Every girl wants to dress up and be queen for a day. That day is about to happen for a University freshman.
When Alana Lincoln, a marketing major, was 12 years old, her parents put her name on a list to be royalty for Mardi Gras.
This year, the Krewe of Argus chose Lincoln as Argus Queen XIX.
Lori Pausina, Krewe of Argus royalty coordinator, said people are anonymously nominated to be maids and queens, and the board chooses after receiving feedback from the nominees.
“To be involved with the royalty, you are chosen to be on court,” Pausina said. “People are signed up until 2012.”
Queens can range in ages from 16 to 25 years old.
Lincoln said being queen has been an amazing experience because it is what she always wanted.
The traditional dress for a queen is an appliqued dress and mantle. This year Lincoln will wear a white gown. Her collar will have Australian appliques that match the king’s regalia trimmed in silver, Pausina said.
The mantle is white velvet with large plumes, with a painter’s pallet and paintbrushes to match the theme of Argus — “Argus Colours.”
As queen, Lincoln said she must attend several luncheons and meet with the king and queen of Zulu at Rivertown in New Orleans for a Lundi Gras Celebration. She also will attend a past queens’ luncheon where all the past queens of Argus will be in attendance.
Lincoln will be presented at the Galaxy Ball on Friday at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner, La., Pausina said. She said while the court is on stage, there will be a mini-parade containing three floats and two bands — Topcats and the Bucktown Allstars.
Lincoln will ride in the Krewe of Argus Mardi Gras day as it rolls down Veterans Boulevard along the traditional Mardi Gras route in Metairie, La., Pausina said.
Lincoln said she has no fears, but a past queen did tell her a horror story of her crown falling and breaking on the ground.
“I just hope that doesn’t happen to me,” she said. “I am looking forward to the ride and seeing the float.”
Lincoln will reign alongside University alumnus and state Rep. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner.