LOUISIANA

Miss Crescent City New Orleans, Miss Heart of Pilot win Night 2 preliminaries

Bonnie Bolden
The News Star
Miss Louisiana 2017 Laryssa Bonacquisti dances with the current contestants on Friday at the Monroe Civic Center.

Read to the end of this story to see a gallery of Night 2 preliminary photos.

Miss Crescent City New Orleans Jo' Hilliard won swimsuit and a $500 scholarship and Miss Heart of Pilot Holli' Conway won talent and a $1,000 scholarship on the second night of Miss Louisiana 2018 preliminaries.

Conway is a playlist production vocalist for Carnival cruise lines. Even though she sings professionally, she said, being on the Miss Louisiana stage still makes her nervous because she wants to do well because it's such a good organization.

She's been singing her whole life, and she chooses songs based on the message. Part of her winning song "I Believe" is on her vision board, and she likes that the song is a declaration that anything is possible.

"Dedicate yourself. We feel this emotion when we hear inspirational songs, inspirational speeches, and that's great, but the most important thing is to dedicate yourself to a strong foundation because emotions fade very quickly," Conway said.

  • 8 p.m. Saturday: Finals (Televised live around the state)
  • Sunday: Follow us online for an interview with Miss Louisiana 2018

Hilliard said she's been working on eating healthier options and working out more to prepare for the competition. She said working night shifts as a nurse can mess a body's circadian cycle, which isn't beneficial.

She said working to get fit starts with one step at a time.

"Get rid of sodas, get rid of bread, get rid of sweets. That's the easiest thing to do," she saidl.

After that, healthy living will come more naturally.

The 33 contestants are divided into Jazz and Blues groups for competition. Blues group did talent and on-stage questions; Jazz group did evening wear and swimsuit.

On Thursday evening, Miss Shreveport Emily Randon won swimsuit and Miss Union Parish Anna Blake won talent on the first night of preliminaries.

The Miss Louisiana Pageant will air live from 8-10 p.m. Saturday from the Monroe Civic Center’s WL “Jack” Howard Theater.

Scholarship awards

On Friday, $14,000 in scholarships was presented to the contestants. Those winners are:

  • $1,000 for Women in Performing Arts: Miss Pride of Monroe Allison Newton
  • $1,000 for Women in Nursing: Miss Crescent City New Orleans Jo' Hilliard
  • $1,000 for Women in Education: Miss Southern Oaks Kristyn Gary
  • $1,000 for Women in Law: Miss Louisiana Port City Rebecca Wheelis
  • $1,000 for Women in Medicine: Miss Shreveport Emily Randon 
  • $1,000 for Women in Business: Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet Aly Jacobs
  • $1,000 for R. Guthrie Jarrell Memorial Scholarship: Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Kaitryana Leinbach
  • $1,000 for Miss America Academic Award: Miss Holiday in Dixie Emmaline Miller
  • $1,000 for Miss America Community Service Award: Leinbach
  • $500 for Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award: Miss Dixie Gem Peach Molly Humphries
  • $500 for first runner-up Community Service Award: Miss Benton Chloe Burkett
  • $500 for first runner-up Healthy Living Award: Miss Union Parish Anna Blake
  • $500 each for STEM (7 winners): Miss Cane River Courtney Hammons, Miss Spirit of the Ouachita Monica Whitman, Humphries, Hilliard, Blake, Randon, Jacobs

Louisiana Gannett's Bonnie Bolden will be posting about the pageant live @Bonnie_Bolden_, and the site will have stories, photo galleries and more as soon as possible after the event.

Miss Louisiana 2018 so far:

Want to watch it live?

Tune in at 8 p.m. Saturday on one of the following channels:

  • Monroe: KNOE, Ch.8 (CBS)
  • New Orleans: WUPL, CH. 54 (WWL-My Network TV)
  • Lafayette/Lake Charles: KATC-CW (CW)
  • Alexandria: KLAX, Ch. 31 (ABC)
  • Baton Rouge: WBTR, Ch. 41 (WBRZ-Inde)
  • Shreveport: KPXJ, Ch. 21 (KTBS-CW)
  • Morgan City-Thibodaux-Houma: KWBJ, Ch. 39 (WB)