Our St. John Parish Sugar Queen: Janet Nelson, Emma Palermo earn the crowns
Published 12:20 am Wednesday, August 8, 2018
- Teen St. John Sugar Queen Emma Palermo, from left, stands with Parish President Natalie Robottom and St. John Sugar Queen Janet Nelson Saturday in Reserve.
RESERVE — Emma Palermo jokes that it might sound funny, but sugar cane is her true past time and passion.
“I would go ride my bike, 10-year-old me and my best friend, to the sugar cane field behind my house and we would go chop down sugar cane and eat it,” Palermo said.
Teen Queen Emma Palermo receives her crown from Jenna Beber.
“It’s my happy place, and now that I am here in St. John Parish, representing the sugar industry, this is going to be the best year of my life. I know it. I’m going to have so much fun and I can’t wait to see what the year holds.”
The next 12 months got a lot more exciting for Palermo, who was named Teen St. John Sugar Queen Saturday night at St. Peter Catholic School in Reserve.
Following Palermo’s crowning, the main event culminated when Janet Nelson was named the 70th St. John Parish Sugar Queen.
St. John Sugar Queen Janet Nelson receives her crown.
“I’ve grown up here my whole life and I’ve looked at the Sugar Queen, as well as the Andouille Queen, as role models, so I thought why not do it now and be a role model for our youth in today’s society,” Nelson said.
“I am most excited to get to know my teen queen and represent the St. John Parish sugar industry and just tell everybody how cool we are. We are pretty amazing for a small parish.”
Judges look over the Teen St. John Sugar Queen contestants during the pageant Saturday night.
According to Nelson, pageant co-emcee Mike Hoover certainly drew out the final seconds before the Queen announcement, which added a level of excitement to her crowing coronation.
“I knew, of the contestants that were ready, any of us would be a great representative of this title,” Nelson said. “No matter what, I was going to be happy.”
Nelson said the practices each contestant participated in prior to Saturday night’s pageant built a sense of sisterhood that is sure to last well into the future.
The young men of Formal Connection show off tuxedo fashions while surrounding pageant matriarch Baba Oncale.
“We got to know one another throughout it, and I definitely feel I have amazing friends that I can count on,” she said, adding this year’s teen participants are especially mature, a fact that bodes well for the future of the event.
In the frantic celebratory minutes after the pageant, Palermo expressed similar sentiments, saying it is an honor to serve as Teen Queen alongside Nelson.
Palermo said there was a lot of anxiety and tears during the build-up to the big announcement, sharing while back stage she had to gather herself after feeling she made a mistake on stage.
“I pulled myself together the best I could,” she said.
Palermo and Nelson pose for pictures with their crowns and flowers during pageant night in St. John the Baptist Parish.
“I knew I was going to cry anyway because I love each and everyone of these girls. I’ve made best friends for life throughout these pageant practices. It’s just been an amazing experience with each and every one of them.
“My favorite part was the practices because I made new, lifelong friends that I can count on whenever I need too. They have the same passions, the same views and enjoy life as much as I do. That is all I need.”
Eight contestants participated this year, as the event was themed “The Greatest Show – How Sweet It has Been!”
Janet Nelson takes the stage as the 70th St. John Parish Sugar Queen Saturday night at St. Peter Catholic School in Reserve.
The Sugar Pageant promotes pride in St. John the Baptist Parish, organizers say, and local Queens have always been outstanding ambassadors showcasing community spirit in statewide competition, regional festivals and community events.
Those competing in the 2018 Miss St. John Sugar category included Janet Nelson, daughter of Stephen and Staci Nelson; Riley Edwards, daughter of Richard and Kelly Edwards; Sadie Kelly, daughter of Patrick and the late Lori Kelly; and Ali Vicknair, daughter of Wayne and Jenni Vicknair.
Those competing in the St. John Sugar Teen category included Emma Palermo, daughter of Gino and Tricia Palermo; Lexi Cashio, daughter of Ryan Cashio and Angie Lasaicherre; Haley Louque, daughter of Ricky and Kim Louque; and Madison Tassin, daughter of Troy and Robin Tassin.
— Story and photos by Candace Hemelt
