LSU psychology senior, Ashley Barbier, earned the crown of Miss LSU-USA 2015, inside the LSU Student Union Theater on Sunday evening.
           Hosted each year by The Sigma Chapter of The Delta Zeta Sorority, all proceeds of The Miss LSU-USA Pageant go to Delta Zeta’s local and national philanthropies to benefit Alzheimer’s and Speech and Hearing charities.
           All 22 of the contestants competed in an interview, swimwear and evening gown portion of the competition, with the top five semifinalists answering an onstage question.
            After a performance by the Tiger Tenors and a farewell speech given by Miss LSU-USA 2014, Deandra De Napoli, Barbier earned the title of Miss LSU-USA 2015. 
            “I’m seriously overwhelmed right now with emotions, and I really can’t describe what it feels like to win the title of Miss LSU, and I’m so excited to represent my university this year,” Barbier said.
“It’s just so rewarding, and I think the process of coming here and seeing it all pay off, is my favorite part.”
            Not only was Barbier overwhelmed with excitement, but her support group was just as excited to embark on this new journey with her.
            “I know that we knew that she deserved it, but to know that the judges saw that too, it’s just over the top, amazing,” Kimberly Newman, who spray tanned Barbier and is the owner of the mobile hair, makeup and spray tanning business, Glam 2 Geaux, said.
             “Just hearing her answer of why she wanted to be Miss LSU, it wasn’t just that typical cliché typical answer, she has some things that she wants to put in forth and improve,” Whitney Moss, whom did Barbier’s makeup and is the reigning Miss Louisiana Northshore-USA, as well as second runner up in The 2014 Miss Louisiana-USA Pageant, said.
             As Miss LSU-USA, Barbier represents Louisiana State University in next year’s Miss Louisiana-USA Pageant.
             The reigning Miss Louisiana-USA, Candice Bennatt, said that being Miss Louisiana-USA is a huge responsibility. But pageants are much more than just the glamour, and have even helped her pursue her law career at Loyola University in New Orleans.
             “Pageants are really the vehicle to get you where you want to go,” Bennatt said.
           Bennatt will represent Louisiana as she competes in the nationally televised, Miss USA Pageant.
           The Miss USA Pageant was held in Baton Rouge last year, and could make a return to the city. Mayor-President Kip Holden requested a budget amendment to fund the expenses of hosting this year’s pageant to the Metro Council’s agenda just last week.  
            If you’re interested in keeping up with Ashley Barbier’s travels through the year as Miss LSU-USA 2015, you can follow the Miss LSU-USA page on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.