Will knew he’d stumbled onto something good when he heard about Zoe’s Kitchen, a restaurant chain that makes everything on its menu from scratch, every day. “That’s something I really love about Zoe’s,” says Will. About to graduate from college, Will knew he wanted to work for himself, and decided to bring the Zoe’s concept to his hometown: His first location opened April 2007.

Since then, he’s hired almost his entire family to work for him—his brother, sister, mother, and grandparents all work at Zoe’s—and it’s gone so well that Will recently opened a second location downtown. “I think it’s
strengthened our relationships, for sure,” Will says. He works hard to strengthen his community, too: In addition to coaching basketball for his high school alma mater, Will offers discounts to military personnel, and makes it a priority to donate to local charities, churches, and schools.

“If you own a business and if you’re supported by the community, I think you’re obligated to give back,” he says.

What’s your favorite thing about wearing a skirt? “Air flow. The circulation. I don’t know, I just felt sexy in it.”

Dany is so active in events and organizations all over Charlotte that he’s been dubbed the “unofficial” mayor of Charlotte. “I’m a community guy,” he laughs.

It’s hard to imagine when he has time to sleep, though—in addition to his day job as the director of strategic marketing for JSW Media Group, he founded his own company, DEPR, an Internet-based marketing company, to help connect people on his own time. The married father of four and Virginia Beach native is also one of the brains behind Amped 4 a Cure, a nonprofit organization that raises money for research into all types of cancer through a series of benefit concerts. And when he’s not working on one of those projects, or busy being Dad, he’s working with Boys Talk, a program through Community Charter School, where he encourages older students to mentor their younger counterparts.

“This is my give back,” says Dany. “I really love what I do.”

What’s your favorite thing about wearing a skirt? “It’s an interesting experience. You can’t go wrong with black.”

There’s no such thing as a fair fight. That’s why Mike created Daughter Safe, a unique self-defense program that teaches women and girls as young as 8 how to avoid being a victim. In three hours, the 15-year karate instructor and fifth-degree black belt demonstrates physical skills, but also hones his students’ most important weapon – their minds. “What I really want the girls to get out of the class is that nobody has the right to touch you, you never get into a car and never be a willing victim.” His love of martial arts began as a teenager, and now the marathon runner and father of two strives to make his passion accessible to a new generation of fans from ages 4 to 72. “I feel like I’m empowering people in a good way. I’m teaching people that it’s not some mysterious ancient art. What I teach is very practical.”

What do you love about wearing a skirt? “I can move stealthily, like a ninja,” he says of the traditional Japanese hakama.

With a career that is based around empowering women, that removes them from their comfort zones and improves their self-esteem by helping them create their own personal style, Alex Bramlett is honored to be an instructor and lead dancer at Sonia’s World of Dance (SWOD).  Afterall, he claims he is responsible for “presenting a woman’s personality to the world.”  And, that is a big job!

Throughout his life, Alex was inspired by several family members, including Mark Ballas, a 2-time champion and performer on Dancing with the Stars.  His grandmother, a flamenco dancer, owned a dance studio as he was growing up so he was constantly surrounded with the art of movement.  Alex is not necessarily trying be the next world champion, but more importantly, he strives to instill the same passion for dance in others that has ultimately changed his life. And Alex is doing just that…“In my business, I feel that I help students realize their potential and allow them to discover their talent, confidence and joy.”

Aside from his career as a dancer, Alex holds an International Business degree from Texas A & M University. In the future, he hopes to use his degree to help touch as many lives as possible in the dance industry.

~Laura La Rue

Joseph Haj is totally comfortable in the spotlight. As Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company he’s spent his share of time in front of an audience. Sometimes even in a skirt and wings. This fall, Joe is co-directing PlayMakers’ epic production of “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts 1 & 2.” That’s quite an undertaking seeing as the cast has no less than 25 actors playing 150 parts! This year American Theatre magazine named Joe one of the 25 artists who will have a significant impact on the American theatre over the next quarter century. 

