We were lucky to catch up with Legina Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Legina , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I find purpose in adversity. I view difficulties not as meaningless suffering, but as refining processes that build character and spiritual maturity.
In Romans 5:3-4 it teaches that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,character; and character, hope.
I trust God’s plan. Biblical figures like Joseph, who was sold into slavery and imprisoned, demonstrate resilience through unwavering faith in God’s overarching plan.
As Romans 8:28 promises, God works “all things together for good” for those who love him.
I stay hopeful. You have to remember that present suffering is “light and momentary” when compared to the eternal glory that awaits. Focusing on this future hope strengthens me to endure.
I love to engage with my community and practice self-care. I lean on my faith community.
You don’t have to face hardships alone. Surround yourself with supportive believers who can encourage you, pray for you, and remind you of God’s faithfulness.
Proverbs 27:17 explains that believers can sharpen one another.
You have to practice self-care.
Resilience is also built through practical care for your body and mind, such as getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising.
These are acts of stewarding the body, which the Bible describes as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
I serve others. When you focuse on serving others , it helps combat selfishness and reminds you of your purpose in God’s kingdom.
This selfless love can build your resilience by putting your struggles into a greater context.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name Josie means “God will add and increase”. Laveaux means “from the vally”.
I am a St. Louis-based entertainer known as “the Creole Goddess of Burlesque”. Originally from New Orleans, I am an award-winning Chef, burlesque performer, producer, photographer and pin-up model.
I am currently focusing on my work as a private chef and caterer. I am Le Cordon Bleu alumni. I had the most fantastic time in culinary school! Le Cordon Bleu is truly the best. I actually got hired at The Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville TN, before I even graduated from school. There I was fresh out of culinary school 5 months pregnant an executive pastry Chef sharpening my artisan bread skills by baking all of the bread, pastries, and pizza dough for all five of their restaurants daily! I loved every minute.
I am an active local advocate for certain causes like protecting children from inappropriate drag/ burlesque shows. And by keeping women’s spaces safe from sexworkers, men, and satanic worship under the guise of drag/ burlesque shows. Fighting to keep sexwork/prostitution illegal in MO.
I am a prominent figure in the St. Louis burlesque scene, known as “The classical Queen of St. Louis” I am so very proud of that title. I have definitely earned it. I stay a woman of integrity. I’m the highest paying producer on the Burlesque scene. My shows are super exclusive. “The classiest show in town”.
I am a traveling showgirl that incorporates clowning and Old Hollywood influences into my performances, highlighting my musicality and style. A natural vintage girl! Born for the stage, Born to cook!
I do a lot of pin-up modeling: I have been on the cover and featured on several pin-up model magazines, including Retro Lovely Magazine. I love photography. I am recruiting more women to do more pin up modeling with me and my camera.
I openly embrace my identity as a Black native Creole woman, a woman of God.
Being a female is a matter of birth, being a woman is a matter of age, but being a lady is a matter of choice.
My mission is to empower other women into their purpose. I do this by instilling confidence and how to have respect for their bodies. Learn to love the skin your in. I teach a class called “Confidence through burlesque movements.” This class is a guide for women that want to connect with their most authentic selves.
As a private chef instructor, I specialize in and teach French Native Kre’yol cuisine. I teach public and private cooking classes. Date nights. and team-building events. Some of my most requested are Authentic New Orleans beignets, Parisian delicacies, sushi for starters, flavors of the Bayou, and fresh pasta and gnocchi. My dinner experiences “Josie’s Juke Joint” are incredible.
This gives me an opportunity to show people love through my food, and entertainment. It is so important to connect with your partner, friends and family. Food is a great way to do that.
I offer experiences through my online platforms, Cozymeal.com, Classpop.com, and Takeachef.com.
You can follow along on all of my adventures and see upcoming events by following my new social media pages dedicated to my dinner experiences. “The Spicy Creole” (Chef Gigi) on Facebook and Instagram.
I am so extremely happy to announce my online cooking classes through Cozymeal.com starting October 2026! I will be teaching cusines from all around the World! Including mixology and knife skills!
I am working hard on my very special cookbook that will incorporate affirmations, dance, exercise, and biblical scriptures.
I think it important to teach women that want to be wives or are already married, how to properly feed and take care of themselves and their spouses.
I am a mother of a beautiful daughter and I am married 22 years and counting. It is so important to know how to nourish your relationship. I have the most amazing spouse. Having your person is a true blessing. Never take love for granted.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
There are three Godly qualities that have been helpful on my journey ;
1.) “Godly wives put their husband and their children first instead of always looking for her fulfillment and joy in other places. She realizes how much family matters, and does everything she can to make the Lord the first priority in her home.
2.) “A godly wife isn’t consumed with gossip, complaining and negativity. Instead she’s a wife of noble character, who reflects God’s love, even when it isn’t easy to do so.
3.) “A godly wife gives her family and her husband a good reputation, speaks positively of her husband whenever she can, and does what she can to keep an intimate relationship between herself and her husband that creates a strong foundation for their family.
James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”.
1 Peter 5:5-6 encourages believers to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,” and to “humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand”.
Micah 6:8 asks, “What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.
Ephesians 4:2 instructs, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”.
Be a good person, treat others how you want to be treated.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle i have endured is being religiously persecuted in the burlesque community.
I found out through many years of traveling and entertaining that most performers are doing satanic worship on stage and are prostitutes. This is truly unsafe for women.
I have faced so much online bullying, slander, and just plain jealousy and cruelty from the Satanic temple members dancing on burlesque stages. I’ve had producers and venue owners in St. Louis try to groom me into also being a prostitute and idolizing satan.
This experience has pulled me so much closer to God. Because I refused to turn my back on Yeshua they tried to destroy me. They tried to convince me women like me couldn’t do burlesque.
Burlesque is truly about confidence, the elegant feminity of women. Not filth and idol worship.
Instead of retaliating, we are commanded to leave room for God’s wrath and to overcome evil with good.
Vengeance Belongs to God: The Bible teaches that only God has the right and perfect ability to administer vengeance.
Focus on Love and Forgiveness: Believers are encouraged to respond to wrongs with love, forgiveness, and acts of kindness, even towards their enemies.
Trust in God’s Justice: You should have confidence that God’s justice will prevail and that He will repay all wrongs in His time.
Deuteronomy 32:35: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay”.
Proverbs 20:22: “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you”.
1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”.
John 3:20:
States that “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Ephesians 5:11, which states: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them”. This passage is a command for believers to actively confront and reveal the hidden, shameful deeds of evil, rather than participating in or condoning them.
You are different, separate yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Cozymeal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespicycreole?igsh=d3p1M3V4cGF0OGF6
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17W7UwsLrq/
- Other: Classpop.com
Image Credits
Mike Mcarty
