Have you heard the popular phrase “main character energy”—meaning empowered, self-assured, intentional? I love it. And although I hadn’t consciously planned it, I’m thrilled by how many leading ladies fill these pages—especially fitting as March is Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day on the 8th. 

First up: our feature profile of local tennis star Emma Navarro (“Match Maker,” page 100). Ahead of the Credit One Charleston Open, editor at large Stephanie Hunt sat down with the 24-year-old athlete who has taken the sport by storm, having broken into the top 10 WTA players in less than two years after turning pro. Sure, as the daughter of Credit One owner Ben Navarro, Emma has had access to elite coaching, travel, tutors, and the like—but it takes far more than monetary resources to reach her level of play. Get to know this determined, unrelenting competitor, who, between tournaments around the globe, is also building her own business representing major brands and clearly having a ball. Talk about energy!

Then there’s the design vision of Cortney Bishop, who opens the doors to a four-years-in-the-making Kiawah Island beach house like no other. I have followed her dynamic career for more than two decades and agree when she calls the project “a dream come true—my favorite home I’ve ever built.” Turn to “A Modern Fairy Tale” (page 71) to see for yourself: a home that’s warm, inviting, layered, and cohesive, with intriguing, wow-worthy details throughout. Add Bishop’s growing roster of product collaborations—fabrics, lighting, rugs, and more—and it’s no wonder she’s a force in her industry.

Our spring fashion feature, “Revolutionary Style” (page 84), also delivers main-character energy in spades. Tasked with translating 18th-century silhouettes through a 2026 lens, stylist Andrea Serrano and her all-women creative team flip the script, blending historic references with modern confidence and undeniable flair.

Here’s to the local women who lead, create, compete, and imagine on their own terms. I hope they inspire you to step fully into the season—and your own story.

Enjoy!

Darcy Shankland
dshankland@charlestonmag.com