The LaRuE Women’s Empowerment Dinner was one of those nights you could feel.
From the moment guests walked into Paragon Casino Resort, there was excitement in the room. Women were hugging, laughing, introducing themselves, and making real connections. Some arrived with friends. Others walked in alone and left feeling like they had found a community.
It was beautiful.
Ashley Love, founder of IAmSimplyBeautiful Global, opened the evening with a heartfelt welcome. This was more than another event for her. It was a vision she had carried, worked toward, and finally had the opportunity to watch unfold right in front of her. Rosa Pierite followed with a beautiful blessing that set the tone for everything that came next.
And what came next was phenomenal.
The room heard from an incredible group of women:
- Louisiana State Senator Heather Cloud
- Dawn Himel, Deputy Director of the Louisiana Office of Attorney General’s Gaming Division
- Michelle Purl, CEO of United Way of Central Louisiana
- Missy Daniels of Be Inspired Counseling and Consulting
- Victoria Love, Miss Avoyelles Parish’s Teen 2024
- Lora Ann Chaisson, Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation
- Dr. Kristi Anderson, Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry
Each speaker brought something different into the room. Wisdom. Honesty. Encouragement. Stories of leadership, resilience, and continuing to move forward even when the journey is difficult.
There were moments that made women think deeply about their own lives. Moments that reminded them of their strength. And moments when it was clear that someone in the audience had heard exactly what she needed to hear.
But the evening was not serious the entire time. There was plenty of laughter, too. The purse game brought out friendly competition, unexpected surprises, and so much fun. The room came alive. Women were cheering, digging through their purses, and laughing together.
That joy mattered just as much as the inspirational moments.
The evening would not have been possible without the support of Paragon Casino Resort and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Their support helped create a space where women could gather, learn, laugh, connect, and simply enjoy being in the room together.
Special appreciation also goes to Chairman Marshall Pierite for believing in the vision, mentoring Ashley Love, and supporting the mission of IAmSimplyBeautiful Global. Sometimes one person believing in an idea can help give it the room it needs to grow. His encouragement and guidance helped make this moment possible.
By the end of the night, no one wanted the feeling to end.
The LaRuE Women’s Empowerment Dinner was not simply a program with speakers and activities. It was a room full of women realizing they were not alone. It was new relationships beginning. It was laughter, encouragement, and possibility all wrapped into one unforgettable evening.
The event may have ended, but the feeling stayed.
And that is what made it so phenomenal.
Check out these pictures from the dinner:
