Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association’s

King Elexis I: Quinterris Jacobia Toppings

Polished, handsome, extremely driven, and an avid sports fan, Quinterris Jacobia Toppings (or Q.T. as his friend’s call him) is extremely honored to have been chosen to reign as MAMGA’s 2020 King Elexis I – something he says was a wild dream that has thankfully become a reality.

By Caroline Edmondson / Photos Stevye Photography

For Q.T., the reality of ruling as King Elexis I has left him feeling both shocked and humbled. “Being selected King Elexis I for the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA) has been surreal,” he says. “In life, anything is possible, but not all dreams become reality. However, the reality is that I am the 2020 King of Carnival for MAMGA, and I am humbled to be one of the lead ambassadors for the organization. It is an honor to be able to create a legacy for my future family and leave my footprint in time. To be listed in history alongside some of the great men that have reigned as king is pretty astounding,” he says. The son of Tiffany Buchanan and grandson of Charles Buchanan, His Majesty’s family shares in the honor and are overwhelmingly proud of all Q.T. has accomplished. “I am very proud of Q.T,” Tiffany says. “Serving in this capacity for the MAMGA organization is nothing short of amazing. He is creating memories of a lifetime, and we will always look back on the 2020 Mardi Gras season as one of the highlights of his life.”

 His Majesty is a native of Prichard, but currently lives in Atlanta. Having graduated from Mattie T. Blount High School, Q.T. set his goals high and furthered his education at Alabama State University in Montgomery where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. With a passion for continued success, Q.T. earned his Associate of Mortuary Science from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Services, a career path that has interested him since the 8th grade. “Reese Funeral Home gave me my first start in the 9th grade as a funeral director’s assistant,” he explains. “The owners provided me plenty of shadowing opportunities, and I learned a lot there at an early age. I gained additional experience about every aspect of funeral home operations with Small Mortuary in college and thereafter during the summer.” With an abundance of experience under his belt, Q.T. plans to one day open his own mortuary all while finding ways to give back to the community that has given so much to him.

 Q.T. is no stranger when it comes to Mardi Gras, as his history of involvement spans back to 2012, when he first served as a royal knight for MAMGA’s Royal Junior Monarch Court. In 2013, Q.T. donned the crown as the King of the Prichard Mardi Gras Association (PMGA), and just a few years ago, he served as 1st Knight to then-King Elexis I, Olabode Oludayo Anise III, and Queen Katherine Ashley Smith. “As a participant in the royal court and a float rider, you get to see the other side of Mardi Gras,” Q.T. says. “The excitement of getting throws loaded and seeing so many people from everywhere is an electrifying experience. You hear your name being yelled hundreds of times by people you know and by some you don’t. I launched those moon pies like missiles. From that point on, Mardi Gras has never been the same for me,” which is exactly why he is most looking forward to the Fat Tuesday Parade during his reign. “The energy is high, the crowd is large, and it is the big finale,” he excitedly shares.    

 His Majesty describes his personal style as classic and tailored, which is mirrored in both his royal regalia and his Mardi Gras wardrobe. When it came time to design his regalia, Q.T. knew Patricia Halsell-Richardson was the perfect royal designer for such an important aspect of his reign. Drawing inspiration from Kings’ trains of the past, the Mardi Gras Museum, and Carnivals from around the world, Q.T. settled on a costume and train that reflects him to the core. With the help of his detail-oriented mother, Tiffany, the pair created a Mardi Gras binder in which sketches, costume ideas, train designs, and more were housed. “I worked very closely with Mrs. Patricia Halsell-Richardson,” Tiffany says. “She is great to work with. Whatever I asked her to do, she did. Whatever concept I came up with, she made happen. I wanted something stately, and I am pleased with the end-result,” she adds.  

 His Majesty’s train colors and signature design reflects his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, in that is it a collection of crimson diamonds embellished with family initials, Swarovski crystals, colored gems, and a custom fur trim. “Family is first in my book, so we put my great grandmother Madear’s initials at the top of the train, followed by my mother’s initials next, and then mine,” Q.T. details. “The base of the train and backdrop for the crimson centerpiece is a Renaissance tapestry of brown iridescent crushed velvet trimmed in a border of thick fox fur. The total length of the train is 18 feet. My desire was to have a train and costume that looked stately, refined, and yet distinct. I wanted a fresh look that hadn’t necessarily been done before.” And I think we can all agree: he succeeded.

 Along the same lines, Q.T.’s costume reflects an 18th century design and is a beautiful crimson. “The first time I saw the crimson trim encrusted in bronze, gold, and earth-tone beads, I knew it was the perfect trim for my coat and vest,” he says. “Overall, the design is more than I could have ever envisioned. The craftsmanship of both the costume and the train are excellent in every way. I was aiming for the look of excellence, and I am very pleased with how well it all came together. My mom is such a detail-oriented person, and she knows what I like. She is the brain behind this masterpiece!”

 For those who know him, Q.T. is naturally a suit and tie kind of guy, which explains his royal wardrobe. And although he purchased a majority of his suits from D&K Suit Discounters, Jos A. Banks, and Connaisseur Paris in Atlanta, Q.T. says there is a lot more to a suit than just buying it. “Most all of my local tailoring is done by Master Tailor Ms. Hazel Moore,” he explains. “She is one of the very best tailors I know. She has taken care of all of my royal tailoring needs this season. The tie makes the suit, and I love a power tie.” Q.T. admits his grandfather is a fashion connoisseur, and it seems he has the right tie for every occasion. “I’ll be sporting some of his fashionable neckwear this season,” Q.T. jokes. “My thoughts are: if you’re going to dress, you might as well let your style announce your arrival.”

 His Majesty’s mother is beyond excited for her son’s reign. “To see the King and Queen in their royal regalia for the first time was mesmerizing,” Tiffany says. “Mardi Gras can be so much work, but you can count on so much more fun from it all. I can’t wait until the public gets a chance to see how beautiful this year’s royals are.”