Former Boggy Bayou Queen crowned new Miss Lafayette

Evangeline Parish beauty Carly Chaumont was crowned as Miss Lafayette USA on Saturday, April 16, during the pageant held in Lafayette at Homewood Suites, and the 21-year-old festival queen veteran says, “I knew after my last festival title that I was ready for a new adventure, Miss Louisiana.”
She admits, “I was very nervous going into a system I knew nothing about, but I didn’t let the fear of the unknown hold me back.” She continues, “After placing first runner up at Queen of Queens in February, I knew in my heart that God had a different plan for me. When it was just me and one other competitor on that stage I felt a calm I had never felt before. And when my name was called as Miss Lafayette, pure joy and appreciation took over.”
Chaumont is the daughter of Bradley and Christine Chaumont of Turkey Creek. She is a 2013 graduate of Pine Prairie High School and is currently a junior studying mass communications at LSU-Alexandria. She also works part-time as an on-air personality for KVPI. She enjoys arts and crafts, DIY projects, working out and traveling. While in high school, she was voted prom queen, homecoming queen, most attractive, friendliest smile and campus leader. She has been given the “key” to two cities, Rayne and Cameron. She has been a LSUA Dean’s list recipient. She also was just recently featured in Billy Connolly’s book/television series “Tracks Across America” for her title of Rayne Frog Festival Queen.
“I never considered pageants until Chassity Lejeune (2010 Miss Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau) was searching for contestants and asked me to consider running for the title,” Chaumont recalls, adding, “I had no idea what I was doing or getting myself into, but I won and that moment lit a fire in me that I couldn’t put out. I was officially hooked on pageantry. I competed in the festival circuit until I had traveled to every festival in Louisiana at least twice.” Her titles include 2011 Miss Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau, 2012 Miss Boggy Bayou Festival, 2013 Miss Ville Platte, 2014 Miss Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival (second runner up at L.A.F.F Queen of Queens pageant), and 2015 Miss Rayne Frog Festival (first runner-up at 2016 L.A.F.F Queen of Queens pageant). Chaumont states, “I don’t hold any title higher than another, because they each offered me so much that it would be unfair to pick a favorite. I enjoyed every title I’ve held, no matter its rank in popularity.”
Moving from the festival pageant circuit up to the Miss USA system was a challenge for Chaumont, as they are very different. She clarifies, “In festival pageants, I would compete in interview and evening gown with the possibility of an onstage question. For Miss Lafayette, I competed in interview, opening number, swimsuit, evening gown and onstage question.” She admits, “Swimsuit is what scared me the most, but it showed me discipline in all aspects of my life. It made me realize why it’s such an important part of the Miss USA competition. For months I ate healthy, worked out and watched my health. By the time I reached Miss Lafayette I was so confident in how healthy and fit I looked that I was no longer scared.”
“Pageants in general can be quite expensive,” Chaumont allows, “so I decided to do a preliminary pageant to Miss Louisiana.” She explains, “Normally, a preliminary title will pay your entry into the state pageant, and possibly get you sponsors. When looking for a preliminary title to compete for I wanted one that was in Acadiana, my home.” She continues, “My goal is to win Miss Louisiana. With my extensive knowledge of Louisiana, and our tourism industry through festival pageants, I’d be the representative to promote our great state’s unique culture while encouraging tourism. What better preliminary title to hold than Lafayette, the happiest city in America?”
Over the years, Chaumont has had the full support of her family, friends and community in all of her pageant endeavors. She shares, “My family has supported my dreams every step of the way. My mom especially when it comes to pageantry. She is my travel buddy. When I have an event I need to attend, she is in the passenger seat ready to experience every moment with me. I couldn’t do this without my mom.” She adds, “I would like to give a shout out to the Boggy Bayou Festival board. Boggy Bayou was my first festival title and they have cheered me on even after my reign as their queen ended. Evangeline Parish has been so good to me. The outpouring of love and encouragement I’ve received along the way has made this all worth it. I look forward to a fun year with my Teen and Preteen Lafayette queens Shelby Jordan and Rachel Pizzolato, as well as my awesome directors Ross Walters and former Miss Louisiana Erin Edmiston.” She also would like to send a “big shout out to all of my sponsors.”
“As Miss Lafayette,” Chaumont concludes, “I will be working closely with my sponsors, personal trainers and pageant coaches to prepare for the Miss Louisiana USA Pageant, October 7th and 8th, which is being held at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center and the Hilton in Metairie on October 7-8.” In addition to preparing for the state competition, Chaumont allows, “I was told that as far as traveling, my year as Miss Lafayette is what I make of it. Which means everyone should keep their eyes open for me as I plan to work with various charities and organizations in Louisiana this year.”