With a charming personality, remarkable smile, and the ability to multitask, Gia Wilkerson Peebles is a successful entrepreneur. In 1993, she received a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from California State University at Long Beach and went on to work for the prominent law firm of Ault, Duprey, Jones and Gorman in San Diego, California. Later, Gia relocated to North Carolina and in 2001 opened Aura Salon and Boutique, known today as the Aura Galleria, a premier full-service salon, barbershop and day spa located in Durham, North Carolina. Gia has become a master in the cosmetology industry – styling an array of prominent women and men in business, entertainment and beyond.

 

What most folks may not know about Gia is her athleticism, she has many accomplishments as a life-long competitive athlete. At the age of seven (7) Gia began playing softball and continued throughout high school. Gia lettered in four (4) sports and won the Jr. Olympics in softball.

​

She went on as the first black female in the Cal State Long Beach softball program. With a full athletic/academic scholarship Gia achieved among the top ten at bat, among the top ten in triples, first team all-conference, and competed in four (4) College World Series.

​

In 1997, Gia played for the Durham Dragons inaugural professional women’s softball team. In 1999, she coached the North Carolina Central University Eagles women’s softball to a CIAA Championship.

 

In 2000, Gia married the love of her life, William Maurice Peebles, former collegiate athlete, Omega Man and avid sportsman. Through this union, three sons Caleb, Aeneas and Braylon were nurtured and loved. Gia and William have a family legacy of successful athletic competition. William’s love for fishing has influenced Gia. Gia remarks, “ if I’m going to be out here with you, I want to know what we are doing”.

 

After seeing many women Anglers and with little to no representation of women of color, this sparks her competitive nature to form an all-black women’s fishing team called the ”Ebony Anglers' '. Gia serves as the President for possibly the only black women’s fishing team in the US. In their first competition they won first place with an award winning catch-48lb/56.4 inch King Mackerel. The State of North Carolina Division of Marine Fishery, Saltwater Fishing Program has awarded the Ebony Anglers a citation for the catch.