ACWORTH, GA, May 12, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Vivian R. Gray has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Gray has established herself as a leading expert in design, with a career that spans both the medical and fashion industries. In her current capacity as designer-consultant at a company, under her own name, Vivian Gray, she provides expert design and alteration services for gowns within the Miss America and Miss USA programs. Her work is characterized by personalized consultations with brides, during which she evaluates gown requirements, conceptualizes aesthetic visions and executes either comprehensive redesigns or precise alterations to ensure a bespoke final product. Her defining skill lies in her intuitive ability to assess a gown and determine the modifications necessary to achieve each client's vision, transforming every piece into a distinctive creation.

Prior to her independent consultancy, Ms. Gray contributed her expertise to Encore Formals and Bridal in Marietta, Georgia, beginning in 2013. Introduced to the owner, Kathy Welch, Ms. Gray oversaw design work for the store, focusing on significant alterations and full redesigns of bridal gowns rather than creating them from initial sketches. A notable project involved deconstructing a mother's 1969 wedding gown and transforming it into a modern design for her daughter. After years of maintaining an intensive professional pace—including working late into the night to complete gowns—Ms. Gray recently chose to step back from this demanding schedule, following medical advice to slow down and allow more space for enjoyment in her work.

Before joining Encore Formals and Bridal, Ms. Gray served as manager and alterations a manager at Priscilla of Boston in Miami, Florida. At this exclusive bridal salon, she managed high-value projects where gowns were priced between $15,000 and $16,000, further honing her skills in luxury garment design and client service. Ms. Gray's career also encompasses more than 25 years as a professional medical clothing designer for Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Baxter Healthcare. Her tenure with the companies began in 1982 when her reputation for formal wear design led to her being recommended to develop disposable scrub suits for hospitals—a pioneering achievement at the time. This role required extensive travel throughout Japan and across the United States, where she designed products, developed manufacturing specifications and supervised production processes in locations in Arizona, Texas, and Mexico. She was recognized as a leading designer in 1987 and played a critical role in refining designs to improve efficiency while maintaining product integrity.

In 1994, responding to the emergence of a new strain of tuberculosis, Ms. Gray identified gaps in protective equipment for health care workers and designed a universal face mask that provided enhanced protection against airborne transmission, a solution that continues to impact medical safety standards today. Several of her patented innovations remain in use within hospital settings.

Among Ms. Gray's most significant achievements was the creation of 20 costumes for "In the Beginning," a 90-minute musical play production at Mount Paran Church of God, in Atlanta, Georgia. She wrote and produced this work, conceptualizing period-appropriate biblical attire for major female biblical figures. The production combined theater, music and fashion design, with Ms. Gray overseeing creative direction and collaborating with choreographers and church teams on logistics. Presented at multiple churches beyond its original venue, "In the Beginning" was created in memory of Paul Dana Walker and dedicated in connection with Lee College, which recognized Ms. Gray with awards for her contributions.

Academically, Ms. Gray's background includes approximately three and a half years of college coursework across several institutions in Georgia. She began her formal education at age 31 with studies in marketing at DeKalb College (later Georgia Perimeter College), continued with coursework in psychology before shifting focus to biblical and general history at Shorter University through evening classes and later returned to Perimeter College for additional history studies. She lists an associate degree on record, and her broad academic pursuits have informed both her creative process and business acumen throughout her career.

Ms. Gray's success is deeply rooted in her spiritual foundation and relationship with God, a guiding force that has shaped both personal resilience through life-threatening circumstances and professional purpose. She also attributes much of her career growth to personal referrals built over decades of dedicated service within the industry.

Beyond her primary roles, Ms. Gray has been involved with several social clubs, such as membership in the Atlanta Black Tie Club from 1998 to 2008. She has also supported charitable organizations indirectly through volunteer work benefiting individuals affiliated with these groups.

Ms. Gray's accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Best Designer, Grand National Award for Ballroom Dancing Formal Dancewear Design, Country Western Competition Award Formal Dancewear Design and honors from Lee College related to "In the Beginning." Her prolific period as a designer saw eight to 10 gown designs competing annually in televised national competitions.

Born in Atlanta in 1941 but raised in Alpharetta, North Georgia, Ms. Gray's early interest in design began with making clothes for dolls, a passion that evolved into a distinguished career spanning multiple disciplines. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two children. In the upcoming years, she intends to prioritize travel and personal enrichment outside of professional commitments. Having traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, including China and Japan, she remains drawn to destinations she has yet to visit, like Hawaii and London.

Ms. Gray continues to inspire clients across generations through her ongoing work with young ladies and older women alike, creating what many describe as miracles through design. She remains committed to leaving a legacy defined by creativity, faith-driven purpose and transformative artistry within both medical innovation and fashion design.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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