By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Associate Editor
“I have learned so much about Louisiana through my reign as Miss Boggy Bayou that I never knew before,” proclaims Miss Boggy Bayou LXVIII Faith Elnora Billiot. She adds, “Being the 38th Miss Boggy Bayou has opened doors for me I never imagined. I have been in four magazines, won Miss Congeniality at LAFF and conquered goals I have dreamed of since I was a child. It has been one of the best experiences of my life!”
Billiot, the 20-year-old daughter of Doug and Cheryl Billiot of Sulphur and granddaughter of William and Shirley Ancelet and Raymond and Merryl Billiot, is a graduate of Sulphur High School and currently planning to attend the Ritz Academy to pursue a career in cosmetology. Her hobbies include learning more about Louisiana and what this amazing state has to offer, attending bake sales sponsored by the American Heart of Beauty organization for local heart patients, and playing with her fur baby Cooper.
As a “cause” queen, Billiot says, “I love a title that has a meaning behind it. Before I was the 38th Miss Boggy Bayou Queen, I was the 2022 Miss Louisiana Heart of Beauty Queen. While they both have a cause behind the crown, being Miss Boggy Bayou is an experience like no other. The people, community, and love you get during your reign are an experience in itself and I will forever be grateful for that.”
In addition to connecting with her fellow “Rhinestone Sisters,’ and festival board members, Billiot shares she has made many special memories throughout her reign. “Putting on a festival at the nursing home for the residents that reside at the Prairie Manor Nursing Home it was one of my top goals as Miss Boggy Bayou and to see their faces light up with joy that day was something I’ll never forget! Winning Miss Congeniality at LAFF knowing my fellow ‘Rhinestone Sisters’ thought I deserved this award is an honor in itself and I was absolutely over the moon about it. I was so excited, absolutely honored, and I could not believe it! Knowing my fellow sister queens voted me for this award makes it even more special! The connections I have made throughout my reign with these lovely ladies is something I will forever cherish and I can’t thank them enough!” She continues, “Being crowned the 38th Miss Boggy Bayou was an absolute honor. That day I was able to let my Maw Kay’s memory live on for a whole other year and I know she is smiling down on me from heaven so proud!”
During her reign, Billiot attended over 90 events, including festivals, cause events, parades, and pageants. She says, “Some events that I would have to say were the memorable would be the Louisiana Corn Festival, where I placed second in the boat races, holding a five foot gator with no tape on its mouth at the Alligator Festival, and getting ran over with a golf cart at the Beauregard Watermelon Festival.”
To be a good festival queen, Billiot shares with her successor, one must be extroverted, ambitious, and assertive. A queen must be extroverted because she will be talking to many residents, board members, fellow queens or someone in the community. She says, “You need to have a voice, as those conversations will be something you always remember. Let your voice be heard.” She encourages her successor to be ambitious so that any goal she has during her reign will become a reality. She adds, “A queen must be assertive to show the people looking up to you that you are confident in yourself and nothing you set your mind to is impossible.”
To her successor, Billiot points out, “Wearing this crown is a privilege and traveling the great state of Louisiana while representing Prairie Manor Nursing Home is an honor. No matter what you do or wherever this title takes you, always remember - don’t run; walk, take in every minute of representing this amazing festival, make connections with the residents because those conversations will be something you remember forever. Also, don’t be scared to bond with your board. They truly are the best support system you will ever have. Most importantly, be the best you can be and I promise you will make everyone around you proud.”
Billiot notes, “This past year I have had the best support system anyone could ever ask for and some of these people deserve a million thank yous. Without you guys this would have never been possible. First, Aunt Sandy, my reason. I am so incredibly honored to have let the memory of your mom live on throughout my reign. Not only was this for Maw Kay, but for you. I know how important this community and nursing home was to you, and having the chance to represent it for you is something I will truly never be able to put into words. I hope that throughout my year you were the proudest. I love you.”
To her Boggy Bayou Festival Board, Billiot has several special thank yous. “Mrs. Regina (Pate, pageant director), I am so blessed God gave me you as my first festival director. You have always been supportive, understanding, and compassionate towards me this year. Thank you for returning all my phone calls because I apparently always call while you are in the shower. Thank you for always knowing I’m gonna be late no matter if I leave early or not. But most importantly, thank you for treating me like your own and being someone I can always come to when needed. Your encouragement pushed me to do things I thought I could never be capable of. I love you always.”
To Mr. Andy (Carson), the best Mr. President there ever was and will be: “My favorite memory with you this year will always be our amazing dance moves. You say dance like no one is watching and that’s exactly what we did. You know how to make your queen feel like she is nothing less than the best. Your words of encouragement throughout my year will stay with me forever and I truly can’t thank you enough. It truly means the world(to me. Boggy is so very lucky to have you as its president.”
