When she's not tooling around Charlotte in her mobile cupcakery, above, Emma Merisier often can be seen fashionably attired in animal-print pumps or red leather cowboy boots. (Photo: Courtesy of Nathan Aferi)

Emma Merisier is the true definition of a Carolina girl.

She is a sassy, Charleston native with style that shines like her personality. She can be spotted out and about Charlotte in her animal-print pumps that match her similarly printed apron, or in her red leather cowboy boots.

Merisier loves to step out sporting a smile and a big purse! Her sense of fashion can be described as clean and classic, accompanied by hints of sparkle and color.

She recently began operating Charlotte’s first mobile cupcakery – a big, pink truck that makes stops around town -- while still maintaining her cake-baking business, appropriately named “Southern Cake Queen”.

Qcitymetro contributor Shelby Ivey Christie recently sat with her highness to chat about fashion, frosting, beauty and more. Find out what the Queen had to say about style on the Southern side of things.

Q. Tell me a little about the Southern Cake Queen brand and how it reflects your personal style and fashion sense? I know you mentioned pink is your favorite color. Your mobile cupcakery truck is big and pink.

I chose a color scheme that was greatly influenced by my personality. I am a fun person and I love animal print, so I thought that it would be a nice, bold statement about me. The pink and green colors weren’t my first choice in color but they represent fun, flirty, and bubbly…like me.

Q. Do you have a lot of animal print in your wardrobe?

Emma Merisier's latest venture is a mobile cupcakery, from which she sells pastries at various locations in Charlotte. (Photo: Courtesy of Nathan Aferi)

Actually, my first apartment was decorated in ALL animal print.

Q. What’s your favorite item in your closet?

My red, leather cowgirl boots. When I put them on they just make me feel so special. When I put them on I get to strutting. I cannot live without my red cowgirl boots.

Q. So, do you prefer to carry big bags, or are you partial to smaller totes?

I like big bags. I have to carry my everyday items, my make-up bag and my notebook (which is animal print), so I need room to fit everything.

Q. Do you have any beauty tips or tricks that you use often?

I keep it simple. I like Purpose. I use Purpose face wash and Pond’s moisturizer.

Q. You have locks. What kind of products do you use in your hair, and is it hard to keep it moisturized?

Yes, it is very hard to keep my hair moisturized, especially during the dry months. I use Doctor Bronner’s shampoo. I also use that old-school Blue Magic hair conditioning grease. I prefer the one with herbs in it over the traditional blue formula. Sometimes I use regular olive oil for my scalp, because it can be so hard to keep my scalp moisturized.

Q. Do you like smell-goods? Do you have a favorite scent you like to wear?

I love “Angel” by Thierry Mugler. It’s sold in Nordstrom’s. It’s a clean, fresh scent. It’s very light.

Q. Can you go out the house without mascara and eyeliner?

I keep it basic. I can go all day without lip gloss, but when I do put it on, I wear Mary Kay “Beach Bronze.” I love L’Oreal Volume lash blast. It makes you look like you have on lashes.

Q. How do you feel about leaving the house without earrings?

I can't. I can leave the house without make-up, but I cannot leave the house without earrings. I have two favorite pairs of earrings actually. The first pair is silver. They were made by Karen Smith, a local artist. The earrings are in a zigzag shape and hang down to my neck. My second pair of favorite earrings is large, round, woven sweet grass baskets that my mom made for me.

Q. Do you incorporate any vintage, retro pieces into your wardrobe?

I’m more of a traditional woman when it comes to style. I like the classic looks. I may have one or two trendy pieces, but I have a lot of classic pieces that I can recycle.

Q. Tell us, how did you coin the title “Southern Cake Queen?”
I have a book by Nancy McDermott called “Southern Cakes.” That’s where I got the first part of the name from. The last part of the name was easy: I believe I am a true Queen. I put the two together with my favorite book of southern cakes, because I am a southern girl. I’m from Charleston, and I just moved over to North Carolina, so I am a real Carolina girl.

Q. Do you enjoy wearing big, church hats?
I don’t really have many big hats, but I keep saying that I am going to build up a collection of hats. I just love how southern women wear those big, extravagant church hats.

Q. Do you have any style icons that appear on TV?

I don’t watch that much TV, unless it’s the Food Network. If I had to choose one person, it would be Oprah. Her style is the most similar to mine. She always looks nice and never over done.

Q. I know “Beach Bronze” is your favorite shade of lipstick. Would you ever consider creating a cupcake in commemoration of that shade?

Hmmm, yea. Maybe it could be a cinnamon-apple cupcake with cinnamon icing to make it “bronzy.” I can see an apple-cinnamon cupcake in the fall, when the apples are fresh. I am definitely going to be premiering some new flavors this fall, so you never know!

Q. Out of all your summertime signature cupcake flavors, which flavor do you think correlates with your style the most?

Red velvet cupcake. It’s rich, velvety and has a southern flare…that’s definitely me!

Q. So, please tell us where we can find more information about your delectables?

We have a website; it's http://www.southerncakequeen.com. You can also follow us on twitter @SouthernCake. We are on Facebook at facebook.com/southerncakequeen. You can find us at the Chicken Coop on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. On Thursdays you can find us on 7th Street uptown, at the Chow Down food truck rally from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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