Long Live Lola Magazine

Lola was never just a magazine. She’s a movement. She’s a celebration. She’s yours.

The days go slow, but the years go fast. We hear it often in reference to raising children, how the days can be long, tiring, and full, yet somehow you blink and they’re grown.

This saying has echoed in my heart lately, not just as a mother, but as someone preparing to say goodbye to something that has also felt like my child.

I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. I was never the girl with the prettiest handwriting or the perfect spelling, but the written word has always been my way of connecting, of expressing what lives in my heart. Still, when I sat down to write this, the words didn’t come easy. I kept hearing that phrase: “The days go slow, but the years go fast.” And I knew—that’s what this is really about.

Because other than raising my two amazing children, one of the greatest joys and honors of my life has been raising Lola Magazine.

In 2016, I looked around North Louisiana and saw something missing: a women’s publication that truly celebrated the bold, beautiful, brave stories of local women from every walk of life. I didn’t have all the answers. But what I did have was vision, passion, and deep belief in the women of this region. I knew we needed Lola.

So, like any woman with a wild dream, I turned to my best friend: Carie Hart.

Carie had media experience but had been at home with her kids for six years. She wasn’t really looking to jump back into work, but she’s always been my “yes” girl. My teammate. My ride or die. So when I told her we were starting a magazine, she jumped in, headfirst.

Together, we walked into businesses with a media kit, with no actual magazine to show, only our hearts, our hopes, and a promise that we were going to create the most beautiful, sincere publication this area had ever seen.

They believed. And we delivered.

Lola Magazine: Lifestyles of Louisiana Ladies was born. And just like a child, she grew quickly. What started as a dream became a full-blown community movement.

Not long after we started, God began placing the right people in our path, people who became the heartbeat of Lola. Danielle Richard, Brittany Strickland, Jessica Comegys, Donesa Walker, and Teri Netterville, we thank you. From the very beginning, you poured your love, energy, and talent into Lola. You believed in her before she had legs to stand on. We will never stop being grateful.

From the hundreds of phenomenal women whose stories we’ve been honored to tell, to the local businesses who trusted us with their brand, to our delivery team, Tommy Sutton, Carl Hammock, and Mr. Charles, who made sure Lola made it into businesses and hands, thank you. Thank you for being part of this journey.

And to our readers… You are the soul of this story. Every kind comment, every coffee table where Lola has lived, every message you’ve sent that reminded us this work matters, thank you. Truly.

And now for the best part: Lola Magazine is taking on a new adventure.

Just like our children, there comes a time when we have to let them grow up, spread their wings, and go out into the world. We pray they find someone who will love them, care for them, guide them into their next chapter with the same devotion we have given.

So I prayed. And I waited. And God answered in the most perfect way, as He always does.

When I met Sarah McKinney, I knew immediately. She was the one. Every doubt, hesitation, and fear disappeared. Her heart, her character, her creative vision, it all aligned. I could see instantly that Sarah was not only equipped but called to carry Lola forward.

And to make it even sweeter, she’s doing it alongside her precious mother, Ellyn. Watching their bond, their shared passion, and their love for this community gives me peace I never imagined I’d have during this transition.

Carie and I aren’t going far. We’ll still be around, cheering from the sidelines, offering support, and always being a phone call away.

But it’s time.

It’s time to pass the torch.

And as I sign off with tears in my eyes and joy in my soul, please know that every single person who played a role in Lola’s story—big or small—has my endless gratitude.

Thank you for letting me live this dream. Thank you for believing in something built with heart, hard work, and a whole lot of love.

Lola was never just a magazine. She’s a movement. She’s a celebration. She’s yours.

And now, with a confident peace and a full heart… I say goodbye.

Long live Lola Magazine.

With all my love.

Cheers, Bevin

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Lola’s Next Adventure

A bold vision for the future with mother-daughter team

One of the greatest joys of being in business with my daughter is experiencing the beautiful, sometimes surprising, role reversals that naturally unfold. While traditionally I’ve worn the “teacher” hat as a mother, our partnership in relaunching Lola has shown me how powerful and rewarding it is to become the student, too.

This fluid dance of roles isn’t unique to us—it’s a familiar rhythm in most parent-adult child relationships. As time passes, wisdom flows in both directions. Some of what I offer Sarah Madalyn is time-honored, legacy wisdom—lessons passed down from generations of women who walked before us. But she brings her own kind of brilliance: sharp insights, modern clarity, and a fresh lens that not only challenges old assumptions but gently corrects and improves them. And then there’s the truly new—the kind of information and perspective that only someone raised in a different time can offer. It’s not just enlightening—it’s humbling in the best way. I love all of it. I need all of it. I learn so much from my daughter, every single day.

Since we launched our first business together, Mother Daughter Collective, and began our work on Lola, I’ve seen her step into her power as a business partner in the most inspiring ways. Where I falter, she shines. Where she hesitates, I steady the ground beneath her. And where we both flourish? That’s where the magic happens.

Sarah has a remarkable gift—an intuitive ability to see beyond the surface. She looks deeply and critically at content, photography, and life itself, making smart, strategic decisions that elevate Lola and ensure it speaks to the hearts of our readers. Her eye for storytelling and aesthetics is sharp, but it’s her clarity of purpose that impresses me most. She’s also incredibly efficient and fair in how she divides our work, always aware of what plays to each of our strengths. That’s how this season of Lola came to life—not as a solo act, but as a symphony of our shared talents, values, and love.

At its heart, Lola is more than a magazine. It’s a space—a lovely, intentional space—for Southern women to feel informed, inspired, and seen. It’s a place for connection, for creativity, and for becoming better humans, together.

Our vision for Lola’s future is bold and deeply personal: we want to expand her reach beyond Louisiana, into the hands and hearts of women across the South. We are committed to delivering accurate, truthful information that is not only relevant, but profoundly helpful to the unique and essential role women play in making this planet a better place.

As I reflect on our journey and look to all that lies ahead, I’m deeply reminded of the power of women supporting women—across generations, across seasons of life. We could not launch this new chapter of Lola without first saying a heartfelt thank you to Carie and Bevin. From the very beginning, they have walked beside us, offering their wisdom, support, and steady hands at every turn. Lola is their creation, their baby—and they have entrusted her to us with such grace, allowing us to care for her, to nurture her, and to help her grow.

To our contributors—you’ve given this first edition its soul. Your words, your experiences, your honesty as daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends—you’ve made Lola personal, tender, and real. Thank you for opening your hearts and sharing your stories.

We’re also endlessly grateful to the creative minds who brought these pages to life: the Richard Creative Team, Brittany Strickland, Mary-Kaitlyn Allen, Jeremy Hernandez, our incredible print advisor Jon Holder with Complete Printing, and our dedicated distribution trio—Sid, Sidney, and Allison. Your talent, passion, and belief in our mission have infused Lola with beauty, depth, and meaning.

So many hands, so many hearts, all poured into one another—into something we hope will matter. Wow. Just wow. We are so grateful. As I often say: “Mentorship is vital to women and serves to strengthen, empower, and build one another up. I am humbled to have this role in my daughter’s life — and yours.”

We hope Lola finds you when you need her most—and that she leaves you feeling more connected, more inspired, and more seen.

-Ellyn, Spring 2025

Special thanks to Brianna Belton for allowing us to use her space.