Meet our 2026 Galentine’s Day Contest Winners!
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Share:
As sure as I know anything, I know that my friendships with brave, smart, funny, thoughtful women have shaped my story. From my teenage years to today, the women around me have taught me how to follow my gut, picked me up when I was down, and always challenged me to be my best self.
This Galentine’s Day, I invited you all to celebrate your incredible female friendships with me by nominating your “Galentine” and sharing what makes your relationship so special. I was blown away by the dynamic duos in our community and could feel the love you have for one another leaping off my screen as I looked through the submissions.
So without further ado, let me introduce this year’s winners and runners up and share a little bit about how they encourage each other to be their best selves.
Our 2026 Winners: Kiya & Christina and Brandi & Jessica
Meet Kiya & Christina
What makes their friendship special: Unconditional love, infectious laughter, accountability, learning from each other’s different experiences.
Kiya and Christina have been best friends for more than a decade, and they have the matching tie-dye to prove it! Christine says lovingly, “Kiya is the sister I got to pick. I love her sense of humor, infectious laughter, unconditional love, and wisdom. I love that regardless of our significant age gap, racial, religious, and cultural differences, we are each other’s best friends and chosen family!”
What really stood out to me was the way these two friends have learned from their differences, challenged each other, and grown even closer along the way.
Kiya shared, “Christina challenges me when I do or say something she doesn’t like. Because she is very direct and honest, I trust her judgment. And because she is always loving & respectful, I can hear her criticism without getting my feelings hurt. I have grown in positive ways because of her feedback, both positive and negative.”
Meet Brandi & Jessica
What makes their friendship special: Optimism and courage in the face of hardship, shared spirituality, and showing up for their community.
Brandi and Jessica are bound by their steadfast and fighting spirit. After meeting at church, these two friends quickly went from acquaintances to sisters. Brandi admires Jessica’s fighting spirit as a survivor of both a heart attack and stroke, and how she keeps a smile on her face as she helps others struggling with their health or who are disabled.
“Jessica lets me know nothing can keep me down.”
When asked about Brandi, Jessica just smiled and said, “What can I say? She’s a sweetheart!” She admires Brandi’s calm spirit and inner strength, no matter what she’s facing. Through all of their health hardships, Brandi and Jessica keep showing up for each other and as volunteers in their community.
Our 2026 Runners Up!
Meet Ni-Ima and Natisha
Ni-lma and Natisha are cousins and best friends who know when and how to give each other a push in the right direction. Through all of life’s challenges, these Galentines know that they can always count on each other. “Ni-lma and I could have our fallouts or disagreements but it still won’t change how much I love her.”
“Natisha pushes in a way that not only motivates me but also boosts my confidence, because sometimes I can be my own worst enemy. She’s always right there to pick me up. I trust her with my whole being because she sees the best in me. We push each other to our full extent, that’s our unspoken rule.”
Meet Crystal and Cadee
The oldest friend many of us have is our mom, and that’s the story for Cadee and Crystal. Crystal always admired her daughter’s humble, generous spirit and found herself striving to be the best version of herself to set a positive example for her daughter. Now that Cadee is in college, Crystal is still amazed by the creative ways her daughter finds to bring a smile to people’s faces.
Cadee says that she wouldn’t be the person she is today without her mom, Crystal. “I love that my mom faces everything head-on! She’s gone through so much and continues to face hardships, yet she still finds the strength to get through it all. She’s always taught me to love myself, love others, and to stay humble.”
Meet Kate and Shannon
Kate and Shannon are sisters-in-law who are incredibly close, despite living far apart. Long-distance friendship isn’t always easy, but these two make time for each other, whether it’s to vent, swap recipes, or exchange parenting advice. Shannon shared, “What I love most about Kate is that she’s someone I can have intense hard venting conversations with about whatever’s bothering me but then we can end that same phone call laughing about something silly.”
No matter the miles that separate them, Kate says that Shannon still pushes her and helps her grow. “She gives me honest advice but in a sensitive, loving way and asks me the hard questions most friends and family won’t ask. She is an example that I strive to be.”
