by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Feb. 11, 2009 in The Current Sauce
Brittany Pippin, a freshman psychology major, said she never expected to win the title of Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet.
"When they called my name, I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I still don't think it has really set in yet. It's such an honor."
Mandi Ridgdell, the 2008 Lady of the Bracelet, crowned Pippin Saturday at the 2009 LOB pageant in A. A. Fredericks auditorium. Pippin will receive a full scholarship to Northwestern State and will represent the university at the Miss Louisiana pageant in Monroe this spring.
Ten NSU students competed in the LOB pageant this year. Among them were sophomore theatre major Phylicia Felix, senior journalism major Bethany Frank, and freshman hospitality, management and tourism major Melanie Kay.
Contestants voted for Sara Mayeux as Miss Congeniality for the second year in a row. Mayeux, a junior liberal arts major with a concentration in scientific inquiry, has competed in the pageant for three years.
Jessica Lopez impressed the judges with an aria and won both the talent competition and a runner-up award.
Sophomore hospitality, management and tourism major Halli Hickman won the swimsuit competition.
Freshman business administration and family consumer sciences major Jordan McLamore was named a runner-up.
Junior liberal arts major Shanice Major, who riled up the crowd with her energetic performance of the song "Last Dance," placed as the third runner-up.
Sophomore music education major Katie Stockton won fourth runner-up. Stockton sang "The Man That Got Away" as her talent and cited Judy Garland as one of her role models during the interview portion of the pageant. When Garland auditioned for her famous role as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," she was told she was too "heavy" for the part. Stockton said Garland's determination to overcome that challenge inspired her.
Aside from the contestants' performances, LOB showcased the talents of performing arts groups and members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Each ensemble represented an era in history.
Associate Professor of Music Galindo Rodriguez directed the University Jazz Orchestra, which played during the pageant. NSU alumnus Sherman Desselle joined the Jazz Orchestra for a rousing performance of "I Feel Good" by James Brown to represent the '70s.
Donald Jones Jr., a senior theatre major with a concentration in dance and musical theatre, choreographed a dance to "It's A Man's World," and the audience responded with enthusiasm. Austin Babin, Ford Haueser, Dustin Gaspard, Zach Judge, Joe Hamilton, Jacob Starks, Corwin Barnes, Casey Bozenski and Julian Anderson were the "LOB Dancers." The Demon Dazzlers also danced to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
During the pageant, a few contestants stumbled through their onstage interview questions, but they had the support of a large audience that included many representatives of Phi Mu sorority.
Pippin, a Phi Mu, won the eveningwear and Liz Carroll People's Choice competitions at the pageant as well as the Miss Northwestern title. She said one of the first things she'll do as Miss LOB is give a presentation to the students at Forest High School - her alma mater - in Forest, La.
"It's a tiny little town," she said. "If you blink when you're driving through it, you'll miss it."
She plans to introduce people to "Love the Skin You're In," the campaign she chose as her platform for the pageant. Pippin said the goal is to raise awareness of eating disorders and work toward improving the self-esteem of women.
"I feel like society puts a lot of pressure on girls to stay thin," she said.
Pippin said she wants to encourage women to embrace their physical beauty no matter what society says. She said she is not a size zero or size two, and "never will be."
"I don't consider myself a very thin person," she said.
Pippin holds another pageant title - Miss West Carroll - and has competed in pageants since she was 12. For the past three years, she has attended the Miss Louisiana pageant, where one familiar face inspired her.
"I watched Mandi at Miss Louisiana and thought, 'I want to do that,'" Pippin said.
Pippin said she is excited to compete in the Miss Louisiana pageant herself this year.
"It's a week-long process, and it starts on my birthday, which is June 15," she said.
For her birthday this year, Pippin will have the chance to compete at the Miss Louisiana pageant.