To Mrs. Loretta (Crawford, administrator of Prairie Manor Nursing Home): “Mrs. Loretta, you have been nothing but confident in me since the day I was crowned. Thank you for trusting me when I came to you with ideas and never doubting my ability. You have been the most supportive person I could have asked for this year. I love you so much.”
To Mr. TJ (Campbell) our District Two representative: “The only person to jump in a freezing cold pool with me and ride in the hotel elevator soaking wet after. Not once did you let me forget no matter if I’m the queen now or a has been, I will forever bleed Boggy blue. You are actually the funniest person and can make me laugh in any situation. Boggy and District Two are so blessed to have you.”
To Mr. Derrick (Thrasher): “I’m so honored to be your favorite heifer. You never make me feel less than who I am. You let me know that I have done a job well. You always reminded me that I will forever be your queen. Your cheers were heard in that whole room at LAFF when I walked in. I can’t thank you enough for your support and words of encouragement.”
To Mrs. Cathy, my favorite “on” cousin: “Yes, we found out we are cousins this year. You have never failed to make me feel anything less than confident in letting me know how beautiful and amazing of a job I’m doing as your queen. I promise I’ll never forget you.”
To the rest of the board members and their spouses, Billiot says. “Know that y’all do not go unnoticed and the Boggy Bayou Festival is blessed to have y’all.”
To her sister Boggy Bayou queens, Billiot says, “Chloe (Childers) my ‘teenie,’ this year our bond has grown deeper and deeper. Traveling our state together while representing something that means the world to both of us has been so bittersweet. I will forever cherish our friendship and I will never forget that one time you got stuck in a trash can in Wal Mart and had to get pulled out. I love you Chlo.” She continues, “Mrs. Jackie (Bergeron), you have been an outstanding representative of this title and LAFF with you was the most amazing experience. Thank you for checking on me and making sure I had everything ready to go. I promise I am standing up straight as I say this I love you.”
To Mrs Jennifer (Vidrine), “Thank you for not only raising the most amazing daughter, but for always FaceTiming me just to talk or make fun of Chloe with me while she’s at school. As my bond with Chloe grew, so did ours; and I’m so grateful for this year with you and Chloe. I will love you forever and I’m always one phone call away, or two.”
To Emma (Dees), the sweetest soul and my forever best friend: “When you told me you where competing (for the Boggy title), my heart was filled with joy knowing you also wanted the memory of Maw Kay to live on and to represent not only my favorite festival but Prairie Manor Nursing Home will forever be something I love about you. You have never once let me think my dreams were too big to reach. I love you.”
“To my Dad, my personal check book, my rock, my protector, my best friend: a father holds his daughters hand for a short while but he holds her heart forever. Thank you for everything you have ever done for me, from working long hours and many, many jobs so your princess can live out her big dreams. The sacrifices you made over the years for me to do the things I never imagined myself doing do not go unrecognized. I know you wanted a boy to be a football dad, but you ended up as a pageant dad. You may not know much about this world, but you sure are learning more and trying your best. I can’t thank you enough. Everything you do I know is for our family and I hope you know you don’t go unnoticed. You are our biggest hero. I love you more than you’d ever know.”
To her mom, Billiot says, “Momma, you deserve this title just as much as I did. Even though my words will never do enough in thanking you for the great contribution you made in my life, I want you to know I am deeply grateful for you, You have supported me and encouraged me, not only in the pageant world, but my whole life. This whole year wouldn’t have been possible without you. From driving me to every event, making sure everything is perfect for everything I do, to lifting me up with words of encouragement when I need it most. I believe in myself because you believed in me first. I have confidence because you never fail to give me words of affirmation and you never let me think I can’t. You always inspire me to be positive even when you know I’m ‘Negative Nancy.” I value myself because you have shown me what I am worth and never let me think less of myself. There is never a day that goes by that you stop and take a moment for yourself. You are the most selfless, kindness, inspiring, and strongest woman I know. You I inspire to be just like you. One day you are constantly going over and above for our family, even when you think you go unnoticed. I promise you I see it and I can’t even put into words on how thankful I am for you Mama. You are a true queen and deserve your own crown. You are the best gift from God I love you forever and a day, Mama.”
Billiot proclaims, “I have learned during my reign is nothing is impossible when you have an amazing support system behind you. The community, the board, and the residents in the nursing home will forever be your biggest supporters, and when you think something is just too impossible to do, they will help show you that the sky is the limit.”
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