By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Courtney Keller of Reserve was crowned the 2011 St John Andouille Queen Saturday night at St. John Theatre in

Reserve.

Competing in only her second pageant, the Riverside Academy senior said, “I did not expect it. I was so excited and so shocked at the same time.”

According to Master of Ceremonies Brent Torres, “The lucky young lady who is selected here tonight will have a magical year ahead of her.”

Keller’s year will include representing St. John the Baptist Parish at a variety of parish and state functions, including the St. John Andouille Festival, scheduled for Oct. 14-16. Also, the Andouille Queen will take part in the annual Mardi Gras festivities held in the nation’s capital.

2010 Andouille Ron’eeka Hill had some words of advice for her successor.

“You will be people’s first and maybe only impression of St. John,” she said.

Keller is the daughter of Tina and Ricky Keller.

In the teen division, Saige Brady beat out a filed of seven other girls to take the crown.

While this is not Brady’s first pageant, it is likely to be her most memorable for some time.

“I was in utter shock. I am excited for the year that’s in store for me,” she said. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be the Teen Andouille Queen.”

The LaPlace resident is the daughter of Jamie and Shantele Brady. She is a sophomore at Lutcher High School.

Saturday’s pageant, as usual, had much more to offer than just the usual pageant fare. The event paid homage to its 30-year home, St. John Theatre, through a series of performances from past musicals. St. John Sugar Queen Chrissy Carter had the audience in stitches as she and Taylor Triche pulled a little gender-reversal for a performance of “Honey Bun” from “South Pacific.” Also, emcee Brent Torresm sang “Remember” from “Jekyll and Hyde,” and Jade Coates got the show off to a great start with “The Trolley Song” from “Guys and Dolls.”

Additionally, local technical wizard Lennin Madere put together

a series of short film clips honor-ing the facility’s time as a movie theater.

A reception at the new Bull’s Corner restaurant in LaPlace followed the pageant.

A full list of the evening’s winners follows:

Miss Division

• Leila Boudreaux – Photogenic and Second Runner Up

• Sarah Klibert – People’s Choice and First Runner up

• Courtney Keller – Queen and Fashion Award

• Chelsey Stein – Third Runner up

• Kerri Durio-Todd – Fourth Runner up

• Whitney Weber – Congeniality Award and Interview Fashion Award

Teen Division

• Jaiden Daniels – Third Runner Up

• Paige Ocmond – Fashion, People’s Choice and First Runner Up

• Saige Brady – Queen, Photogenic and Interview Fashion

• Heather Roussel – Second Runner Up

• Meredith Keating – Congeniality