Recently, the annual Cut Off Youth Center’s Hurricane Festival Pageant was held and was open statewide for contestants. The theme of this year’s pageant was “Elton John,” and the evening pageant featured the contestants in an opening number with costumes and Elton John, portrayed by J.J. Louvier. J’Leigh Chauvin and Rick Vaughan of Larose provided the entertainment, singing a duet medley of songs made famous by Elton John.
Mandi Sweeney, 17, of Montz competed against four other contestants from around the state and was crowned the 2013 Cut Off Youth Center Hurricane Festival’s queen. She was crowned by the 2012 queen, Denise Moran of St. James Parish.
She is the daughter of John and Michelle Sweeney of Montz and is a junior at Destrehan High School. She will travel for the next year to festivals, balls, parades and other events around the state of Louisiana promoting the Cut Off Youth Center, its numerous community events and the Hurricane Festival. She will also have the honor or representing the COYC Hurricane Festival next year at the annual Louisiana Fairs and Festivals convention, where she will compete in the LAFF Queen of Queens Pageant.
Join the Queen on Sept. 27-29 at the Cut Off Youth Center for the Hurricane Festival. There will be Cajun food, carnival rides, auctions, live bands and much more.