Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante represented the university at the Miss Louisiana Beauty Pageant that took place in Monroe. During the pageant, entertainment was provided.
The Lion's Roar/William Schmidt

Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante traveled to Monroe for the Miss Louisiana 2016 Beauty Pageant.

The Miss Louisiana Beauty Pageant is more than just a weekend ordeal. Participants moved into the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Sunday, Jun. 19 and left after the pageant finals that took place on Saturday, Jun. 25. The pageant was broadcasted on live television. Senior kinesiology major LaPlante was pleased that she was able to participate with 32 other females representing a variety of universities and organizations.

“Being able to represent Southeastern at Miss Louisiana was the biggest honor and blessing I have ever received,” said LaPlante. “I have been given so much support by people at this university, students and faculty alike. I feel so lucky to have the title I have. Being able to represent my school has given me a deeper appreciation for this university and everyone who resides here.”

LaPlante was able to participate in a number of events throughout the beauty pageant week which included making appearances at a variety of locations throughout Monroe.

According to LaPlante, one of the four points of the Miss America crown is service. LaPlante was thankful to have the reminder to spend time with the community and not to get distracted from what truly matters. 

“My favorite part had to be the appearances we made during the week,” said LaPlante. “I will never forget going to the Veterans Home and listening to the stories from the brave men and women who defended our country. We were also able to sing to them a few patriotic songs, and as we sang, you could see the emotion and tears fill their eyes. It was such a wonderful moment to be a part of.”

Outside of a short time after each preliminary night, the beauty pageant girls had limited contact with family and friends. LaPlante was privileged to be able to enjoy the week in the company of another Lion.

“More than anyone, I bonded with my roommate, Nancy Peck,” said LaPlante. “Nancy also goes to Southeastern and is currently Miss Slidell. I was so thankful to have someone like her to talk to and she definitely kept me laughing the entire week. Nancy is someone I will always admire and I hope we stay close for a very long time.”

Also in attendance was LaPlante’s then boyfriend and now fiancé senior sports management major Kennon Menard. Menard has played for the Southeastern baseball team for multiple years. LaPlante attended many of his baseball games over the years to show her support for Menard. 

“I got up there Thursday and it lasted through Saturday,” said Menard. “It was kind of like a debt to pay since she came to so many of my baseball games through me traveling across the nation or watching me play multiple games throughout the week, not just three or four. It was like I was in her shoes when I was playing baseball and she was the one always maybe doing something and I was the one in the hotel with family and wondering what was going to happen next.”

During the pageant week, LaPlante was only able to spend time with her family and friends after preliminaries which took place on Thursday, Jun. 23 and Friday, Jun. 24. 

“Being away from family was so rough,” said LaPlante. “You face so many insecurities that week and you often feel very lonely because of it. It was a relief to finally see their faces after preliminaries, even if it was only for a few minutes. Their support meant everything.”

According to LaPlante, she appreciated every person that traveled and stayed in Monroe which helped to make that week in Monroe worth it.  

Though LaPlante did not move on past preliminaries, her top competition category was talent which incorporated a special message for all women. 

“My favorite part was talent,” said LaPlante. “I worked so hard and met with a choreographer every week to prepare for talent. It was a great feeling to finally show off what I worked so hard on. My talent comes from the YouTube video ‘A Message to All Women.’ I wanted to let every woman know that they are beautiful, they are special and they are worth more than they could ever imagine. No matter who you are or where you come from, there is a world changing woman in each and every one of us who is just waiting to be found.”

According to LaPlante, she was not surprised that Menard traveled to Monroe to support her, but it didn’t make it any less special. 

“It made me feel so much more relaxed to have him there,” said LaPlante. “He texted me encouraging messages while I was backstage and kept telling me how well I was doing and it just helped keep me confident and encouraged. I was so thankful to have him there.”

A surprise for LaPlante was how Menard surprised her with a wedding proposal the day after the completion of Miss Louisiana. 

“I was so very pleasantly surprised and still cannot stop smiling about the whole thing,” said LaPlante. “My fiancé caught me off guard. Me and my now fiancé serve in our church so it is a special place for the both of us. At the end of the service, our pastor came out and said he had exciting news and the video that followed was of Kennon. After the video, he pulled me in front of the church and proposed. I was so surprised, but I’m so excited to be able to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.”

Though the Miss Louisiana beauty pageant has passed, LaPlante will continue to reign as Miss Southeastern 2016 until the next Miss Southeastern is crowned. 

“Miss Louisiana may be over, but I am still Miss Southeastern,” said LaPlante. “This means I still have the duty and privilege to serve my community any way that I can. I have the best job and will continue to serve until I crown the next Miss Southeastern in November.”

For more information on Miss Southeastern, contact the Campus Activity Board. 

 

One categorie of competition was evening wear.
The Lion's Roar/WIlliam Schmidt

For LaPlante’s talent, she incorporated the YouTube video, “A Message to All Women.” 
The Lion's Roar/William Schmidt

After each night of the beauty pageant, Alexis was joined by family and friends including her then boyfriend and now fiancé Kennon Menard.
The Lion's Roar/William Schmidt