Meet Bonnie and Bonnie
These Galentines share so much in common, including a first name! Though they’ve only known each other for a few years, it already feels like the kind of bond that lasts a lifetime. They love each other’s caring spirit, the way that they nudge each other out of their comfort zone, and their warm reminders to not take life so seriously. Thinking back to when they first met, Bonnie shared, “I just knew there was something special about her.”
Sometimes, it’s the little things that really show you who your friends are. Bonnie planned a wonderful 80th birthday party for her Galentine that really made her feel loved. These two are true friends.
Thank you to our Grand Prize Winners, Runners Up, and to all of the Galentines who entered this year’s contest! Friendships like these don’t happen overnight. Trusting and understanding someone enough to pick up the phone in the middle of the night or share a little tough love takes care, patience, and effort.
The way make friends is just being my friendly, fun , loving self, usually, people like me, I can open a conversation with just about anyone, but if are a little shy, invite them to dinner and a movie, is a nice just to break the ice. Because sometimes women don’t trust others women, and letting them know that you like them, helps build there trust, so inviting them to join you for church, for dinner, for a movie will help break the ice.
I was asked last year by a young lady at our church to be her buddy for Night to Shine. This is a prom for people with special needs. When she asked me I said yes. We got along so well that I asked her a week later about the two of us getting together once a month. She agreed. Every month since then we have gotten together and did simple fun things. She loves policemen so we have went to several special events.we both have a love for thrifting so many times that’s what we do. She lives about 30 minutes from me so we take turns visiting and finding new thrift stores. This year for the prom, I had a couple family members come to my house to give her a Spa day. We also set up a coffee bar in my bedroom with snacks and different kinds of coffee. My neice curled and styled her hair and my daughter did her makeup It was a wonderful time for all of us!! She is one of the best friends that I have ever had! If you take the time to nurture your friendships they will grow. Just because she has special needs does not make her any different from anyone else. She is an individual that needs and shows love just like all people do.
I don’t have a lot of women friends cause I have a large family group and we laugh together cry together and pray together. Loving yourself can show the gift of love to others and accepting people for who they are is what really matters and works when it comes to bonding and loving each other
I met my long distance BFF in a trauma therapy group. Though we have never met in person, she is mygo to gal pal when I need ANYTHING! She is the Alice to my Dorthy we say! (Wonderland and Oz) We understand things that no one else in our worlds could ever comprehend or want to try to understand such as different assaults, trafficking, surving attempted murder episodes, domestic violence etc. We show up for each other via Instagram pebbling, texts, care packages and therapy! We are planning our first meet over the summer but she already feels like home!
I like to talk to people as I am waiting for the van to take me back home. Or just meeting people at the Dr’s office, I will start a conversation and when it’s time for us to see the doctor would ask do you know her and I will say, I know her now. I just love talking to people and making them laugh because that’s the way I feel about life and I might see a person knowing they have the world on their shoulders and when we are finished we are like sisters sitting on a log filled with frogs.
I am still friends with 8 of my high school girl friends. We have an ongoing chat daily saying Good Morning. Prayers for anyone going through surgery or illness we keep each other informed. We celebrate each birthday by taking them out to lunch at their restaurant of choice.
I have had a lot of trouble with relationships this last year. My boyfriend broke up with me 2 weeks ago and I moved out. Its been hard on my heart as I still love him very much and dont have many answers as to what went wrong. I think its somebody else but he won’t say and ive been crying myself to sleep when I can sleep. These stories are inspirational I oval and I pray I find friendships that good. Healing untilbthen
Grace so nice ,I enjoyed reading every one story I don’t have a close friend anymore I use too I feel alone so I work all the time pamper myself once a month keep my mind very positive stay busy.
I have met women in some of the most unusual places but our sense of humor in a place where there is truly nothing to laugh at, is my specialty. Many times women are carrying a whole bunch of past-baggage and just need to laugh.
I best friend l have had since 1 grade werr still friends. Went to same schools lived cc on the same street are dads were german. We talk 4 days a week she neefs me l there. We live down the street from each other same house for 50 years. We bought at the same t ime. My friends are frinds from a long time ago.
Thank you Grace. You lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face. Just wanted to say thank you Grace.
