Two new queens crowned

St. Charles Parish has two new queens, as the St. Charles Parish Festival organization held its 62nd Sweet Soiree this month at the Ormond Manor Grand Ballroom.

Kinyson Voges was awarded the title of Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen LXII and Emma Cazentre was crowned Teen Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen XXV. They will each represent St. Charles Parish at local events and festivals throughout the state over their year-long reign, and Voges will compete in the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia the last full weekend in September.

Mistress of Ceremonies Doreen Becnel Landry, who also serves as the pageant’s director, said it was important to the organization to hold an event this year since last year’s festivities were cancelled due to the pandemic.

“For me as a director, it was extremely important to crown our new queens to symbolize that we are moving in a positive direction and keeping our historical event alive,” she said. “Last year was hard on us all. The thought of not having our long-standing event again this year weighed heavy on my heart, but with an abundance of creativity, I was determined to have our 62nd annual St Charles Parish Festival.”

This year the format of the event and competition were different, with contestants submitting their applications beforehand.

“The day of the young ladies went through a private interview with judges, modeled in cocktail attire and did a self-introduction followed by a question and answer conversation session … all done in a dinner type seating formation,” Landry said. “Our new format and new venue within a social setting was a huge success. Change is always hard, but the reinvention of our event was embraced and met with enthusiasm.

Outgoing Queens Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Abby Rochelle and Teen Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Quincy Hymel presided over the event. Five young ladies vied for the title of Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen LXII and Teen Miss St. Charles Paris Festival Queen XV, and the three contestants in the Miss Division were all former Teen Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queens.

Results from the evening were Teen Division: 1st Runner Up Lilian Troxler of Hahnville and Miss Sweetness and Queen Emma Cazentre of Destrehan, and  Miss Division: 2nd Runner Up Alyssa Acker of Destrehan, 1st Runner Up Lauren Watson of Luling and Queen Kinyson Voges of Destrehan.

“My hope for my new queens is to take everything that happened over the last 18 months and reflect on the impact of COVD had on their lives … and to use their positive experiences and propel them to be great ambassadors representing St Charles Parish,” Landry said. “Our queens have to find new adventures, new ways to learn and new ways to meet people, and this will allow them to be the voice for young people echoing that in the face of adversity they can also prosper.”