SANTA CLAUS SOCIETY Lady Margaret DeMouy Slaton

Funny, stylish, and meticulous are three words friends would use to describe the 136th Leading Lady of the Santa Claus Society (SCS), Lady Margaret DeMouy Slaton. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bailey Slaton, Jr., Margaret is currently a senior at The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) where she studies Elementary Education.

Margaret’s own Mardi Gras lineage dates back to the 1970s when her father served as Page to her great uncle, William Gale DeMouy, Jr., who served as MCA King. In fact, Margaret comes from a long list of MCA Royals. Her uncle, William DeMouy Slaton served as MCA King in 2000, her aunt, Kathryn Anne Slaton, reigned as Juvenile Queen in 1981, and MCA Queen in 1989. Her sister, Susan Elizabeth Slaton, was selected as Juvenile Queen in 2012, and served as Lady in Waiting in 2020 to Queen Seline Vaughan Morrissette and Sumner Greer Adams, Jr.

As SCS Leading Lady, Margaret will be following in two of her family member’s footsteps. Her aunt, Kathryn Anne Slaton was selected in 1988, and her cousin, Marion McAllister Slaton, was selected in 2019. So, it is safe to say being chosen as this year’s Leading Lady is truly special for Margaret. Margaret’s inaugural event as Leading Lady took place the night before the Camellia Ball in November of last year, where the SCS committee members formally asked her to lead their ball. Santa Claus presented her with the framed scroll, and even treated guests to a southern “snow!” “It was such a fun way to kick off the season,” recalls Margaret. “Invitations were designed by Gwin’s Stationary, the catering was by Bay Gourmet, flowers by Dennis Harris, and the lighting and snow were made possible by Joel Snider from Willow Bridge.”

The SCS ball is atypical from most other Mardi Gras organizations as their ball takes place months prior to the regular Carnival season. As the members don Santa suits, it only makes sense that the ball takes place amongst the festive holiday season. This year’s ball took place on December 16th, 2022, and was a grand occasion made even more special as twenty-four of Margaret’s Ole Miss friends were able to attend. “They really enjoyed their first taste of Mobile Mardi Gras!” she says. Margaret was a vision in an ivory Isabel

Sanchis gown with leather petals over the bodice, featuring a sleek A-line skirt with pockets, and paired with custom white gloves with feather detailing. Holly Walton from Debra’s was a tremendous help in choosing Margaret’s Leading Lady attire while Christal Hall of Seams to Fit customized the dress. “Ron Barrett designed the beautiful bouquet I carried and the flower piece that adorned my hair. It was the perfect touch,” Margaret gushes.

At Ole Miss, Margaret is active in her sorority, Chi Omega, and loves working part-time as a sales associate for a store in Downtown Oxford called Cicada. She will graduate in May of this year, and is looking forward to life post-grad!