The University of Louisiana at Lafayette held the annual Miss UL Lafayette pageant on March 11 at Angelle Hall. The contest included a group of ladies from the university who were chosen to compete for Miss UL Lafayette’s title.
Josie Stephens held the 2020-2021 Miss UL Lafayette title. She graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and minors in bioprocess engineering, chemistry and mathematics, and now works offshore at Baker Hughes in the oil and gas industry.
Stephens has been involved in her school and community, serving on UL Lafayette orientation staff and a peer mentor in the UNIV 100 women’s leadership class.
Holding the Miss UL Lafayette titles come with the opportunity to compete in the Miss Louisiana USA pageant. Stephens was awarded 1st runner-up in February 2022.
“As each year of competition passed, I couldn’t see the woman I was being molded into. As I look back I can’t help but feel an enormous amount of gratitude to pageants and @rpmproductions @rpmdirector for helping to shape me into the woman I am today! Here’s to another year of growth and discovery,” Stephens posted on the Miss University of Louisiana at Lafayette Facebook.
The Miss UL Lafayette pageant featured 18 contestants chosen after an interview process. The contestants were judged as they competed for the title of Miss UL Lafayette. A panel of five judges, including Krista Toussant, Erica Precht, Marjorie Parker, Kyle D. Smith, Ph.D. and Jaylon Lewis, scored the participants.
The contestants competed in three categories, including swimsuits, evening gowns, and interviews. The swimsuit category judged contestants on their physical fitness and confidence. Contestants were scored on evening gowns by their sense of style and beauty.
After the evening gown category, the contestants were narrowed down to the top five. The judges asked each contestant one interview question that demonstrated their communication skills and charm. The top five included Bailey Mire, Madi Conrad, Alyssa Landry, Kalli Rose Segura and Sydney Fox.
Alyssa Landry won the title of Miss UL Lafayette for 2022-2023. She is a junior kinesiology major focusing on pre-professional studies. Landry is also a member of the Ragin Cajun Cheerleading Team.
“I am so excited and so humbled to have this opportunity to represent the university, and I am so excited for this year,” Landry said, “I am looking forward to competing at state and also just really bringing the community in and seeing what I can make an impact with for the year.”
Landry is excited for the upcoming year and her opportunities as Miss UL Lafayette.
“For the next year, I have the opportunity of representing this extraordinary university and I can’t wait to see what this year brings,” Landry said on the Miss University of Louisiana at Lafayette Facebook.
The University Program Council coordinated the pageant. UPC lets students get involved in the many traditions at UL Lafayette, including Homecoming Week, Lagniappe Day and the Krewe of Roux Mardi Gras Parade and Ball.According to the UL Lafayette website, “By providing unique involvement opportunities, we give students the opportunity to create unforgettable moments in your Ragin’ Cajun experience.”