Meet Our 2026 Contributing Editors!

We are delighted to welcome back our very special contributing editors for 2026: Lydia Menzies of  The Supper Club and  The Southern C  founders Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long. Each brings a passion for celebrating Southern creativity, hospitality, and women in business. Discover more about these inspiring women below and be sure to look for their exclusive columns in each issue of Southern Lady throughout the year.

 

Athens, Georgia–based tastemaker and hostess extraordinaire Lydia Menzies continues to champion the art of gathering through her online community, The Supper Club. Beloved for her imaginative tabletops and thoughtful approach to entertaining, Lydia has made beautiful entertaining accessible, cultivating a devoted following who look to her guidance in making big and small occasions feel memorable and fabulous. Her first book, The Supper Club with Lydia Menzies, and her namesake blog offer a peek into her dazzling world of at-home hospitality.

 

As a 2026 contributing editor, Lydia will once again share inspiration for gracious get-togethers for any season, along with practical party tips from selecting a theme to styling to a picture-perfect table. Get to know more about Lydia through the pages of her book and in our January/February 2026 issue.

 

Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long continue their reign as the most devoted champions of female entrepreneurs throughout the South and beyond. Through The Southern Coterie—The Southern C and TSC for short— the duo has nurtured a thriving network that connects women in media, design, retail, hospitality, and more creative industries. From their home base on St. Simons Island, Georgia, these two welcome their community each January for the annual TSC Summit, an event that, together with their year-round programming, has become a powerful springboard for collaboration and growth. 

 

Throughout the upcoming year, Cheri and Whitney will spotlight some of the most dynamic entrepreneurs in a refreshed series highlighting women-led businesses around the region which inspire them. Visit thesouthernc.com to learn about Cheri and Whitney along with membership perks and information regarding community-fostering events, such as the annual TSC Summit, taking place January 27–29, 2026, in Sea Island, Georgia. 

 

Enjoy features from these inspiring contributing editors throughout 2026, beginning with our January/February issue.