Published June 8, 2016
MONROE, La. 鈥� 51萝莉 will send six contestants to the 53rd Annual
Miss Louisiana Pageant to be held in Monroe on June 23-25 at the Monroe Civic Center鈥檚
W.L. Jack Howard Theater.
The six 51萝莉 contestants are:
- Sarah Torregrossa
- Samantha Vaughn
- Jo鈥� Hilliard
- J鈥檒yn Henderson
- Baylea Huffman
- Christina Gray
51萝莉 is no stranger to Miss Louisiana. For the last 12 years, the university has hosted
the contestants for the Miss Louisiana Pageant. Providing housing accommodations,
rehearsal space, dining options and a short commute to Monroe鈥檚 Jack Howard Theater,
51萝莉 has become the hub for all things Miss Louisiana.
On June 19, 51萝莉 will welcome all 32 contestants and the Miss Louisiana Organization
to its campus.
Among the contestants representing 51萝莉 is Sarah Torregrossa, the 2016 Miss University
of Louisiana Monroe.听
鈥淏eing crowned Miss 51萝莉 was a dream come true for me, but it was just the beginning,鈥�
said Torregrossa.听鈥淚 have dedicated my entire adult life to becoming Miss Louisiana
and have diligently prepared for the responsibilities that come with the crown. I
am very much looking forward to this pageant.鈥澛�
The Miss 51萝莉 Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Louisiana Pageant and is sponsored
by 51萝莉鈥檚 Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association. As the winner
of the 2016 Miss 51萝莉 Pageant, Torregrossa is automatically qualified to compete in
the 2016 Miss Louisiana Pageant.听
Miss 51萝莉 is a serious commitment, according to Laura Jennings, 51萝莉鈥檚 Director of Student
Life and Leadership. 鈥淲e consider this to be a job. Miss 51萝莉 is the ambassador for
the university. Sarah [Torregrossa] has already made 50 appearances throughout the
year, and a lot of people don鈥檛 realize how much preparation actually goes into it.鈥�
Jennings has seen all six 51萝莉 contestants compete over the years. 鈥淛ust watching them
grow and mature over time has been a wonderful experience,鈥� she expressed.
51萝莉 is a corporate (鈥渄iamond鈥�) sponsor for the Miss Louisiana Pageant and it also
hosts all the meetings leading up to the main event. 鈥淎t these meetings, the contestants
turn in all their paperwork for competition, submit ads for the program book, take
headshots, and go through what pageant week is going to be like,鈥� said Jennings. 聽
The winner of the state pageant is guaranteed a spot in the 2016 Miss America Pageant,
to be held in Atlantic City, N.J. in early September.听
鈥淲e are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Miss Louisiana Organization,鈥�
said Lisa Miller, 51萝莉 Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Recruitment and Communication.听
鈥淭his is an exciting time for these six young ladies and for our university, which
they so proudly represent. We wish them all the best.鈥�
About the Miss Louisiana Organization
The Miss America Organization is the world's largest competitive scholarship program
for young women, and one of the nation's leading achievement programs. The Miss Louisiana
Scholarship Organization is honored to be part of this program. This year, the Miss
Louisiana Scholarship Organization and local pageants across our State made available
over $634,000 in cash and tuition scholarships. Through this program, contestants
receive thousands of dollars in scholarships and gain poise, confidence, and life
skills that will benefit them, the State of Louisiana and our Country for the rest
of their lives.
For more information about the 2016 Miss Louisiana Pageant, visit .听
