, Mobile 251.459.0245 / TheWestFoodBar.com