What's the best thing about reading Skirt!?  It's big enough to mask my copy of Cosmo.
What's the best thing about wearing a skirt?  My wife can wear the pants - although she looks terrific in a skirt too.

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Finesse, agility, focus and determination. Lightning reflexes and intuitive reactions.
The skills and talents that served Benjamin well during his career as a professional soccer player now propel him toward a new goal—making it in the art world, where competition is fierce but, thankfully, you can use your hands. The transition from stadium to studio, cleats to canvas, came after an injury sidelined this Mount Pleasant native and College of Charleston soccer standout. But the former Charleston Battery midfielder switched direction without remorse. “I knew as soon as soccer was over that art is what I’d do. I didn’t know where it would take me, but I knew I’d pursue the hell out of it,” says this self-taught painter whose colorful mixed-media style is aggressive and expressionistic. Benjamin now splits his time between New York and Charleston (see his work at Aster Hall). “I’m committed to art,” he says. “There is no Plan B.”
 

The best thing about wearing a skirt? “The freedom of movement spurs my creativity.”
His favorite thing about reading skirt!? “The more you know about women, the better.”

Kevin has been running, biking, swimming, and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program for six years, but since 2009 has been such a lean year for nonprofit organizations all over, he decided it was time to turn up the heat. “It’s a tough economy,” he says. “If you want donations, you’ve got to give the people what they want.”

And what the people want, which skirt! has known for years, is a guy wearing a skirt—especially if the guy is a three-time Ironman. Kevin wears his trusty cheetah-print skirt every time he competes, and this year he’s raised more than $10,000. Each time he hits a big fundraising milestone, he adds something zany to his look, like a purple mohawk, in the hopes of spurring conversations that will lead to donations to his cause. “It’s helped me to focus on what’s important in life,” says Kevin.

What’s your favorite thing about reading skirt!?
“It’s another way of opening your mind to something different.”

And wearing a skirt!?
“It’s actually very cool. It’s breezy. Plus it gets a lot of attention.”
 

There was a time when most people wouldn’t venture into the doldrums of downtown. But John Bryan and his band, The Bell Brothers, weren’t most people. They started practicing in what is now The Wherehouse when downtown looked like a ghost town. Now an incubator for art, business and fun, The Wherehouse also houses Krankies Coffee. “We bought the business on a handshake and named it while walking up the street to get our business license,” he says. It’s the way John and his business partners, Dave Franklin and Mitchell Brit, have done a lot of business in Winston, and it’s a transaction that seems to not just work, but also succeed, as evidenced by their newest venture, Single Brothers, a down-home bar with an up-scale vibe, on Trade Street. “You can get directly involved in changing your life here,” he says of the city. “If a few more things go right, I think we’ll be in for a Renaissance.”

What do you like most about wearing a skirt?: “Skirts are great for ballroom dancing.”

What do you like most about reading skirt!?: “skirt!’s a quality publication, through and through.”

It’s not a simple task channeling one of the greatest mythological characters of western civilization. Over the last thirty years, Paul has taken the responsibility quite seriously. “In 2000, I decided give up my designer wig and beard and go with the natural look. Suddenly, I was Santa 24/7.” Paul belongs to the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas and RealSantas.com. What inspired this man to don the red suit began as a favor to friends at church. Trained professionally twenty years ago by Brady White, considered Santa to the Stars, this seemly seasonal job has grown dramatically. “Sometimes I feel guilty having so much fun. It’s like being a celebrity every day. My wife, Mrs. Claus and I donate services to numerous organizations and charities.” Paul believes his embodiment offers a rare opportunity to aid families in time of need. “Santa is a rod of stability. He knows how to touch people’s lives.”

Though best known for his portrayal of the lovable yet miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in his own musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, David has plenty to be happy about.   For one “Hallo-Giving-Mas” is on the way.  “That’s what we – the cast and crew - celebrate once rehearsals start.”  And two; he’s not in heels.  “My hat’s off to women for walking around in those things.  I know how difficult it is.” <!--StartFragment-->

In his thirty year tenure at Theatre In The Park, David has sparked a resurgence in The Bard, been voted Best Local Actor in dozens of public opinion polls, presented three keys to the City of Raleigh and received The Order of The Long Leaf Pine (one of the highest honors this state can bestow on its citizens).  Those are pretty ambitious accolades for a man who’s most comfortable in tights and long knickers.

Chandler, executive chef at the Savannah Golf Club, has been creating art from giant blocks of ice—weighing in at a whopping 300 pounds each and measuring more than three feet tall—for sixteen years. It’s a battle pitting Chandler against time; he has to work fast so that his medium doesn’t melt, but he has to be precise with his chainsaw and chisel in order to create the complicated 3-D sculptures.

They aren’t always your every day fish or swan, though—Chandler has been known to replicate pictures of family dogs or even, in one instance, a motorcycle. “It’s something that takes a whole lot of practice,” he says. “I get a lot of satisfaction when someone calls me back and says, ‘Wow!’”

What do you like best about wearing a skirt? “Two-for-one drinks on ladies’ night.”

What about reading skirt!? “Reading skirt! really gives my girlfriend and I great information on what’s going on in Savannah. I think it’s really honest on a women’s perspective.”
 

He is just 17. But Caleb, a senior at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, is carrying on after his mother’s death in a very adult way. Caleb, a self-professed momma’s boy, took care of his mother during her almost four-year battle with lung cancer. To honor his mom who always tried to make the world a better place, Caleb has set out to raise $15,000 for Camp Kemo, a summer camp for children with cancer. Caleb struck a deal with his school’s principal, Ralph Schmidt—if he can raise the cash, Mr. Schmidt will shave off his mustache. While cancer is no joke, seeing their principal without his mustache that he’s had since the 70s is certainly funny. Caleb’s band, The Bitter Suite, is performing benefit concerts, students are paying up to wear hats during school, and donation booths will be set up at football games. “We’ll do anything to raise ‘Cash for the ’Stache,’” Caleb says.

What he likes about reading skirt!: “It promotes good causes.”

And wearing a skirt: “Showing off my calves.”

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Caleb says that raising money for cancer is not just about his mom. "It's also for the benefit of society," he says. "We have to find a cure."

As Trish McEvoy’s regional make-up artist extraordinaire, Andrew has brightened the countenance of many a baggy-eyed gal. But a little blush here, a dab of concealer there isn’t his only talent. Andrew has reached out beyond his loyal clients at Saks and Gwynn’s to brighten the outlook for those living with HIV across the Lowcountry. When Andrew was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS a few years ago, he refused to cower behind the disease’s stigma. Instead, he has spoken about safe sex and HIV prevention at college fraternities and other groups, and used his lip and eye shade expertise at various fundraisers to support Lowcountry Aids Services, including an upcoming November 13^th and 14^th Gwynn’s event featuring the world premiere of a new Trish McEvoy lip color, “Gorgeous Red,” which she created especially for World Aids Day (in honor of Andrew, with proceeds benefiting LAS). “Make-up is so personal,” says Andrew. “For me it’s about building quality relationships with my clients.”

The best thing about wearing a skirt?   “My parents always thought one day they’d find me in a skirt. It’s nice to finally fulfill their expectations.”

He’s responsible for some of Greensboro’s most iconic sculptures – downtown’s General Greene, the A&T Four. But Jim, an associate professor of art at A&T, sees himself as part engineer, part historian. He strives for accuracy, down to the number of buttons on General Greene’s jacket, then applies his artistic talent. “There are very few perfect bodies; that’s an illusion. I’m taking what nature suggests and enhancing that pattern or that nuance.” Though his work tends to focus on historical or religious figures, Jim says what inspires him most is simply the human body. “There’s nothing more beautiful than the figure of a woman. I look at the world and say, ‘There is a God.’” When he’s not in the studio, Jim likes to sail, run or bicycle, often with Jack the yellow Lab by his side. 
 
What do you like about wearing a skirt? It gives me that same cool sensation I get when I bite into a York Peppermint Pattie. But I am, in fact, wearing a kilt.