Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante crowns Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary during the conclusion the annual campus pageant on last Saturday, Nov. 19.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

The newly crowned Miss Southeastern is gifted with one year’s tuition, golden roses, a local Miss America Crown, an opportunity to compete in Miss Louisiana, a commemorative keepsake and recognition at university and community events. Perhaps the true reward is that the same young lady who was introduced to pageants at six-months-old has now blossomed into Miss Southeastern 2017.

The annual Miss Southeastern Pageant hosted by Campus Activities Board took place on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. Participants were awarded in Lifestyle and Fitness, Talent, On-stage Question, Evening Wear, People’s Choice, Miracle Maker and Student Government Association’s Academic Award. Lastly the new Miss Southeastern was crowned. Entertainment was provided by the Southeastern Lionettes.

The winner of People’s Choice was Jamie Dearman. Tonykea Alford won the Miracle Maker Award, Lifestyle and Fitness, Talent and was first runner-up of the pageant. The SGA Academic Award went to Trista Kramer. Kristyn Gary was awarded Miss Congeniality and was announced as Miss Southeastern 2017.

The pageant paid homage to Miss Southeastern 2016, Alexis LaPlante, several times by showing a farewell video, conducting an onstage interview with her and allowing her fiancé Kennon Menard to present her with gifts before her final strut across the stage.

According to CAB Coordinator Nick Elliott, Gary’s life will change because of her added involvement with university and CAB events as well as being a major representative for the university at the Miss Louisiana Pageant on June 23, 2017.

“I think each woman in our pageant tonight are well capable of filling LaPlante’s shoes,” said Elliot. “Kristyn had a great personality and a positive attitude. I think she will hit the ground running with her new title. I am more than happy with the judge’s decision. I think Gary will do some great things during her reign, just like all of our former Miss Southeasterns have in their own, unique way.” 

Because Miss Southeastern only had four contestants this year, Elliott admitted that CAB had to provide a lot of filler in between each round to permit the women time for changing from one outfit to the next.

“Our contestants did an amazing job with this fast-paced pageant and I think they really enjoyed the pageant,” said Elliott. “We constantly had a great time backstage.”

Gary believed that working together with the other contestants for the Miracle Maker Fundraiser in the Student Union, as well as meetings and rehearsals, drew participants closer.

“We really have grown to be friends, and I’m really thankful to have met them,” said Gary. “They are all awesome people, and I hope to be friends with them continuing on in the future.”

Dearman is a senior communication major from Baton Rouge. She performed an Emily Dickinson poem in the form of a song and her platform is Run, Walk, Ride. She is an employee at the Office of Admissions and was named as Vice President of the National Organization of Communication Association on Nov. 14.

Although Dearman has never competed in pageants before, she has done vocal performances in the past.

“I did the song ‘Will There Really Be a ‘Morning’’ by Emily Dickinson,” said Dearman. “I love her works and actually my vocal coach, Theresa, suggested it. When I heard it, I was like ‘That’s the one, I have to do it.’”

Kramer is a senior chemistry major from Ponchatoula. She performed a Mary Poppins inspired tap dance. Her platform is the Boys and Girls Club of America.

The stereotypes that usually go along with pageants were dismissed by Kramer, who has competed in Miss Southeastern for the second year in a row.

“I think it gives everybody the opportunity,” said Kramer. “Like for me, I got an academic award and scholarship just for my grades. It had nothing to do with my looks or how pretty I was. I think it’s a great opportunity and more people should do it because it’s not just about the looks.”

Alford is a senior elementary education major from Tickfaw whose platform is Love the Children. Her talent in the competition was a rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

This was Alford’s first pageant. She joined in order to gain insight into how pageant life works and underwent minor preparations.

Although Alford gained the title of first-runner up, she admitted that she was grateful for the experience and proud of her stage presence and delivery throughout the pageant.

“I will just take to always follow my first mind and get out of my comfort zone,” said Alford. “There will be many surprises and expectations. Things that I thought I couldn’t do I did, and I overcame them.”

Gary performed a rendition of “Over the Rainbow” for the talent portion of the competition. She was inspired by Katharine McPhee’s performance of it on “American Idol.”

Her platform is Book it to Success and she is an early childhood education major. The sophomore is from Denham Springs and participates in campus organization Student Led Early Childhood Association.

Previously, Gary participated in pageants from when she was six-months-old to the time she was 6 years old. She later did a Teen Miss Pageant in high school before competing in the university’s pageant.

Gary revealed that the preparation of Miss Pageants differs from those she participated in in her younger days.

“We do everything backstage by ourselves,” said Gary. “We’re adults now and so this is all us. You’re in charge of everything, and honestly, it was a lot of fun because I felt it was even more of a pride to win because I did this. I’ve worked so hard, and I am super proud to be where I’m at. This whole experience was amazing, and I’m super, super thankful.” 

Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary introduces herself to the audience of the audience, a tradition in the annual pageant that follows a group dance that includes all contestants. 
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary performs a rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" during the Talent portion of the annual pageant. Gary admitted that her music teacher helped her prepare the song for the pageant that she has loved since she was a little girl.  
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

Miss Southeastern during 2017 Kristyn Gary was inspired to sing a rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" after hearing Katharine McPhee perform it on "American Idol." 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

During the On-stage Question portion of the competion, Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary answered a question written by one of her fellow contestants,  regarding campus sexual assault after drawing it at random. Gary highlighted the many aspects of Southeastern's safety methods for it's students. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

During the Talent portion of Miss Southeastern 2017, Jamie Dearman performed a rendition of Emily Dickinson's poem "Will There Really Be A 'Morning'" in the form of song.  
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

Trista Kramer competed for the crown in the Miss Southeastern pageant for the second time in a row last Saturday night. Kramer performed a Mary Poppin's inspired tap dance routine. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

Tonykea Alford, Runner-Up of the pageant and winner of The Miracle Maker Award and Lifestyle and Fitness admitted that since she already had her wardrobe for the pageant, her main focus was preparing for the Talent portion of the competition. 
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

The Lionette's dance team performed twice during the pageant, including formations and high-energy dance steps throughout their numbers.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

Tonykea Alford, Kristyn Gary, Jamie Dearman and Trista Kramer all pose backstage after the conclusion of the pageant. The contestants admitted that they got closer during the course of rehearsals and while raising money for their philantrophies in the Student Union. 
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Miss Southeastern 2016 Alexis LaPlante was presented with roses, a commemorative gift and other gifts by her
fiancé Kennon Menard. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar 

Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary posed with her neice after winning this year's crown. Gary praised her family for their support and for helping her pick out the gown she wore for the Evening Wear portion of the competition. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

Runner-up of Miss Southeastern 2017 Tonykea Alford and Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary posed with Campus Activities Board Coordinator Nick Elliott after the conclusion of the pageant. The two contestants are both involved in philantrophies and are early childhood education majors. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

Miss Southeastern 2017 Alexis LaPlante bids farewell to her reign before crowning the new Miss Southeastern. She was honored throughout the pageant. LaPlante endured an on-stage interview providing details about her reign, accepted gifts from her fiancé Kennon Menard and showed a video that represented her time as queen. 
Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar