By Staff
Our latest cover model is one of our very own – Rounder Life Media reporter Cheyenne West.
Cheyenne has been a mainstay in the gaming industry since college, first as an intern, followed by a decade as a loyal customer.Her gaming journey which began at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, has come full circle, as she lands on the cover of Rounder Magazine after a chance meeting at ‘The Beau” in 2019.
Lucky us!
R: Tell us a little bit about your family background.
Cheyenne: I was born in Mobile, AL. I was raised in the little country town of Creola, just north of Mobile. My grandparents had 10 acres in the country, and my mom and I lived in a small house on one acre of my grandparents’ land. We had our own little family compound!
My grandparents owned a gas station and a convenience store, named Karo’s after my grandfather, so I spent most of my childhood days growing up at the store. Karo’s was definitely a staple in the community. He sold the store in 2004. It has been sold to a few different owners, but it is still named Karo’s to this day. I loved that store!
R: Do you have any siblings?
Cheyenne: I have one baby sister, Kennedy Leigh. She’s 24, so she’s not exactly a baby, but she will always be a baby to me. I’m blessed with a wonderful family. I’m thankful to still have both of my grandmothers and my beautiful mother that everyone believes is my sister! She is a beauty!
R: Did you go to college?
Cheyenne: I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of South Alabama in 2016. My primary focus was public relations with a minor in marketing. I also took a few broadcast journalism classes. Fun days!
R: What was your career path after graduating? What led you to the casino industry?
Cheyenne: My junior year in college, I applied for the MGM Resorts International Hospitality Internship Program at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, MS.
I was selected as the Public Relations intern for the summer. In the HIP program, you learn all aspects of the casino industry, PR, marketing, advertising, food and beverage, gaming, etc.
I’ve always had a draw to casinos and action, and that summer I really fell in love with the gaming industry. It’s exciting, fun, fast paced, and there’s always a great event in the works! MGM Resorts International is also an outstanding organization. I truly enjoyed my time there!
My last semester in college, I was offered the role as a public relations specialist for the Alabama Department of Transportation. I served as the spokesperson for ALDOT for two years. That was a great job for me right out of school. I worked with mostly engineers and contractors. I learned a lot about construction! I still have my steel toe boots, safety vest and hard hat sitting in my closet!
I now sell real estate in Alabama, and I’m in the process of getting my Florida license. I’ve been a Realtor now for seven years. I love real estate, everything about it. My focus is always relationships over transactions. I don’t stress on the number of properties I close each year, I prioritize building and nurturing as many relationships as possible. Building relationships and prioritizing people will lead to transactions. Honesty, integrity, and a little bit of grit will take you a long way.
R: In your bio you list high-limit blackjack as your favorite casino game. Why blackjack? What’s your strategy?
Cheyenne: I love playing blackjack! I prefer to play by myself or with my fiance. I’ll usually start us off by playing alone, and if the cards get ugly I’ll swap em’ over to him, and he’ll do the same. I don’t know if I really have a strategy. I play pretty much by the book. If the cards are hot, I do increase my bet. If they’re getting cold, I drop it.
R: What’s been your biggest win? Loss?
Cheyenne: Oh my goodness! My biggest win to date happened so randomly! We typically play at the Beau Rivage or Hard Rock in Biloxi. We met a friend at Harrah’s Casino in Biloxi on a random weekday, first time every playing there. I sat down at a $100 table and cashed out at $75,000.
It was a heater you dream about! I played two hands $3k-$4K a hand. I couldn’t lose! I had the best cards EVER! Such a fun night! Hhmmm… my biggest lost to date. Well, it isn’t as much as my biggest win, so that’s good news! Hahah
R: Do you play poker?
Cheyenne: I’ve played at a few house games and a few small games at casinos. It’s a little slow for me, especially compared to blackjack, but I do enjoy watching high stakes poker live and on television.
My favorite poker room is at Aria. I can sit in there and watch high stakes for hours. Give me a skinny margarita and takeout from Carbone (Italian restaurant at Aria) and I’ll watch em’ play all night!
R: When did you start reporting for Rounder?
Cheyenne: My soon to be husband, we’re getting married at the end of this month, was the co-founder of Rounder Magazine back in 2006. We reconnected with Rounder at the Beau Rivage in 2019. I was happy to step up and help as much as possible. It’s been exciting to watch the platform grow, especially the relaunch of the magazine.
R: Who’s been your most interesting interview?
Cheyenne: My interview with Anna Khait, former poker player who is now a conservative political figure, was very interesting. Poker, as well as blackjack, are predominantly played by men, so meeting other women who have an interest in playing cards is always nice. I also interviewed Mark Davis from Birmingham (originally Nashville). He won $1M at a WPT event in 2022.
R: What are your wedding plans?
Cheyenne: We are getting married at the Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas. We are literally planning this wedding super last minute, which is very us!
We wanted something small, elegant, and intimate. We are expecting maybe 30 people, only family and a few very close friends. We’re so excited! We truly are best friends. We’re just buddies! I’d rather hang out with him every single day than anyone else in the world.
R: Tell us about your cover shoot? Where did it take place?
Cheyenne: The cover shoot was so fun! The photos were taken at Courtney Michelle Photography’s studio in Fairhope, AL. She’s a great photographer, super fun and easy to work with. Champagne, hors d’oeuvres and laughs all day! Teddi Michael was my make up artist. She is based out of New Orleans, and she truly does excellent work. Teddi lived in New York for several years and worked with many celebrities. Her very first client was Carmen Electra. Love her!
R: On your cover, the tagline says you’ll be showcasing some of the world’s most luxurious resorts. What will that entail?
Cheyenne: We love to travel and it’s usually to gaming destinations that offer amazing amenIties. I’ll be sharing videos and photos from a few of my favorite spots! It’ll be fun, and at the same time, informative. Restaurants, entertainment, shopping, spas, I’ll share it all.
