Introducing Our First-Ever Queen of Mardi Gras in the Spa: Sharon Turrentine

Mardi Gras in the Spa is proud and honored to announce Sharon Turrentine as our inaugural Queen—a distinction that could not be more fitting for the spirit, heart, and vision of this celebration. Sharon embodies everything this event stands for: community, joy, service, talent, and a lifelong commitment to uplifting others.

Sharon’s life story is one of remarkable achievement and heartfelt connection. A pioneer in women’s fitness, she earned her Physical Fitness Specialist Certification in 1989 at the Cooper Research Center in Dallas and went on to found Sharon Turrentine, Inc., a company that designed personalized fitness and body-shaping programs for women around the world. Over the years, Sharon has guided thousands of women toward healthier lives—including five Miss America titleholders—and traveled nationally to lead seminars, rallies, and conventions alongside iconic figures in sports, entertainment, and wellness. Her impact was so significant that the Louisiana House of Representatives awarded her a Commendation in 2019 for decades of dedication to physical fitness, and she continues to serve as Honorary Chairman of the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Many will also recognize Sharon as a familiar face on television. For more than nine years, she hosted Shape Up With Sharon on KNOE-TV (CBS) in Monroe, Louisiana, inspiring viewers weekly, while also developing and hosting a children’s fitness program called KIDPOWER. Her voice—both literal and figurative—has reached generations through her long-running fitness column in Pageantry Magazine and her deep involvement with the Miss America Organization since 1974, including service on the Miss Louisiana Board and judging pageants across multiple states.

Beyond fitness, Sharon’s first love has always been music. Trained in voice since the age of six, including advanced opera studies through Columbia University in New York, she has shared her gift on stages large and small for decades. From performing on the Ark-La-Tex Roundup (formerly the Louisiana Hayride), broadcast across 48 states and four countries, to singing the National Anthem in the Superdome for a New Orleans Saints game, her performances have been both memorable and deeply moving. One of her most meaningful moments came on June 6, 2014—her 70th birthday—when she opened and closed the 70th anniversary D-Day ceremony at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. In 2019, she even celebrated her 75th birthday with a performance in Paris, France.

Here in Hot Springs, Sharon’s presence has been just as impactful. After first visiting in 1993, she and her husband David made Hot Springs their home in 2000, and Sharon quickly became a vibrant force in the community. She has served in leadership roles across numerous organizations, including four terms as President of the Garland County Republican Women, President of the Women’s Welcome Club, President of the Ladies Social Club of the Hot Springs Country Club, and President of the Jazz Society—where she also proudly served as Mardi Gras Queen. She is an active member of Zeta Chi Sorority, currently chairing the Blessing Boxes committee, and was President in 2023. Most recently, she was appointed to the Board of Advisors for Garvan Woodland Gardens by the University of Arkansas.

Music lovers in Hot Springs also know Sharon for her annual Spring and Christmas concerts in the Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens—performances that have become cherished traditions. Even when the pandemic paused the world, her commitment to sharing music endured.

Sharon and David are the proud parents of three children and grandparents to three grandchildren, and family remains at the heart of everything she does.

As we launch Mardi Gras in the Spa for the very first time, we could not imagine a more gracious, accomplished, and inspiring woman to wear the crown. Sharon Turrentine’s life reflects celebration, service, resilience, and joy—making her the perfect Queen to help usher in what we hope will become a beloved annual tradition for Hot Springs.

Please join us in celebrating Queen Sharon Turrentine, and help us welcome her reign with the excitement, warmth, and community spirit that define Mardi Gras in the Spa.