Mrs. Louisiana United States 2010

Join us for the 2010 Mrs. Louisiana United States Pageant on March 14th at the Holidome in Lafayette.

Visit www.LouisianaUnitedStates.com to request more information.

80 Years of Pageantry at the Teen, Miss, Ms, & Mrs New Orleans Pageants

Just a few photos from the Miss New Orleans pageant celebrating 80 years of pageantry! Congratulations to all of the ladies!

(AK with the 2009 & 2008 Mrs. New Orleans titleholders ~ AK with the new crowned Teen New Orleans)

(AK with Miss Camellia City & Miss LA Teen Southeast ~ AK with Brittany, Miss LA Teen USA 2009)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Louisiana Bowl for Breath

This weekend, I headed south to Houma for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Louisiana's Bowl for Breath. Of course, my best friend, Millie, was with me, and we formed TEAM INJURY -- named mainly for back problems & Millie's shoulder issues. Neither of us had bowled in years, and we were overjoyed to take the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves to this past time, as well as yummy bowling alley food, all while supporting CFF-LA. Needless to say, we weren't winning any bowling awards; however, I will absolutely return next year to take part in this wonderful event! The people of the Houma area produce an exceptional event compete with bowling, raffles, scavenger hunts, and more! So, mark your calendar for the first Saturday in December 2010 and join us in Houma at Creole Lanes to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This is such an incredible organization, and you can learn more by visiting www.cff.org.

(AK ready to Bowl for Breath)

(Millie, Ashley - Exec. Dir. of CFF-LA-, & AK)

(AK with the LA Gumbo Festival Queens dressed for the FAN UP! theme of the day)

Jefferson Chamber Golf Tournament

What a perfect day to spend time on the golf course raising money for a great cause! Thank you to all of the Jefferson Chamber members for welcoming and involving us in this event, and for placing us so close to the Acme Oyster tent! Also, a big thank you to the group from Metairie Bank for making the event so much fun. And, of course, thank you to all of the players who never hesitated when I smiled, asking for yet another donation. We raised nearly $1000 on the 7th hole game alone!

(Millie, AK, & Christian on the 7th tee at Chateau during the Jefferson Chamber Golf Tournament ~ AK enjoying the snacks on the 7th hole provided by Acme Oyster House)

Laissez Les Grattons Rouler!

It is truly an honor to be the queen of a Louisiana fair or festival. As a former festival queen, it's wonderful to return each year, visit with my festival family, and welcome a new member into the club. Last weekend, I returned to the beginning of my days crossing over into the "big girls'" division -- the Port Barre Lions Club Cracklin Festival Pageant. Fifteen years ago, I entered my first "miss" division festival pageant. I was barely 17, and the youngest contestant in the competition. I had chosen to compete for this particular title because it had been one of the first festivals I visited with my previous teen festival title, and I remembered the incredible dedication of the Lions Club members, the welcoming atmosphere of the town, and the important causes supported by funds raised through the event. I figured this would be a great organization to represent if I won, or at least to support by competing if I wasn't so lucky. I remember the competition clearly, including my completely beaded red & gold gown (clearly, I needed a red & gold gown since the festival colors were red & gold!). I also remember an older, more experienced contestant telling me that there was a title out there for me, AND that I shouldn't be disappointed WHEN I lost since this was only my first attempt at a "miss" title....she was a very gracious first runner up. 15 years later, it is so much fun to return to Port Barre each year, with one of my best friends who is also a former Cracklin Queen, to help with the pageant and welcome a new member into the family. This year, the organization introduced a new crown featuring the festival logo -- the pig in the pot (or Harry, as he is affectionately known to former titleholders). Visit the festival website (http://www.portbarrecracklinfestival.com/) to find out more about the festival as well as the great causes the Port Barre Lions Club Crackin Festival supports including the LA Eye Foundation and the Lions Camp for Crippled Children.