Beautiful pictures
Although I have been a homebody the last few years, I do try to reach out via phone call to my Aunt Kay who lives 3 hours away; my mom, Rita who lives in Wisconsin and I still live in Fort Myers, FL, and my cousin, Lisa who lives 15 minutes away from me! I let them know I appreciate them all on a frequent basis.
Congratulations to all of the ladies beautiful pictures. ❤️❤️❤️
All women are amazing. Unique in every aspect of our lives. Our Journeys in life bring us together not by a coincidence but by Grace. It is the Beauty with in us that bonds us in friendship and in sisterhood.
I do artwork and then I give it away to make someone smile 😁☺️..I have some many medical problems and alert reaction to outdoors and medicine.Heart and on oxygen,kidney problems , And I don’t get a disability check.I have tried 3 times ..And also blood pressure problems…But I still have high spirit and and continue to keep going.. Thanks for God and family….😁❤️… Please pray that I get a service dog some how…❗❗❗And I’m having surgery on th my back IN MAY ..It’s a limpoa
So beautiful to have other Women who enjoy other women. Which l call
My angel and one l call my sister she always call me. She enjoyed my prayer messages and al sharing arts &
Craft with my Granddaughters. After
I retired and had an Stroke she showed up with groceries so much
My husband asked to come and help her.til she go to work and then Granddaughters come help with her hair and cleaning her up and clothes
You never know who love morning noon or night. God Love US Just like that.
After my husband died I spent so much time Ali, my only friend said to take a class with her. Like gardening and this was a Master Gardeners class. I said yes! Im now a Master Gardener and if you don’t think that people wanna ask you questions and talk about your plants. You’re crazy you’ll get all the chitchat you can stand in some some. My suggestion is find something you really liked. Go take a class or you know I’ll see if there’s a local group you could join not big on joining. You know I’m a loner, but I did it once and you know I talked to all kinds of people about gardening all the time so I just really think you need to push yourself a little bit to get out there and try you know I’ll just try. Ask questions to how you learned the new things and you know just go for it
I check on my friends on a daily basis to see how they are doing from the time I wake up. A have a few friends that are really sick that I check on them everyday, or go by to visit and help out with anything she wants done. I cherish all my friends, and they cherish me as well.
Well, I’m a friendly person wherever I am, at the grocery store or just shopping in general I always speak to people & enjoy having friends. Well I went to church on that first Sunday & saw 3 of the ladies I had spoken too while shopping. It made me know that I had chosen the right church for me & all those ladies were in my Sunday School class so that would help us get to be greater friends. It’s been 13 yrs & I’m still at the church & still have all those ladies & many more. It makes my heart happy that it turned out so well.
Hello, that’s a wonderful thing that you guys are doing. I would love to get involved and meet new
My most loving friend is Lezlie Kellyi lived in Phoenix arizona.had gotten married early at 16 just trying to escape home.my mother worked all the time and my brother’s and sisters were older than me.i needed to get off to myself and find me.Lezlie came to get her hair braided but the treat was going to her place
She had a boyfriend .But I could breath.i had grown to love Christ but the husband I married started being secretive.i had found out some things.And Lezlie kelly pick me up as a lil sister and made me feel like me again.wed go out,and have a good time.shed cook and it was delicious
Olater after 20 yrs or longer I found out she had kids 5 yrs apart like mine and we are still close although 1700 miles apart.i love her always
This is a beautiful sight to see with good and best friendship with friends
Kate and Shanon are wearing colors I like. The winners Kyla and Christina are wearing really cool colors and seem happy. As long as a person is happy that is what life is about.
I will say a way to meet new people as woman should meet people in a social gathering like putting something together go out to coffee shops, library, or even on social media their are woman who seek friendship in a woman, I meet a couple of them a while back and we been friends 🧡 since for about 15 years and plus. We don’t see each as often because we all got married but we been talking to start to include our spouses along once in awhile like a couples outing or vacation for the summer ☀️. And perhaps you can find a hobby you can share with others and that way you can meet new people and friends 🧡. Wishing you good luck and be positive 😊 always ♥️ God bless 🙌 always.
Thank you Grace for the time and effort you put into making me smile even when I’m not at my best you make me feel comfort and I feel so at home talking to you like I’ve known you all my life..
