Miss Louisiana USA & Teen USA 2017 will be crowned in Metairie on Saturday the 8th of October.  It is the first time being held in Metairie after many years in Lafayette, and there is also a new webcast provider.

Louisiana has been one of the more stable states in terms of contestant numbers since 2009 and again, both the Miss and Teen division numbers are similar to recent years.  The biggest drop has been the Teen numbers in 2007 & 2008 (and I would assume prior to that, my numbers only start in 07) compared to any year from 2009 on - there were once 50-60 teens in Louisiana, since 2009 an average of only 34.  

Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2012, Marlee Henry will be only the second former Teen titleholder in the past decade to compete for the Miss title - her predecessor Brittany Guidry won the title on her first attempt in 2014.  Three of last year's Miss LA USA runners-up are returning: 1RU Bethany Trahan, 2RU Lauren Vizza, and 3RU Scarlett Blades.  Lauren was Miss Louisiana 2012 and will be competing for the fourth time.  All five of last year's remaining top ten group are also back, including my perennial favourite Devin Boyd who is competing again thanks to the recent age extension.  The other four are Rachel North, Helena Cefalu, Krista Toussaint and Kimberly Newville.  2015 third runner-up Tanya Crowe, whose non-finalist placement totally shocked me last year (I had her in my top five after prelims, go figure!) is back - I'm glad she wasn't scared away!!!

2015 winner Candice Bennatt was the first winner with no prior Miss LA USA or Teen USA experience to win in over 17 years - and she was a former Miss New Mexico titleholder & Miss America contestant.  It will be interesting to see if that trend continues this year!

The Teen group is made up of predominantly new contestants.  Two-time first runner-up Katie Scannell, who came second to future Miss Teen USA Katherine Haik in 2015 and to Ellie Picone last year, is having another shot at the title - wearing the Red Stick sash that she had as 1RU to Katherine.  2016 third runner-up Emily Davis, another favourite of mine last year, has also returned.  The only other contestant from last year's top fifteen is Hailey Crausby who made the top ten last year.  2015 top ten finalist Emma Johnson, who was a non-finalist last year, is competing as well.  By the looks of things the sister of Bethany Trahan is competing in the Teen division, also representing Calcasieu.

The last two Teen winners have been newcomers, whilst the three before them had placed in the top ten the year prior to their victory.  

Click "read more" or scroll below to view the full list of contestants
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Update - congratulations to Maaliyah Papillon Miss LA USA and Ellie Picone Miss LA Teen USA!  

Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2016 will be held this Saturday, as Miss Teen USA Katherine Haik will be celebrated by her home state.  Contestant photos are posted here (Miss) and here (Teen).   Also check out the Fantasy Campers - they might be your next Miss Teen USA in a few years!  Katherine herself went from Fantasy Camper in 2014, to Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2015, to Miss Teen USA :)

 (Despite the roster being packed with returning contestants Louisiana is missing some of its perennial and most well-known competitors this year: Lauren Whittle has aged out, Whitney Moss is getting married, Madeleine Langlinais is not competing.  

From last year's top five the only returning contestant is third runner-up Tanya Crowe who was competing for the first time last year.  Six-time contestant and past runner-up Devin Boyd is back, however, as is Maaliyah Papillon, three-time Teen runner-up and top 10 semi-finalist last year.  There is also Bailey Armstrong, second runner-up to Katherine in the Teen pageant last year and first runner-up the year before, who has moved up to the Miss division. Christina Famularo, second runner-up in 2012 and a semi-finalist twice since is also back.  Lauren Vizza, Miss Louisiana 2012 and a two-time semi-finalist, will be hoping to be crowned by her Miss America sister! (outgoing Miss LA USA Candice Bennatt was Miss NM 2012).

Candice was the first contestant with no prior Miss or Teen USA state experience to win Miss Louisiana USA  in at least 17 years - but given she'd previously competed at Miss America it's hard to class her as a "true" newbie.  Will be interesting to see if another newcomer can break through this year. ​  Louisiana past state results are here.

Also interesting to note another year with no former Teens competing.  With the exception of Brittany Guidry in 2014, there have been no other former Teens back in Louisiana since 2007! (more stats & photos on that here)

All three of Katherine's other runners-up are back - check here for swimsuit & gown pics from last year.. They are first runner-up Katie Scannell, third runner-up Chelsea Armand (who was also fourth runner-up in 2014) and fourth runner-up Paige Goff.  Other returning semi-finalists are Chloe Burkett (T10 15), Emma Johnson (T10 15)  and J'Lynn Shelby (T15 15).

* denotes 2016 Miss contestant | ^ denotes 2016 Teen contestant: