Miss Louisiana Pageant kicks off in Monroe, celebrating its 60th competition in city
The Miss Louisiana Pageant is celebrating 60 years of competition in Monroe.
Those vying for the Miss Louisiana 2023 title were introduced by the Miss Louisiana Organization at a news conference Monday in the lobby of the Jack Howard Theatre in the Monroe Civic Center.
"This is the kickoff for our 60th anniversary of Miss Louisiana in Monroe," Miss Louisiana Organization Executive Director Dewana Little said. "We're very excited. It's going to be a great week. We're blessed to be here with our families. Everyone has their health and looks forward to a great week of fun and crowning of the new Miss Louisiana."
The 2023 Miss Louisiana contestants are Aaliyah Armstrong, Hailei Beckwith, Jacie Brent, Sadie Brown, Lake Carpenter, Kelly Cole, Erin Gardner, Lily Gayle, Olivia Grace George, Leslie Hobgood, Jocelyn Holt, Sarah Catherine LaBorde, Morgan Lawrence, Anna Claire Lemoine, Megan Magri, Demi Martin, Caroline Marshall, Raven Moore, Kiera Owens, Kobi Painting, Chanley Patterson, Courtney Patterson, Makenzie Scroggs, Kyndall Smith, Elyce Thomas, Jourdan Waddell and Bailey Willis.
More: Meet the 2023 contestants of Miss Louisiana
Gracie Reichman, a Colfax native and kinesiology major at Louisiana Tech University, currently holds the title of Miss Louisiana.
"It's a beautiful day to be in Monroe, Louisiana," Reichman said. "We have such an exciting week ahead of us. Twenty-seven beautiful, accomplished young women from across our state are here to share their hearts, their passions, with each and everyone who attends this competition. I'm so excited to be a part of it... we've only spent less than 24 hours together, but I know whoever I crown Miss Louisiana will be in great hands. I'm so proud of you all."
The Miss Louisiana competition was first held in New Orleans in 1922 and was moved to Lake Providence during the Fourth of July Weekend in 1959. The competition has been held in Monroe since 1963, and the organization plans on commemorating the milestone.
More: Miss Louisiana 2022 Gracie Reichman talks about Miss America life after pageants and more
The organization will host a 60th anniversary Gala Celebration following the pageant on Saturday. Former Miss Louisiana titleholders will be making appearances during pageant festivities.
Sponsors of this year's competition include the City of Monroe, University of Louisiana Monroe, Discover Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana Propane Dealers, Vantage Health Plans and Towne Place Suites Marriott.
Preliminary competitions will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The pageant finals will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Jack Howard Theatre and televised statewide.
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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Miss Louisiana Pageant kicks off in Monroe