(Lisa, Mrs. LA Gulf Coast & AK judging & emceeing ~ Millie & AK, former Cracklin Queens, trying on the new crowns)

(Carrie, a former Cracklin Queen, "crowning" me with the new crown)

(AK with the 2009 Cracklin Festival Royalty)

Park-A-Boo

What an incredible weekend! I had a blast volunteering this weekend at Park-A-Boo with the Jefferson Parish Chamber Foundation and local Kiwanis chapters. It was amazing to see so many Key Club members volunteering their time and talent. These teens created a spectacular "Witch Way Maze" and a "Boo House" (the kids' version of a haunted house). What creativity!!!! I had a blast manning the soft drink booth on Friday complete with Rag Doll costume, and then returning on Sunday to judge the kids' costume contest. It was great weather and a fabulous event -- congratulations to the Kiwanis and the Jefferson Chamber Foundation for a successful family friendly Halloween event!

(Millie & AK serving soft drinks during Park-A-Boo ~~~ AK with the Jefferson Parish Fire Dept.)

(AK tying on the crowns for the costume contest ~~~ AK outside of the Key Club's Boo House)

(AK with winners of the costume contest)

More Fairs & Festivals

As my mother would say, the Road Lizards were on tour again this weekend! One of my best friends (who I actually met through pageants) and I hit the road heading west to judge a couple of festival pageants over the weekend. Our first stop was Livingston for the Livingston Parish Fair Queens' pageants. It seems as though we never outgrow pageants and once a festival girl, always a festival girl! In fact, one of the directors for the Parish Fair pageant traveled with us as a festival queen, as did her sister. What a reunion! Although the weather was a little wet, we still enjoyed every minute of our visit and the pageant.
After catching up with friends in Hammond that evening, we headed west again for Walker, LA for the Honeybee Festival pageants. This festival and the pageant are produced to support St. Jude's Hospital. I learned so much about this incredible organization, including that it takes about $1.4 million PER DAY to run the facility, and Louisiana is fortunate enough to have two hospitals associated with St. Jude's. There was an amazing turn out, and the more the merrier when it comes to fundraising for St. Jude's Hospital!

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(2008 Honeybee Queen ~ Mrs. LA Plus America & AK as judges for the Honeybee Pageants -- we'll thank the rain for the lovely hair style!)

(2009 Livingston Parish Fair Queen crowning ~ AK & Millie at the Green Barn for the pageant ~ Judges for the Livingston Parish Fair pageant)

On the Road with Louisiana Festivals

Louisiana is fairly well known for its love of life and love of parties. There are well over 300 festivals throughout the state of Louisiana where we celebrate EVERYTHING! I'm serious - if you can shuck it, cook it, farm it, refine it, dance to it, or call it home, we celebrate it with a fair or festival in Louisiana. Many of these festivals host a pageant and crown royalty to not only reign over the festivities, but also to promote the event throughout the year. I've had the wonderful opportunity to represent several festivals including the Cracklin Festival, Cattle Festival, Washington Catfish Festival, and the Frog Festival. The young ladies who represent these organizations travel each weekend across the state to promote their industries and events, and their dedication is inspiring. Over the last month, I have had the opportunity to criss-cross the state as a guest of several festivals including the Plaquemines Parish & Orange Festival in Belle Chasse, the LA Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, and the LA Cattle Festival in my hometown of Abbeville. Thank you all for being such wonderful hosts and hostesses, and good luck to all of the new royalty as you all begin a year of incredible experiences!

(Former Cattle Festival Queen w/ the 2009 Cattle Festival Queen & Miss LA USA -- the 2009 Teen LA Cattle Festival Queen)

(2009 Ms. Cattle Festival Queen -- Winning reaction of the 2009 Miss LA Cattle Festival Queen)

(Nicky, Mrs. LA US director & former Ms. LA Cattle Festival Queen with AK)

(2009 Orange Festival Queen -- 2008 Orange King & Queen make their entrance)

(AK and the 2008 Ms. Gumbo Festival Queen)

Miss & Teen Southwest Louisiana Pageants

On Sunday, I attended and emceed the Miss and Teen Southwest Louisiana pageants, prelims to Miss LA & Miss LA Teen USA. I did NOT envy the judges! There were 14 beautiful young ladies competing for the two titles, and I was happy to be on the mic instead of on the stage or behind the judges' table. After a tough competition, Kelsey Owen was crowned the 2009 Teen Southwest LA and Valeria Williams captured the title of Miss Southwest LA. Following the pageant, it was great to visit with a few fellow titleholders and old friends we see all too rarely. Good luck to the new titleholders as they represent southwest LA over Halloween weekend in Lafayette in the Miss LA and Miss LA Teen USA pageants. For more information, visit www.MissLouisianaUSA.com.

