LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 3, 1999

LAPLACE – Kevin Prudhomme has found his calling in life, and he couldn’t be happier.

By day, Kevin is a payroll manager for St. John the Baptist Parish. He andhis wife, Lynn, have two children at home (Timmy, 13, and Brandon, 18). Healso has two step-daughters (Jessica, 20, and Michelle, 25).

However, earlier this year, Kevin was director of the St. John AndouillePageant, and he fell in love with the work.

“After the parish took over the pageant, the opportunity became available to help,” he said. “I really enjoy it.”Looking at his background, one suspects nothing toward his present pastime. He’s the son of Audrey Laiche Prudhomme and the late John “Cha”Prudhomme and brother of Jennifer Meyer, Rhonda McTopy and twin brother, Kerry. He graduated from St. Charles Catholic High School inLaPlace.

He met his wife through work (she’s employed by Hibernia National Bank), and he earned a computer certification at Phillips Junior College.

However, when he began assisting Betty Becnel in the operation of the Andouille Festival pageants, he found a new love – pageant work.

Once he became director this year, he immediately went to work to upgrade it. He commissioned a new crown, scepter and train for thepageant queens, trying to build enthusiasm for the titles.

His children and step-children, none of whom ever participated in pageant work, “think it’s neat,” he said.

Kevin added, “They see how much work goes into it, and they see how excited I get.”Stemming from this work, Kevin has also gotten more into judging and has worked a few small pageants, preparing to join the Louisiana Pageant Judges Association, a tight-knit group with strict admission standards.

All this is aimed at further upgrading the Andouille Pageant toward his eventual goal – an invitation for the Andouille Queen to attend the Washington D.C. Mardi Gras Ball.In judging pageants, Kevin says it’s the indefinables which make a queen.

Poise, he says, is primary.

“They either have it or they don’t,” he said.

However, he stresses he does not agree with the obsessive, stage-mother behavior where tiny children are dragged endlessly from pageant to pageant, in quest of more titles.

“It’s all for the kids to have fun,” Kevin insisted. “I don’t see a lot of thathere, though. It’s more hometown.”He was never a theater-type in high school but wishes now he would have been. “It’s all coming out now,” Kevin said, smiling.Back to Top

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