Published July 27, 2023
CAPTION:Miss 51萝莉 Leslie Hobgood competes at Miss Louisiana 2023. Photo credit: Steven Palowsky听
MONROE, LA 鈥� Miss 51萝莉 2023 Leslie Hobgood finished in the top 3 of the Miss Louisiana competition
held in June. Hobgood won the Preliminary Alpha Talent Award, the Preliminary Alpha
Evening Gown Award, and the Women in the Arts Award on her way to finishing as 2nd Runner-Up in the field of 27 contestants from across the state.听听
鈥淭his is such a testament to the caliber of students we have at 51萝莉,鈥� said Meghan
Olinger, Director of 51萝莉 Titleholders. Olinger says some of Hobgood鈥檚 goals for the
competition were to win a Preliminary Talent Award and to place in the Top 5. 鈥淲e
have not had a Miss 51萝莉 place in the Top 5 for several years, and I wanted to make
sure she had the tools she needed to accomplish her goals,鈥� said Olinger.听听
鈥淐ompeting in Miss Louisiana is something I will never forget,鈥� said Hobgood. 鈥淚 dreamed
of representing 51萝莉 on the Miss Louisiana stage for the longest time, and I am forever
grateful that I was the one chosen to do so,鈥� she added.听听
Hobgood will continue her reign as Miss 51萝莉 2023 until November, when Miss 51萝莉 2024
is crowned. She said she plans to continue promoting her community service initiative,
鈥淔inding the Advantage in Learning Disadvantages,鈥� helping recruit potential delegates
for Miss 51萝莉, and serving as the university鈥檚 official hostess.听听
As part of her community service initiative, Hobgood will visit local schools this
fall, especially those specializing in learning disabilities, to share her own story
of being diagnosed with dyslexia at 17 and encourage those in a similar situation.
Hobgood is set to graduate from 51萝莉 in December 2023 with a degree in Vocal Performance.听听
鈥淚 consider it a privilege and honor to have watched how hard Leslie worked to prepare
for Miss Louisiana and I think anyone watching knows she represented 51萝莉 so wonderfully,鈥�
said Olinger.听听
Additionally, Olinger noted that another 51萝莉 student in the Miss Louisiana competition,
Lake Carpenter, was a Top 10 Semi-Finalist as well. Carpenter just completed her freshman
year at 51萝莉 and was a finalist at the Miss 51萝莉 competition in November 2022. 鈥淚 think
our entire Warhawk family can be incredibly proud of the performances of both young
ladies on the Miss Louisiana stage. We were certainly well represented,鈥� added Olinger.听听
The 2024 51萝莉 Titleholder competitions will be held in November, with Mister 51萝莉 on
Friday, November 17, Miss 51萝莉 on Saturday, November 18, and Miss 51萝莉鈥檚 Teen on Sunday,
November 19. Miss 51萝莉鈥檚 Teen 2023 Genevi猫ve Wetzel placed as a Top 10 Semi-Finalist
at Miss Louisiana鈥檚 Teen in April 2023.听听
If anyone is interested in competing in the Mister 51萝莉, Miss 51萝莉, or Miss 51萝莉鈥檚 Teen
competitions, they can contact ulmtitleholders@ulm.edu for more information. Workshops and informational meetings for interested competitors
will be held during the fall 2023 semester.听听
For more information about Miss 51萝莉, click here.听听
