< Previous20 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 COVER CONFIDENTIAL MEET CAMRYN HOPKINS C over model Camryn Hopkins, 21, was born in Galveston and lived on the island until age 15, when she moved to League City. The senior at Sam Hous- ton State University in Huntsville, Texas, didn’t grow up participating in pageants. But when her sorority nominated her to com- pete in Miss Sam Houston, she won and was hooked. She holds the title Miss Galveston County, and by the time your read this, she’ll be competing in the Miss Texas Pageant. Hopkins is passionate about philanthropy and giving back to the community, making her the perfect person to help Coast Monthly celebrate its 15-year anniversary. Where did you grow up and attend high school? I grew up in the great city of Galveston! I started high school at Ball High; however, halfway through my freshman year, I transferred to Clear Creek High School in League City. What are you studying at Sam Houston and what are your long-term career goals? I am studying psychology with a minor in business at Sam Houston. After I graduate, I hope to go on to get my PhD in Cognitive, Behavioral, and Developmental Neuroscience at University of Houston. With that, I will then pursue a career in professorship at a four-year university and conduct research with my students. How did you become interested and involved in pageants? I originally got involved in the Miss Texas Organization by my sorority, Alpha Chi photos by STUART VILLANUEVA COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 21 Camryn Hopkins, who was born and raised in Galveston and went to high school in League City, holds the title Miss Galveston County. She will compete in the Miss Texas Pageant June 27 through July 1.Omega. They nominated me to be their representative to compete in the Miss Sam Houston Pageant in 2022. Lo and behold, I won the title of Miss Sam Houston and got to compete on the Miss Texas stage this past year. I have since fallen in love with the environment of being around so many high- achieving women, and decided to return as Miss Galveston County. What pageants have you entered and what were the outcomes? Aside from the Miss Texas pageant, I have been in the Miss Sam Houston Pageant, and I was Miss Sam Houston 2022, and I competed in Miss League City pageant where I got first runner-up. My current title, Miss Galveston County, was through a virtual competition with the Miss Texas Organization. Tell us about your hopes for Miss Texas this year. My hopes for Miss Texas this year are to have fun and see how far I get. If there is one thing this organization has taught me, it’s that you can change so much during your time as a titleholder. The experiences you get are like no other, and I hope that this year I can recognize and appreciate the growth that I have had and bring that growth to the Miss Texas stage. What’s your best advice for someone starting out in pageants? My best advice is to enjoy the ride. Competitions like these are so unpredictable, and you can be the best you have ever been and still not walk away with the crown. Understand that the crown is not the end goal. The end goal is to always perform your best and see where it takes you. By enjoying the ride, you will get so much more out of it than someone who only views this as work. What impact do you hope to have on young women? I hope that I can show young women that you can have it all! One of the biggest things about the Miss Texas Organization is that it is all about emphasizing how well- rounded a candidate can be. You don’t have to limit yourself to just one specialty. You can be glamorous, intelligent, involved and whatever else you want to be. I hope to show young women that is who I am and encourage them to do the same. When you tell people about Galveston County, what do you say? I say to come visit! Galveston County is rich in Texas history, but it is also a great place to go if you are looking to have a great getaway. Galveston County provides the opportunity to experience the charm of the island and a mainland full of great shopping and wonderful dining. There is truly something for everyone. My heart will always be here! What do you love most about living on the upper Texas coast? I love being able to get a different side of nature than most of the United States. Being able to have forests and beaches at my fingertips is such a blessing, because I get to take in various types of nature and still get the experience of city living. To me, it’s the best of both worlds. What does Fourth of July mean to you? Fourth of July means celebrating! Celebrating independence, diversity and the progress that we have made as a nation. Since the beginning, this country has had so many different demographics coming in, and have formed the country that we all know today, so I think that being able to celebrate the progress that has been made because of these different groups is a beautiful thing. If you could change something about this nation, what would it be? If I could change one thing, I think it would be the divisiveness. Unfortunately, it has become very polarized. However, I think we need to do more listening to each other, rather than picking sides. We are stronger together, and I think that if we begin to try and listen and understand, rather than defend and fight, we will begin to see that there are solutions to everything. I believe that the divisiveness in this country has a real impact on my Community Service Initiative with Miss Texas, which is equitable education for all. How would you describe your fashion style? Constantly changing. I never really settle on just one type of style; I pick pieces out of different vibes and aesthetics and go from there. As I said before, I never like to limit myself to just one thing, so I always like to make sure I am trying new things. What’s on your playlist? A mixture of everything! Right now, my favorite song is “Karma” by Taylor Swift. I love listening to songs with a lot of positive affirmations because they put me in a good mood, so anything like that is usually what I will be listening to if I’m ever in an episode of “Carpool Karaoke.” What’s your favorite book? I love the Harry Potter series! I grew up reading and watching them, and it has become something that I have developed a strong love for. I collect Harry Potter wands now from Orlando, and, you might have already guessed, but I’m a Ravenclaw! 22 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 COVER CONFIDENTIAL Camryn Hopkins competed in and won her first pageant in 2022 at Sam Houston State University, where she is studying psychology.Exquisite Homes Laffite’s Cove, Galveston TX 3425 Petite Circle | $3,850,000 13243 Binnacle Way | $1,699,000 3235 Lafittes Point | $2,000,000 13538 Stewart | $900,000 Sold New Listing Sold New Listing 281.773.3477 bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate chasejennings@greenwoodking.com BET JENNINGS 2022 Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Pros in Galveston & Texas Specializing in the Pirates communities: Laffite’s Cove, Pirates Cove, Pirates Beach & Pirates Beach West A long-time resident of Laffite’s Cove Director of Laffite’s Cove Board Pirates POA & UTMB Development Board611 W. 22nd Street, Suite 101 • Houston, TX 77008 | 2228 Mechanic Street, Suite 318 • Galveston, TX 77550 Copyright©2023 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. Restrictions and limitations may apply. