A Pageant With Plenty of ‘Lagniappe’

The American Coed Pageants’ Mardi Gras theme opened hearts and raised hope during Thanksgiving week, while also collecting donations on behalf of Hurricane Katrina victims.

2005 ACP NATIONAL QUEENS: (Above, L-R) Miss American Preteen Caitlin Brunell, Jr. Teen Nina Tyler, Princess Hailee Denham, Coed Alyssa Chapa, Teen Natalie Baker, and Sweetheart Angel Mitchell. NEW CONTEST WINNERS: (Inset, L-R) Ms. Woman American Coed Dr. Stephanie Mills, Mr. American Coed Zach Wise, and Ms. American Coed Danielle Roemer.

The word “lagniappe” (pronounced lan - yap) is a French term that is often used in the Gulf Coast states, especially when Mardi Gras season is in full swing, and it means “to provide a little something extra.” At the American Coed Pageants’ 2005 nationals in Orlando, Florida, last November, all the contestants and families were treated to lots of lagniappe during the week of Thanksgiving, and the payoff was of benefit to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region as well as the competition winners.

“Mardi Gras” was chosen as the theme of the 2005 national pageant in order to spotlight the Gulf Coast states that had been so devastated by recent hurricanes. The very fun, festive, and rewarding week of competitions also included several serious-minded fund-raisers for hurricane victims. When pageant President George Scarborough totaled the contributions, enough had been collected for nearly $5,000 in donations, in the form of cash and Target and Wal-Mart gift cards, to be made by the American Coed Pageants program to hurricane victims.

All of that generosity got underway the weekend before Thanksgiving, when several hundred families convened at the Hilton at Walt Disney World Village in Orlando, Florida, for the 22nd annual Miss American Coed Pageants finals. Competition candidates and guests alike all had their own reasons to be thankful, including the addition of several new American Coed competitions and events, featuring a Mr. and Ms. competition, a Masquerade Ball, and the crowning of the King and Queen of Mardi Gras

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One of the highlights of the week was the crowning of the new “Mr. American Coed,” the “Ms. American Coed” for women between the ages of 23 and 35, and the “Ms. Woman American Coed” for all pageant moms and women over the age of 35. ACP staff members, national participants, and their families had a great time cheering on their friends and family in these new national competitions. Judie McInerney, a former ACP national queen and emcee at this year’s pageant, called it “one of the funniest national competitions that I have ever been to!”