Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante (left), Miss Slidell 2016 Nancy Peck (center) and Miss Crescent City 2016  Emily Randon (right) Lion Up at the Miss Louisiana State Meeting. All three are current university students and will compete for the title of Miss Louisiana in June.  
Courtesy of Greg Randon

Beauty queens came together for the Miss Louisiana State Meeting and three contestants hail from the university. 

The state meeting was held on Apr. 9 in Monroe, Louisiana. Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante, Miss Slidell 2016 Nancy Peck and Miss Crescent City 2016 and former Miss Southeastern 2015 Emily Randon were all in attendance. The contestants were glad to have the chance to come together and meet each other for the first time. 

“The Miss Louisiana State Meeting is a very important part of the competition because it is where we turn in our paperwork for the judges as well as our signed contract that would be sent to Miss America if we were to win the title of Miss Louisiana,” said senior kinesiology major Randon. “We also choose our spot in the lineup.”

This was the first time that the current Miss Southeastern participated in the state meeting and she was proud to represent the university while experiencing a new life event. 

“Going to the state meeting as a ‘newbie’ was very overwhelming,” said senior kinesiology major LaPlante. “With the help of my pageant directors and my mom, I was reminded that even though I am new, I still deserve to be here and that I can do this. Every event that I have experienced since holding this title has been new and surprising, but I feel that it’s important to soak in every experience and make the most of it.”

Though the university students competing may hold different titles and are all working toward the Miss Louisiana crown, it has created lasting memories for each contestant. 

“The meeting was overwhelming, so it was so wonderful to see the familiar faces of my Lion family,” said LaPlante. “No matter what title we may hold, I will always appreciate their friendship and all the help that they have given me so far. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Miss Southeastern 2016 wishes to let the campus know that she will represent the Lion Nation in True Lion form in June. Also, LaPlante wants people to realize that true beauty is not only skin deep. 

“With the media portraying negative images and role models to our young people, it’s important to promote what true beauty really is,” said LaPlante. “Miss Louisiana defines this standard through promoting community service, scholarships, style and success. I believe that this organization is important because it helps raise young women who have a drive and a purpose with their life while also making advocates for change and I think that is a wonderful cause.”

The Miss Louisiana Pageant will take place Jun. 23-25 at the Monroe Civic Center. LaPlante will represent Miss Southeastern as contestant number 18, Randon will represent the Crescent City as contestant 30 and Peck will represent Slidell, but was unavailable for an interview with The Lion’s Roar.

“I encourage everyone to tune in to their local television station June twenty-fifth to support Nancy, Alexis and I as we represent Southeastern on the Miss Louisiana stage,” said Randon. “What a lot of people don’t understand is that being crowned Miss Louisiana marks the beginning of a year  long job.  Once the confetti falls and the audience goes home, Miss Louisiana has a huge responsibility and she is considered an employee of the state.”