The St. James Parish Sugar Queen Committee announced that on Saturday, June 23, they will be celebrating the 61st annual Miss St. James Parish Pageant. Eleven girls from across the parish will compete in the St. James Parish Pageant at the Lutcher High School Auditorium at 6 p.m.

Seven girls will vie for the 61st Miss St. James Parish title while the other four girls will compete for the 21st Miss Teen St. James Parish title. The theme for this year’s pageant is “Reigning over the Rainforest.” The Master of Ceremonies will be Seth Bourgeois of Grand Point and the Mistress of Ceremonies will be Trista Brazan of Vacherie.

Amy Waguespack and Kaitlin Beier will relinquish their titles this weekend as Miss St. James and Miss Teen St. James. Waguespack is the daughter of Donna and Lenny Waguespack of Vacherie. Beier is the daughter of Sue and Paul Beier of Paulina.

The contestants in the Miss St. James Parish category are Mallory Duhe, daughter of Kimberly and Mark Duhe of Paulina; Denise Moran, daughter of Michael and Vikki Moran of Gramercy; Chelsie Batiste, daughter of Calvin and Denesia Batiste of Gramercy; Hannah Guidry, daughter of Ken and Kathy Guidry of Lutcher; Bianca Steib, daughter of Barbara Steib and Brian Steib of Vacherie; Déjà’ Steib, daughter of Donavon and Dana Steib of Vacherie; and Mary-Lynn Detillier, daughter of Rachel and Jason Detillier of Gramercy.

The contestants in the Miss Teen St. James Parish category are Lindsay Dufresne, daughter of David and Melissa Dufresne of Gramercy; Kassidi Williams, daughter of Donna and Butch Williams of Paulina; Sydney Poche, daughter of Raymond and Ginger Poche of Paulina; and Amanda Dufresne, daughter of Missy Gravois and Peter Dufresne.

A panel of certified judges will have the difficult task of selecting the new queens in the Teen and Miss categories. The contestants compete in interview, presentation and evening gown categories.

As one of the visiting royalty, St. James Parish has the honor of having the COYC Hurricane Queen. The COYC Hurricane Queen is Gabrielle East of Paulina, daughter of Jamie East. East was the second maid in last year’s pageant who went on to compete as the representative in the Hurricane Pageant.

The new Miss St. James Parish will be awarded great honors and prizes. She will receive a crystal trophy, $500 wardrobe allowance, $300 travel allowance from Imperial Sugars and a sterling silver crown ring from Roussel’s Antique. Perhaps the most exciting honor the queen will be given is a chance to compete in the 71st Louisiana State Sugar Queen Festival in New Iberia at the end of September. The first maid in the Miss category will receive $100 from Imperial Sugars, a crystal trophy and travel to the State Sugar Queen Festival as the “Parish Sweet.” The other maids in the Miss category will receive a crystal trophy. All maids will also have the chance to compete in a state pageant.

The new Miss Teen St. James Parish will be awarded $200 cash from Imperial Sugars, a sterling silver crown ring from Roussel’s Antique, a crystal trophy and an all expense paid weekend for her and her parents at the State Sugar Queen contest in New Iberia as a guest. In the teen division, the maids will receive a crystal trophy.

Each category will also have a crystal trophy award for fashion, photogenic, congeniality and people’s choice.

The pageant will be held at the Lutcher High School Auditorium. Admission will be general seating for the price of $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and younger. The doors will be open at 5 p.m. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be sold.