RESERVE — St. John the Baptist Parish is looking for contestants to enter this year’s Andouille Queen Pageant.

The 2015 Miss and Teen Andouille Queen Pageant will start at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at the St. John Theatre, 115 West 4th St. in Reserve. This year’s theme is “Run for the Roses,” a classy tribute to the Kentucky Derby.

Last year was Erin Duhe’s first year competing, and she ended up taking home the title of Miss Andouille Queen. Duhe said there is an on-stage question interview portion, an introduction portion where contestants dance and introduce themselves and the evening gown portion.

“The winners are picked on their personality, poise on stage and how they represent the festival,” Duhe said.

According to Duhe, once a contestant wins the crown they appear at multiple festivals and fairs, starting with the Andouille Festival Oct. 16-18 in LaPlace. Queens travel all over the state making appearances at fairs and compete in the Queen of Queens pageant. New this year, the queens will go to the Mardi Gras Ball in Washington D.C.

To help new contestants prepare for the pageant, Duhe and Riley Edwards will be coaching. Edwards was the Teen Andouille Queen in 2014.

“The week before, we have the girls come in, and we have a informational meeting,” Duhe said.

“We let them know what the queens have been doing, what they would be doing if they won and we have a couple of practices. We show them how to walk and go over the dance with them. At the end of the evening, Riley and I will dance on stage with them, give our going away speech and then pass off the crowns.”

Duhe has simple advice for anyone thinking about participating in the pageant.

“Be yourself,” she said.

“I came in and I was nervous, but I was myself and it won me the crown.”

To be eligible to participate in the pageant, contestants must be single with no children, a resident of St. John the Baptist Parish and between the ages of 13 to 16 for the Teen division and 17 and 23 for the Miss division, on the date of the pageant.

The deadline to register for the pageant is Sept. 23. To enter, download the application at andouillefestival.com or visit the St. John the Baptist Parish Office at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace.

Applications can be mailed or delivered to Dana Milioto at the Parish’s Office address before the deadline.

Applications can also be turned in at the informational meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at the St. John Theatre.

In addition to competing for the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen of Queens title and reigning over the St. John Parish Andouille Festival, the St. John Miss Andouille Queen will travel to Washington, D.C. in February to attend the Washington Mardi Gras Ball, as well as tour historical sites such as Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

Miss Andouille will also visit with their U.S. Representatives and Senators, the Governor of Louisiana and many elected officials and representatives of Louisiana.

The Baby through Junior Miss Andouille Pageant will take place Oct. 4 at the St. John Theatre. Contestants ages 6 months to 12-years-old are needed.

Applications will be accepted up to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time for each pageant category Oct. 4.

For more information visit, andouillefestival.com or contact Milioto at 985-652-9569 or by email at d.milioto@sjbparish.com.

“To whomever wins, travel as much as you can and put St. John on the map,” Duhe said. “Show people all we have to offer and have fun.”

— By Raquel Derganz Baker