In the world of retail, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers—how much was sold, how many dresses walked out the door. But every once in a while, there’s someone who reminds us that this work is about so much more. Meet Carleigh Claxton, an 18-year-old nursing student from Bleckley County, Georgia. She's not just the 2025 Salesperson of the Year at GG Formals—she's the embodiment of what it means to be a GG Girl: passionate, purpose-driven, and full of heart. With over $55,000 in sales and a closing rate of over 90%, Carleigh's numbers speak for themselves. But what those stats don’t show is the early mornings, the late nights, and the hour-and-a-half drives back and forth between Statesboro and Dublin—just for the chance to be part of something she loves.
From Small Town Dreams to Big GG Impact
Carleigh started working at GG Formals when she was just a junior in high school. A small-town girl with big ambition, she didn’t wait around for an opportunity—she made one. She reached out to Suzanne, the owner, who hired her over FaceTime. That day marked the beginning of what would become not just a job, but a calling. Now a freshman at Georgia Southern University, Carleigh balances one of the hardest majors—nursing—with weekend sales at GG Formals. Her school week is packed: online classes, Tuesday lectures, study sessions, and assignments all front-loaded to leave her weekends open for work. It's not easy, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“If I didn’t have passion for this, I wouldn’t do it,” she says. “It’s not about a paycheck—it’s about making a difference in a girl’s life. A prom dress is something you’ll remember forever. And I get to be part of that.”
Not Just a Dress
For Carleigh, selling a dress has never just been about the sale. She remembers what it’s like to be insecure, to feel overlooked in a store, to wish someone saw the beauty in you before you saw it in yourself. And because of that, she meets every customer with compassion, patience, and the kind of energy that makes girls feel seen. There was one moment in particular that changed her. A girl came in who had never tried on a formal dress before. She was visibly uncomfortable, unsure of herself, and holding back tears. When Carleigh brought her to the mirror, the girl broke down crying. But Carleigh didn’t walk away. She stood by her side and became the voice the girl couldn’t find for herself.
“She didn’t see what I saw. I had to be her mirror, the way I wish someone had been for me when I needed it.”
That customer left with a dress—and a glow that wasn’t there when she walked in.
Confidence, Inside and Out
Working at GG Formals didn’t just give Carleigh a job. It helped her find confidence in her own skin.
“Before GG Formals, I didn’t know where I fit in when it came to dresses or fashion. I didn’t know how to dress for my body, and I always felt like I wasn’t enough. But working at GG Formals under Suz’s guidance taught me that every size is beautiful. I went from an insecure 16-year-old to a young woman who knows her worth.”
She credits Suzanne, GG’s owner, for creating a culture where every girl feels valued—team and customers alike.
“Suzanne tells us all the time that we’re beautiful, and she means it. She built this business from the ground up, and she’s shown me what it means to be a strong woman with vision.”
Rooted in Hard Work
Behind Carleigh’s poise is grit—and a mother who showed her what strength looks like. Raised by a single mom who worked her way up to become a supervisor over aircraft mechanics at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Carleigh grew up knowing that nothing is handed to you.
“My mom worked her way from a little store in Dublin to one of the biggest roles on base. She’s my hero. Everything she did—she did for me. She’s the reason I work hard, and why I never take any of this for granted.”
A Dream That Seemed Impossible
When it was announced that the 2025 top seller would earn a trip to New York City with the GG Formals in the City winners, Carleigh didn’t think she had a shot. She was only working weekends. Others were clocking in every day.
“I was honestly discouraged,” she admits. “I thought, ‘There’s no way I could win.’ But I kept working hard anyway.”
Week after week, she kept climbing the leaderboard. People started telling her she was in the lead. She didn’t believe it—until it became real.
“Going to New York has always been a dream. I’ve never been on a plane. I’ve never even traveled that far. And now, I get to experience it all because I believed in myself—and because I never gave up.”
What’s Next for Carleigh?
Carleigh’s heart is still set on nursing, and she’s excited to bring the same level of compassion she shows customers into her future career caring for patients. But she also knows that GG Formals will always be part of her life.
“Even when I’m a nurse, I know I’ll come back to the GG. I’ll always be a part of this family.”
She also discovered something unexpected—she has a gift for sales. A talent she never knew she had until Matt and Suzanne pointed it out.
“It’s not about convincing someone to buy a dress. It’s about making them feel good enough to wear one.”
A Message for Every GG Girl
If Carleigh could tell every girl who walks through the doors at GG Formals one thing, it would be this:
“You are beautiful. You are loved. And at GG Formals, you are accepted—just as you are.”
Earned in Every Moment
Carleigh’s story isn’t just about selling dresses—it’s about showing up, believing in something bigger, and making people feel like they matter. She didn’t have to spend her weekends driving hours back and forth, juggling school and work. She didn’t have to go the extra mile for every girl who walked through the doors of GG Formals. But she did—because that’s who she is. Hardworking. Selfless. Unshakable. She’s the kind of girl who makes people feel seen in a world that often makes them feel small. The kind of girl who turns insecurity into confidence, doubts into dreams, and a simple dress into a moment that someone will remember for the rest of their life.
Carleigh didn’t just win Salesperson of the Year—she earned it in every late-night study session, every early morning drive, every hug, every encouraging word, and every moment she made a girl believe in herself just a little bit more. That’s what being a GG Girl is all about. And if her story tells us anything, it’s that when you love what you do, and you love people even more—there’s no limit to where it can take you.
Even all the way to New York City.