Dreams really can come true

Contestants crowned at the St. Charles Parish Festival represent our home, the ‘Parish of Plenty’

By Stacie Falgout and Doreen Landry

Dreams came true for two lucky young ladies as new queens were selected at the annual St. Charles Parish Festival Pageant on Saturday, July 28.
Miss Brooke Clement was crowned the 49th Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen and Miss Chelsey Hymel as the 12th Teen St. Charles Parish Festival Queen . Four lovely young ladies vied for the title of Miss and six excited girls competed for the Teen title.

Brooke is the 18-year-old daughter of Lisa and Alan Clement of Norco. She is a freshman at Southeastern Louisiana University and plans to major in elementary education. She hopes to become a teacher and return to teach in St. Charles Parish.

Brooke also won the photogenic award. She will represent St. Charles Parish in the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia on the last weekend of September. Brooke will also participate in the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant in February of 2008.

Other winners in the miss division were Kayla Becnel – 1st Runner Up and Miss Congeniality, Caitlin Gilbert – 2nd Runner Up and Fashion, Jenna Faul – 3rd Runner Up, People’s Choice and Sportswear.

Chelsey is the daughter of Shelly and John Hymel of Montz. Chelsey is a junior at St. Charles Catholic High School and a student at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

She is a member of the cheerleading squad and has been dancing for 12 years and enjoys performing.

In the teen division, other winners were Brandie Clement – 1st Runner Up and sportswear, Laila Cambre – 2nd Runner Up, Victoria Roberts – Photogenic and People’s Choice, Paige Hebert – Miss Congeniality, and Raelyn Cavallo – Fashion.

The two new queens will spend the next year representing our parish at various events as well as traveling to other fairs and festivals around the state of Louisiana.

Directors for the pageant are Doreen Becnel Landry, Celeste Becnel Stein and Kerrie Montz Rousell. The pageant was held at Destrehan High School where this year’s theme was Ease on Down the Road to St. Charles Parish.

Mistress and Master of Ceremonies for the night were Miss Rachel Anne Bourgeois, the 47th St. Charles Festival Queen and Mr. Walter Becnel, Festival Chairman.