Smoked Meat Festival royalty crowned Sunday evening

The 22nd Annual Viande Boucanée Pageant was held Sunday, June 22, 2014, at the Northside Civic Center. Three new queens were selected to represent the festival, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #632 and the City of Ville Platte for the next year.
Teen Miss: Leah Fontenot, the 16-year-old daughter of Kirk and Anita Fontenot of Ville Platte, was named Teen Miss Viande Boucanée. She will be a junior at Ville Platte High School, where she has maintained a 3.5 grade point average for the entire 2013-2014 school year. She also placed third in her division at Literary Rally. After graduating from high school, she plans to attend college to pursue a degree in English education. She has been a member of the Girl Scouts for 10 years and 4-H for five years. Her hobbies include reading, writing, visiting festivals and competing in pageants.
Lynee West, the 16-year-old daughter of Quint and Roxane West of Pine Prairie, was chosen as first runner-up to the new queen.
Miss: Kenya Tyree Gradnigo, the 17-year-old daughter of Kirk and Jacqueline Gradnigo of Opelousas, was crowned Miss Viande Boucanée. The new queen will be a senior at the Opelousas High School Academy of Biomedical Science. Her hobbies include taekwondo (black belt), track, basketball, reading, sleeping, singing in the shower and eating. She is a member of the Future Christians Athletics, St. John Baptist Church Youth Choir, St. John’s usher department, Beta club and library club. She is very involved with her church and participates in the trash bash and walk for domestic violence. After high school, she plans to attend Louisiana Tech to pursue a degree in chemical engineering and later on become a paramedic. She is a fifth degree black belt in taekwondo and is a member of the honor society. She has received first place in the science fair, an award for ACT score of 20 or above and was named distance runner for the track awards. She is currently working on her first responder certification.
Kaitlyn Marie LeJeune, the 20-year-old daughter of Kristie Fontenot and Ronald LeJeune of Chataignier, was named first runner-up to the new Miss queen; and Kellie Barnes, the 17-year-old daughter of James and Andie Barnes of Mamou, was named second runner-up.
Ms.: With no contestants in the Ms. category, reigning Ms. Viande Boucanée Julia Ann Meyer agreed to hold the title for a second year. The 24-year-old daughter of Larry and Karen Menard and wife of Lance Corporal Tyler Meyer of Crowley. is the proud mother of daughter, AnnMarie, and she enjoys competing in pageants, running her baking company and spending time with her family. While in high school, she was active in the 4-H, speech and drama clubs and campus ministries. She also participated in productions by the Acadia Players Theatre. Her goal is to be the best mother to her daughter, like her mother was to her and set a good example for her daughter.