Royalty took the stage Tuesday night in the Union for the Mr. and Miss Imani Pageant. Almost every seat was filled in the Cotillion Ballroom as it transformed into a pageant venue for an event fit for kings and queens. Imani is one of the seven principles recognized in the black celebration of Kwanzaa, a holiday observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The 10 contestants danced their way to the microphone at the end of the double catwalk lined with tiny white lights to give their introductions. The room was covered in a blanket of silence as the master and mistress of ceremonies, biological sciences senior Barry Whittington and mass communication senior Alexis Garner, announced the pageant’s winners at the end of the program. Lillian Henny, English junior, and Oliver Batiste, pre-nursing biology freshman, were crowned Mr. and Miss Imani. The crowd of about 300 people cheered their support for the contestants. David LaViscount, French senior, and Lyndsey Duplessis, pre-dentistry biology sophomore, were the first runners-up in the pageant. They are responsible for serving as Mr. and Miss Imani if Henny and Batiste are no longer able to fulfill their positions for any reason. The five judges based their decision on the contestants’ overall presentation, poise, their answers to the final interview questions and personal interviews that were held prior to the pageant. Henny and Batiste will be expected to attend all of the remaining Black History Month events and serve as the hosts for the Black History Month Tribute Program on Feb. 26. They will reign for one year until the next pageant is held. Henny said she was surprised when the judges announced their final decision. She said the process of participating in the pageant was a great experience. “I want to truly be active in the Black History Month festivities and begin working within the community,” she said. Raquel Henry, biology junior, is one of Henny’s many Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. sisters. Henry said the judges made the right decision because Henny is outgoing, well-rounded and demonstrates leadership. “We’re all proud of her,” she said. Batiste said he was nervous at the beginning of the competition, but he enjoyed his experience once he developed relationships with the other contestants during practice sessions. He said he did not expect to win the competition. “Being a freshman, I didn’t imagine I would win anything,” he said. “I thought I would just participate and have fun.” Henry said she also knows Batiste. “He’s a nice person to be around, a lot of fun and he’s very involved,” she said. Elise Gilbert, Black History Month Committee Chairperson, said the pageant was beautiful. “It was an excellent representation of the talent and successes of the African-American community especially on the LSU campus,” she said.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]