WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Not only is a local southeastern neighbor making a name for herself across the country, but also globally.
Phalandra “Leka” Squires, who lives in Columbus County, will showcase a new fashion collection at a beauty pageant in Italy on Saturday.
This is a significant achievement for her following a serious health scare that nearly cost her her life this year.
Squires is a self-taught fashion designer. She says she comes from a small town in Virginia. She made North Carolina her home years ago and currently lives in Whiteville.
Squires initially learned to sew in high school. Her career direction shifted during college when she became a nurse and worked in that profession for several years. Over the last ten years, she has rediscovered her passion for clothing.
She started making skirts and dresses. Squires had orders pouring in around the COVID-19 pandemic. She made medical masks before they were required.
Her work gained the attention of someone who would soon give her the opportunity that launched her career into the spotlight. She was invited to create a collection for New York Fashion Week in fall 2024.
The theme was seven continents. She incorporated her favorite color, red, into the collection. It drew attention from the crowd for its unique designs, fabric, and craftsmanship.
She returned home with hopes of getting more work. Unfortunately, she says things slowed down for her, or so she thought. She received another invitation back to New York, but for a more exclusive show. She created a whole new collection for Fashion Week 2025 in February.
Since then, she has traveled domestically for other fashion events. It’s what led her to an even bigger opportunity overseas.
Squires had new ideas for a new collection for Miss Europe Continental 2025, an international beauty competition taking place in Naples, Italy.
She was diligently working until she experienced a near-death event. Around August 2025, she described intense, unprecedented stomach pain. While driving home, she felt the urge to pull over multiple times.
Squires described feeling as if her stomach was emptying everything. Despite her severe pain, she tried to reach the hospital, praying on her way there. Doctors confirmed her colon had ruptured, and she had become septic, a condition that can be fatal. Medical professionals state she reached them just in time.
Squires needed urgent life-saving surgery, which involved removing part of her large intestine. Her recovery took time, delaying the progress of her collection. However, her strong determination not to give up helped her recover and get back on her feet just in time for the big event.
Now, she says she is ready to take on her next project in Italy. She is still healing from the health scare, but attributes her success to God.
To watch Squires’ while she is in Italy, you can catch it on the streaming service, Prime Video.
You can find out more about her latest designs and projects by clicking here.
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