Holiday royalty crowned
CROWLEY - Annalise Marie Arceneaux, a student at St. Michael Catholic School, was crowned as the 2015 Miss Merry Christmas Thursday night at the Eta Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi’s 50th annual Miss Merry Christmas Pageant held at the International Rice Festival Building in Crowley.
Annalise is the 7-year-old daughter of Allison and Timmy Arceneaux. She has a collection of seashells and enjoys playing with her baby cousins, reading and coloring. She wants to be a pre-school teacher.
This year there were a total of 23 girls competing for the privilege of riding with Santa Claus in this year’s Crowley Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade.
Jimmy Broussard, who once again served as master of ceremonies, introduced the 2014 Miss Merry Christmas, Amelia Grace Prevost, before the 2015 contestants began their first promenade.
Due to the exceptional qualities of all the contestants, the judges were faced with some tough decisions as they chose the new Miss Merry Christmas and her court.
Selected as the members of the Miss Merry Christmas court were Camrynn Lanthier, who attends Northside Christian School, fourth runner-up; Emily Grace Hanks, who attends Northside Christian School, third runner-up; Braylie Jane Istre, who attends North Crowley Elementary, second runner-up; and Jaylyn Gautreaux, who attends Ross Elementary, first runner-up.
Other contestants who advanced to the top 10 as finalists were Ella Claire Schmaltz, a student at Redemptorist Catholic School; McKenzie Egarton and Kamrie Danyelle Richard, students at Ross Elementary; Olivia Marie Richard, a student at Northside Christian School; and Malari Ann Elyse Navarre, a student at South Crowley Elementary.
Also competing in the pageant were Riley Cormier and Madison Wheeler, who attend South Crowley Elementary; Eleanor Credeur, Ryleigh Claire Oestriecher and Maggy Royce Mitchell, who attend St. Michael School; Nadia Dugas and Marisa Pinder, who attend Northside Christian School; Kambrey Lynn Suire, who attends Estherwood Elementary; Gracie Leckelt, who attends Iota Elementary; Laila Minix, who attends North Crowley Elementary; and Rebecca Wolf, Emma Louise Cradeur and Jayla Griffin, who attend Ross Elementary.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by Core Dance Center, Tumbling Tots and Teens and the Crowley High School Glee Club.
This year’s Christmas parade is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, and all of the contestants will be aboard Santa’s float for the festivities.