And the new Mrs. United States is...

South Carolina! Congratulations to all of the amazing women in the Class of 2009, and a special congratulations to the Top 12 and Top 5.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the members of Team Louisiana -- those who were cheering in the audience, and those who were cheering around the country! Your love and support are always appreciate and know that I love and support you all in return. Going into my first experience at a national Mrs. pageant, I was eager, anxious, and nervous. I worried if I had been married long enough, understood the competition well enough, and if I was involved enough in my community. I prepared as best I could, and arrived in Vegas with the same concerns. Immediately, my fears were eliminated during registration as all of the contestants grouped together for photos, found things in common, and began to create friendships. This welcoming and approachable atmosphere set the tone for the rest of the week as we laughed, rehearsed, took more photos, and generally had a great time. I can honestly say that I had a wonderful week competing for this title, and would recommend that others give it a chance as well. The only thing I can say though, is that it will be unfortunate that future Mrs. Louisiana United States titleholders will not be able to have this national pageant experience with my group of ladies -- the incredible women of the Mrs. United States Class of 2009! Ones fellow contestants really make the experience worth while, and the group this year was an incredible blend of beauty, grace, intelligence, and accomplishment. Hope to see you all again soon, and I'm looking forward to getting back to work as Mrs. LA United States!

(A portion of Team LA enjoying Vegas post-pageant with dinner @ Paris; the Grand Canyon from the plane on the way home)

Final Rehearsal and Final Night

In only a few hours, we will crown a new Mrs. United States, and I can't believe how quickly the time has flown both preparing for this event and during the last few days. Our choreographer consistently reminded us today that the odds of winning are against us. Sure, it sounds negative at first, but it certainly is true. Each delegate has a 1 in 54 chance of winning. And as I have heard a brilliant emcee say each year at Miss LA USA, only one woman will leave with the title, so find something else to get out of this experience. I can say without hesitation that I DID get something other than a national title out of this experience, so far. Today, I learned that not only are these women amazing, but so are their families. My roommate, Mrs. New Hampshire, introduced a few of us to her daughter, Eva, who will be in the 2nd grade this year. Eva is making a film about "What is Beauty?" and requested that a few of us help her. And yes, you read that correctly, she is 7 years old, going into the 2nd grade, and she is making a film for an art project. She was absolutely adorable! She started the camera and did a fantastic introduction before asking each of us to let her know what we think beauty is. I have to admit that when it was my turn to answer the question, I was still mesmerized by this very mature and incredibly articulate young lady...so much so, that I nearly forgot what we were supposed to be doing, and my jaw may still have been dropped! It's wonderful to see these wonderful ladies passing along their talents, passions, and love of life to their children. All of the ladies seem to have a great attitude about competing, and it appears that each delegate understands that we are all lucky to be here, we all leave with a title, and it's a pageant, so if we don't win, we can be disappointed, but we can't be devastated!

Here are a few pictures from our final rehearsal:

Rehearsal Day #3 & Prelims

Once again, all I can say about these women is "wow"! The delegates for Mrs. United States 2009 range in age from their 20s to their 50s, they have multiple & terminal degrees, they are stay at home moms, they are active in their communities, and they are incredible. I feel very fortunate to be here and counted among them. I am also very proud to now call these women my friends.

This morning, Prince's "Baby, I'm a Star" (aka, the opening production song) officially became an ear worm as I woke up and immediately started singing it! (lol) We rehearsed the entire show today, and I think that all of us felt very prepared as we took the stage for preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competitions. I'm calling my swimsuit and evening gown rounds successes since neither ended in me falling down the stairs, a wardrobe malfunction, or an unplanned swan dive off the stage onto the judges' table. Oh yes, and a BIG BIG BIG thank you to the husband of Mrs. Kansas United States 2009 for helping all 54 delegates navigate the stairs this evening - you and your wife looked absolutely stunning all evening!

Another big thank you to Team Louisiana out in full force complete with "AK on a Stick", loud voices, and even a foam #1 finger. Even though the lights were fairly bright, I could catch a glimpse of the whole team, and especially my hubby, Jackson, from time to time, and all I could do was smile and laugh. I appreciate all of their love & support and I hope to make them proud tomorrow night.

Here are a few pics from rehearsals and prelims: