Nenah Savoy, the New Iberia Jr. Spanish Festival Queen, visited the Swamp Pop Museum Friday. Savoy, 14, has some family ties to Swamp Pop as her grandfather, Robert LeBlanc, once sat in a music session with the Boogie Kings. LeBlanc played saxophone and his instrument was ruined in a fire, so he turned it into a planter.
Savoy then talked about her Spanish roots. Her paternal great-grandmother’s surname was Segura, and the Seguras were one of the seven founding Spanish families in New Iberia.
Savoy said some Spanish food is similar to Cajun food, especially paella, which is similar to jambalaya. She said she enjoys Spanish food, but still likes her jambalaya.
When asked what she likes most about being the Jr. Spanish Festival Queen, Savoy said, “I like to travel around the state of Louisiana to promote my festival. We have lots of Spanish food, bands, and a 5k run.”
Savoy, the reigning queen, will retire her crown in October. El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia is held in April, but the pageant is held in October. When asked what she would say to the upcoming queen, she said, “Just have fun. Go to as many places as you can, because it’s a really good experience.”
As visiting royalty, Savoy has traveled to other festivals, such as the Independence Festival in Cecelia and the Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales.
After Savoy toured the Swamp Pop Museum, she said she had a better understanding of the kind of music her grandfather loved and played. She said she was delighted to visit Ville Platte as a representative of the New Iberia Spanish Festival.
September 15, 2026