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. Have any questions or upcoming home-financing needs? Contact me today! “They say change is never easy, but that’s not true when it’s with Fairway. Backed by this leading mortgage lender, now I can offer my clients an even better experience than before.” THE PAUL VINCENT GROUP Call/Text /Fax: 713.770.6020 paul.vincent@fairwaymc.com ThePaulVincentGROUP.com PAUL VINCENT26 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023CREAMY SHRIMP ROLLS Serves: 6 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and poached 1 ⁄ 3 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon dried tarragon 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice Juice of 1 ⁄ 4 lemon 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon salt, more to taste 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper, more to taste 1 ⁄ 3 cup scallions, thinly sliced 6 hot dog rolls split down the middle, toasted Arugula or lettuce Pat cooked shrimp with a paper towel to dry. In a medium bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, tarragon, dill, mustard, relish, pickle juice, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Fold in scallions and shrimp, mixing thorough- ly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add arugula or lettuce to toast- ed buns and distribute salad evenly. Serve immediately. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 27 SEASIDE SOIRÉE BACKYARD BASH Gather friends and family and throw a delicious summertime celebration recipes and photos by ALICIA CAHILL W e asked Coast Monthly foodie and consum- mate host Alicia Cahill to whip up ideas for a stylish and simple Fourth of July party or summer soirée. She delivered. (Above) Alicia Cahill’s dog, Petey, hangs out poolside. (Opposite) Add tropical flair to your outdoor table décor with bright colors, florals and beach accessories.28 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 SEASIDE SOIRÉE SWEET & SALTY HAM AND CHEESE SLIDERS SUMMER CORN SALAD Serves: 6 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 ⁄ 2 cup red onion, chopped 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Kernels cut from 8 ears of sweet corn 1 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, minced Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pan. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes, until onion is soft. Stir in bell pepper and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add butter to pan, allowing it to melt. Add corn, salt and pepper to pot. Cook corn mixture for another 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasion- ally. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Top with parsley and serve warm. SWEET HEAT STRAWBERRY AVOCADO SALSA Serves: 8 1 pound strawberries, chopped 2 jalapeño peppers, diced (leave in the seeds for a spicier salsa) 1 ⁄ 2 red onion, diced 1 ⁄ 2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper 2 limes, freshly juiced 2 avocados, chopped Tortilla chips, for serving Combine strawberries, peppers, onion and cilantro in a medium bowl with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Add in lime juice. Gently fold in avocado. Cover and chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Taste and season with more salt or lime if needed. Serve with tortilla chips. Serves: 12 1 (12-count) package Hawaiian sweet rolls, sliced in half 3 ⁄ 4 pound cooked deli ham, thinly sliced 3 ⁄ 4 pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced 1 stick unsalted butter, melted 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, divided 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste Line a 9-by-9-inch pan with alumi- num foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray. using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half so you have a “top” and a “bottom.” Don’t pull the rolls apart and slice individually; you want to keep them connected. Place the bottom of rolls in the prepared pan. Slather with 2 tablespoons of mustard and 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Evenly layer about half of the ham over the bottom section of rolls. Next, evenly layer the cheese. Top the cheese layer with the remaining ham. Place the top section of rolls and set aside. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, carefully melt the butter. Whisk the poppy seeds, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and remaining tablespoon of mustard into the butter. Slowly pour the butter mixture evenly over the rolls. use a basting brush to spread the mixture over the tops. Some of the mixture will pool at the base of the rolls. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and allow rolls to rest at room temperature for about 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake the covered pan for about 20 minutes or until cheese has melted. uncover and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, watching to make sure they don’t burn. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuLY 2023 29 SPARKLING TEQUILA ROSÉ Makes: 1 cocktail 1 1 ⁄ 2 ounces tequila blanco 2 ounces rosé wine 1 ⁄ 2 ounce grapefruit juice 1 ⁄ 2 ounce lime juice, plus more to rim the glass 1 ⁄ 2 ounce agave nectar Thinly sliced jalapeño Ice Tajín seasoning Topo Chico or other sparkling water Add all ingredients, except Topo Chico, to cocktail shaker and mix. Rim a glass with lime juice and Tajín; fill with ice. Pour cocktail into glass and top with sparkling water. Serve immediately. SUNNY FRUIT PLATTER 1 Watermelon, sliced 1 pint blackberries 1 pint raspberries 1 orange, cut in segments 1 kiwi, sliced in half 1 pound strawberries 2 pints blueberries Begin by arranging watermelon slices on a round platter or large plate. Place half the kiwi, cut side up, in the center. Arrange berries and top watermelon slices with orange segments. Chill until ready to serve. CAMPFIRE CEREAL BARS Makes: 20 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal 2 cups crushed graham crackers (1 sleeve of crackers) 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 1 ⁄ 2 bags mini marshmallows, 10 ounces each 1 ⁄ 2 stick unsalted butter For the frosting: 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 1 (13-ounce) jar marshmallow fluff 2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Hershey’s chocolate bars In a large mixing bowl, combine the Rice Krispies cereal, crushed graham crackers and chocolate chips. Set aside. In a medium-size pot, melt the marshmallows and butter over low heat until gooey. Pour the marsh- mallow mixture over the cereal mixture and stir until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch-by- 13-inch pan and gently press into the pan. Allow the bars to cool. To make the frosting: Beat butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add in marshmallow fluff and beat again until smooth. Add in pow- dered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing a final time until all ingredi- ents are thoroughly combined. Spread frosting over cooled bars. Cut into squares. Top each bar with a piece of a Hershey’s chocolate bar. Next >