On Sept. 28, Northwestern State University of Louisiana selected its 65th Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet.
The LOB pageant is a preliminary event to the state-wide competition for the Miss Louisiana pageant.
The winner is given a 2,000-dollar scholarship, a meal plan, 1,000 dollars cash and a free trip to the Miss Louisiana competition. The first and second runners-up win a 1,500 dollar and 1,000 dollar scholarship.
The event was hosted by Gracie Reichman, Miss Louisiana 2022, and was accompanied by Makenzie Scroggs, 2021 LOB.
Scroggs gave a heartfelt farewell address and handed down her own bracelet as a gift to her mother who won in the year 1998, Rebecca Duzot.
“I could not have done this without you. Mom, being able to share the bracelet with your name on it is the biggest blessing ever,” Scroggs said.
The night was filled with entertainment by “Make Your Own Theatre,” an NSU theater group, that did a performance of “Take Me to Heaven” with the NSU Demon Dazzlers.
The contestants of 2022 LOB were Keeley Trahan, junior secondary education major; Destin Lopez, junior communication major; Madison Simms, sophomore biology major; Grace Williamson, graduate dance major; and Bailey Willis, junior secondary education major.
There was a panel of five judges who asked contestants about their mission and goals, along with demonstrating their talents.
Talent was a very important factor as it made up nearly 35% of their total score for the night. The winner of the talent portion went to Bailey Willis.
“I think the best thing about the Lady of the Bracelet is how we always get so many great performances throughout the night,” Reichman said.
Willis was crowned the winner of the 2022 LOB pageant.
“I’m feeling so excited, I’m speechless. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to spread awareness about mental health. I am also thankful to my friend Jordan Richardson for helping me,” Willis said.
Willis had been preparing for this event in the leading months. Willis was the first place runner-up for the 2021 LOB pageant.
However, there wasn’t just the LOB pageant going on that night.
The Miss Congeniality Award, named in honor of Carley McCord, is decided by contestant votes on who they believe earned the award that night. The winner of the NSU Miss Congeniality Award went to Trahan, who also took home the first-place runner-up position.
There was also the People’s Choice Award which is awarded to whoever wins by popular demand. The winner of the NSU People’s Choice Award went to Simms, who also was awarded a 250-dollar cash scholarship.
By the end of the night, President Marcus Jones, Miss Louisiana and former LOB welcomed Bailey Willis as the new LOB.