All beautiful people
Truly inspiring and I hope to be able to share friendship with someone as genuine as these lovely stories.
It is good to know that there are still friendships in the world due to all the corruption that is going on right now, but I have no women, friends or men and friends so I really can’t answer that question
I don’t. I’m forever alone.
I would be my self I’d like to have a true friend
I agree. Hanging out we my girlfriends is fun.
I wasn’t allowed to have friends my husband said they were a bad influence on me. Which is part of why I left him.
I am glad to see the different stories of all the ladies is so inspiring and nice. I don’t have a friend that I can call best friend so when I see two ladies Red friend for awhile that’s awesome. I have a friend who be my friend for over 40 years, but we’re not close again like we were young but that’s OK. I have a friend who stick closer than her brother. I have a friend that I can call upon any time and he never tell me it’s too early. It’s too late. He never said I am tired. I don’t wanna hear what you have to say. He never take a vacation break and I wonder how we do it how do he do that
When I choose my I look for someone genuine with honesty and respect also has to be open minded. It’s important to compliment each other in many ways to hold on to a friendship that becomes more than family. So I have a friend we grew up together on the same block and went to the same school and supported one another in every matter of life’s hardship and its times of celebrations. We dressed alike and we joined school sports to be together and the one important thing was that I can tell her anything and she doesn’t judge but is supportive and even now after marriages and divorces we still hold on to one another whether the men in our lives don’t approve of it because they start to feel insecure or neglected . In my opinion a friend to the end is more than family because a family member as my sisters I expected that we have that relationship but there was always jealousy and dishonesty so my best friend was my friend and my sister .
Practicing active listening, maintaining open and honest communication, prioritizing quality time, expressing regular appreciation. Supporting personal growth, offering emotional support, and engaging in physical affection also strengthen bonds
That’s a great idea ☺️
Maybe I’ll try that since at 61
I have one really close friend and
she moved almost a thousand miles away. We talk and text regularly and try to find a way to see each other.
I love this page and I love you Grace and best friends are meant to be always if you have a best friend money don’t matter nothing matters and love and happiness will follow through good friendships and family thank you Grace and all contestants congratulations
My best friend died she had a problem with one of her legs dr told her that he needed to amputate the leg she refused said she was born with 2leds and she would die with two legs and she later on that day she wanted to be cremated so no one could see how bad she looked my heart broke that day I’ve lost my husband and I’ve lost 2. Sons but it was a different heartbreak
I have 2 great friends who always lift my spirts up keep me knowing I’m a good person and loved
I love this
At 38 yrs old, I have my very few close friends, and each of my friendships I cherish in their own ways for the type of personality they each have. I nuture my friendships by checking in on them with a phone call or a simple text message if I havent heard from them in a while, asking them to go on playdates with our Littles or Inviting them over or to go on a hike especially when the weather is nice! How do I make friendships? Sometimes you just click with someone and its as easy as that and you never look back and its as though you’ve known this friend since forever, and if you dont click right of the bat, Im just kind and friendly to everyone and if we become friends and get to know each other and genuinely care, I put in the effort to not lose what ive gained.
Well I joined a local community group on Facebook, met a lovely woman Kate who invited me to join a garden club, I start April 9th… I also got on Facebook and found stained glass classes to take in my town, there’s also events at the local library, yoga classes, spin classes, all different kinds of things of you look for them, and the library is free for ones on a budget
I have found that praying for one another helps I lost my sister and I love watching y’all
Friends makes u laugh “Hysterically’ when you cry..❤️🤎❤️
It’s one of the best questions. I too am alone, for the first time in years, I wish I could tell you the answer. I would love a friend like a sister. I would be there as much as I could for her, but I do have health problems, so I’m not as faithful, and dependable as she would be. That I feel would be a problem. I do want a good Christian friend. But it’s hard to figure things out. I do have a lot of good days, but….
Ask them how are you doing today ? I don’t want to keep asking women questions they will think you are trying to know there business
I need me a friendship
✝️🙏🏼🤍
I’m happy for all of them
I go to women’s groups to meet people. I put everyone’s birthdays and special days in my calendar so I can text them. I try to ask new friends to come over for tea when I have the time and energy