Queen of Queens Costume Party

The 86 contestants delighted the Friday night LAFF convention crowd by dressing up as Hollywood characters. These photos, taken by Dayna Willis, show (clockwise from top left) Crawfish Queen Nonnie Berard as Lucille Ball, Washington Catfish Queen Heather Hickey as Cruella Deville, Cattle Queen Kristen Hoover as Jessie from Toy Story, Miss LA Cajun Food Gabrielle Theriot (Willis's daughter) as Mulan, Strawberry Queen Jeni Abrams as Dorothy, Frog Queen Chelsea Richard as the WB Frog, Miss Allen Parish Fair Rose Woodward as Cleopatra, and Celtic Nations Heritage Queen Winter Duhon as Scarlett O'Hara.

Miss Washington Catfish at Queen of Queens

Former Queen Ray*La*Ne and 2008 Miss Washington Catfish,

Heather Elise Hickey shows the span of activities included in Queen of Queens:

from the casual 1950’s drive-in party (which she is dressed for in the photo

with her catfish door decoration), to her turn as Cruella DeVille at the Hollywood

costume event on Friday, and then on to Saturday, which involved preparations for

the big night and the chance to make a dazzling entrance in red. Though she’s sad to be

giving up her current title in a couple of weeks, she already has been chosen to re-join

the Rhinestone Sisterhood: in May, she becomes Steamboat Queen, her third opportunity

in as many years to serve Louisiana’s festivals. (Photos courtesy of Heather Elise Hickey)