Full Circle: From Receiving to Giving
How a Detroit Veteran Is Paying It Forward This Veterans Day
For Regeily Co-Founder and CEO Christian Hawkins, Veterans Day is more than a moment of remembrance, it’s a reminder of the community that helped her heal.
Years ago, after returning home from deployment in Afghanistan, Christian found herself in a new season of life: transitioning from soldier to mother. It was both beautiful and overwhelming. But there was one moment of kindness that changed everything — an invitation to attend the Women Veterans Baby Shower at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit..
“I still remember walking into that room,” she says. “It was filled with warmth, care, and support. As a new mom and veteran, it was the first time I felt truly seen and celebrated since coming home.”
A Program That Honors Women Who Served
Each year, the Detroit VA Women’s Health Department hosts its annual baby shower for women veterans who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The event is made possible by dedicated volunteers and community partners and provides essential items like diapers, bottles, and clothing, along with encouragement and connection.
For many women, it’s more than just a baby shower. It’s a day of recognition and a moment that says, we see you, we thank you, and you’re not alone.
From Afghanistan to Entrepreneurship
Before she became a beauty founder, Christian was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. Her deployment in Afghanistan taught her the power of resilience and the importance of finding small ways to care for herself amid chaos.
“My five minutes in the shower overseas became my safe space,” she shares. “It was where I could breathe, reflect, and reconnect with myself. That’s where the idea of using skincare as self-care truly began.”
Inspired by those moments, Christian later founded Regeily, a luxury body care brand created to help women care for the other 97% of their skin and rediscover balance in their daily routines.
Honoring Her Mentor’s Legacy
Christian’s time in the military was shaped by extraordinary women, including Sergeant Major Barbaralien Banks, a mentor who modeled leadership through compassion. SGM Banks was a strong, nurturing presence in the field, remembered by her fellow soldiers as a role model and friend.
She tragically lost her life while serving in Afghanistan after volunteering to fix a problem in the field, an act that embodied her selflessness and dedication.
“SGM Banks taught me that leadership starts with care,” says Christian. “Her influence guides how I lead Regeily and how I show up for others every day.”
Giving Back to the Program That Once Gave to Her
Now, years later, Christian is giving back to the same community that once supported her. Regeily has selected the Women’s Health Department at the John D. Dingell VA as its Q4 charity partner.
Through December 31, a portion of all online sales will be donated to help fund this year’s Women Veterans Baby Shower and other women’s health initiatives at the Detroit VA.
“I received from this program when I needed it most,” Christian says. “Now it’s my honor to help ensure other women veterans experience that same love and care.”
Join Us in Giving Back
You can help continue this full-circle moment. When you shop Regeily now through December, your purchase directly supports women veterans and the programs that care for them.
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This Veterans Day, we celebrate women like Christian, women who serve, nurture, and inspire. From the battlefield to the baby shower, her story is a reminder that when we care for ourselves, we’re better able to care for others.
