RESERVE — Darian Lerai Marse and Jade Michelle Brady each brought home a sparkling new crown Saturday night after they were named St. John the Baptist Parish’s 2015 Sugar Queens.

Marse was crowned St. John Sugar Queen LXVII and Brady earned the distinction of being crowned the very first St. John Teen Sugar Queen.

Marse, the daughter of Babette Marse and the late Corwin Marse, is studying veterinary medicine at Delgado Community College and works as a veterinary technician at Riverlands Animal Hospital in LaPlace. After graduating from Delgado’s veterinary technician program, she plans to obtain her bachelor’s degree.

This year marked the third time she’s participated in the parish pageant and the first year she’s placed.

“It’s a dream come true,” she said of her new title.

A 2014 graduate of Riverside Academy in Reserve, Marse played the bass drummer for the RA band. A dance student for 16 years, she also taught dance for six years.

Marse, who will compete in the annual Louisiana Queen Sugar Pageant Sept. 26 in New Iberia, said she’s already gearing up to represent her parish in the state competition.

Other contestants in the Miss competition were Shelby Clement, Baylee Bennett and Gabrielle St. Martin.

Clement was named First Runner-Up, People’s Choice and winner of the Introduction Award. Baylee Bennett was named Second Runner-Up and winner of the Fashion Award, Photogenic Award and Congeniality Award. Gabrielle St. Martin was named Third Runner-Up.

Brady, the daughter of Jamie and Shantele Brady, was crowned as the first St. John Sugar Teen Queen by her sister Saige, the winner of the 2014 St. John Sugar Queen contest. She also won the Introduction Award.

Brady, a sophomore at St. Charles Catholic High School, plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to pursue a degree in the medical field.

At SCC, Brady has been a member of the Beta Club and French Club. She has been recognized as the most outstanding French student, and has served as a student ambassador. A two-year recipient of the school’s Academic Excellence Award, Brady has maintained a 4.57 grade point average. She is member of the volleyball and softball team, and was named to the All-District softball team.

“I wanted to be the St. John Sugar Teen Queen because the sugar industry has been a part of my family for a very long time,” Brady said, adding it was very exciting to be named the competition’s first teen winner. “I hope to be a good representative for other St. John Teen Queens after me.”

Other contestants in the Teen competition were Shelbi St. Pierre, Kassidy Duhe, Cobi Smith, Meghan Dillon, Alasia Narcisse and Alexis Porche.

Smith was named First Runner-Up and People’s Choice, while Duhe was named Third Runner-Up. Porche, the Second Runner-Up, won the Fashion Award, Photogenic Award and Congeniality Award.

During the pageant, local entertainment kept the audiences’ toes tapping with performances, songs and dances.

One of the annual dances is that of the Sugar Teens, a dance group made up of local students who will enter high school this year. This year’s Sugar Teens, choreographed by Courtney Loupe and Sandy Guidry, were Keri Clement, Maddie Millet, Sophia Bonadona, Tabitha Tregre, Alicia Perret, Sara Guidry, Maggie Morton, Kehara Hill and Hannah Edmonds.

Pageant production members included Marcy Bordelon, Michael Morton, Kevin St. Amant, Darius Robertson, Blake Kruger, Lance Ural and Jared Tregre.