Published June 15, 2021
Miss Louisiana 2021 contestants enjoyed a luncheon on Monday at Bayou Point at the
University of Louisiana Monroe. ULM has six students and two recent graduates participating
in Miss Louisiana. They are, from left, Asja Jordan, Kennedy Boston-Woods, Carmin
Velasquez, Allison Newton, Monica Whitman, Laura Willis, Julia Williams, and Ambria
Terrell. The new Miss Louisiana will be crowned Saturday, June 19, at the Jack Howard
Theatre.
Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services
ULM hosts Miss Louisiana contestants during competition week
The University of Louisiana Monroe is well represented in the 2021 Miss Louisiana Competition. Six current students and two 2020 alumnae are vying for the title this
week at the Jack Howard Theatre.
ULM students participating include Kennedy Boston-Woods, Allison Newton, Ambria Terrell,
Carmin Velasquez, Monica Whitman, Laura Willis, and alumnae Asja Jordan and Julia
Williams.
For the 16th year, the university is hosting the contestants, who live on campus while
participating in Miss Louisiana.
"It is a longtime tradition for the Miss Louisiana contestants to stay at ULM during
competition week. We missed having them last year and welcome them all," said Lisa
Miller, Vice President of Enrollment and University Relations. "The Miss Louisiana
Organization provides scholarships to so many contestants, which shows its commitment
to education. ULM is proud to be a sponsor."
Meagan Lee Morris, ULM's Assistant Director of Student Engagement, is the Miss ULM
Executive Director. She has been with the Miss Louisiana Organization for 15 years
and serves as a local director. She is the liaison between ULM and MLO.
"ULM is a corporate sponsor of the competition by providing in-kind scholarships for
the top five competitors, Miss Louisiana's apartment on campus during her year of
service, and hosting the dozens of candidates from across our state during competition
week," Morris said.
Katie Redman is the University of Louisiana Monroe's Outstanding Teen and competed
in the Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen Competition on June 13. She placed first
runner up and received the Children's Miracle Network Children's Miracle Maker Award
for raising more than $7,000 for CMN hospitals.
Live stream for preliminaries and finals competitions Thursday-Saturday: https://bit.ly/3zCm9uv. The finals on Saturday, June 19 will be shown locally on KAQY TV 11.
Miss Louisiana 2021 contestants pictured with President Ron Berry and Dr. Christine
Berry at a luncheon Monday, June 14 at Bayou Pointe. Eight woment from ULM are in
this year's competition.
Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services
ULM student and alumnae contestants for Miss Louisiana
Kennedy Boston-Woods, Miss Monroe – Boston-Woods is a senior majoring in Marketing. She is from Monroe
and is the daughter of Andrea Woods and Christopher Boston. Her Social Impact is "Perfectly
Imperfect" and focuses on promoting positive body images through social media. She
describes ULM as "a wonderful campus where anyone and everyone is welcome. The staff
and students make attending ULM worthwhile. It truly is #theBestontheBayou." As Miss
Louisiana, Boston-Woods wants "to encourage all women to embrace who they are and
be confident in the skin they're in."
Asja Jordan, Miss Taste of the Twin Cities – Jordan is a May 2020 graduate of ULM with a degree
in Communications Advocacy. She is from West Monroe, and her Social Impact is "Potential
2 Kinetic" or "P2K." She described P2K as "a catalyst for growth and transformation
within individuals and communities through physical and mental health practices."
She said ULM helped mold her into the woman she is today. "Professors, mentors, and
my peers have encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone to pursue the imaginable.
I am forever grateful for my Warhawk family!" she said. As Miss Louisiana, Jordan
said she would promote her platform P2K. “Through these practices, I believe someone
is able to creative positive changes in their lives and communities. I want to be
the catalyst for that change as Miss Louisiana,” she said.
Allison Renee Newton, Miss University of Louisiana Monroe – Newton graduated from ULM in December 2020
with a Bachelor of Art in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She is
enrolled in classes and continuing her education. She is from Monroe and the daughter
of Todd and Nicole Newton. Her Social Impact is "Extend Her Life, Extend Her Legacy,"
promoting female reproductive health. Of her ULM experience, she said, "ULM has amazing
resources that prove it is here to ensure the success of its students. Attending ULM
is a personalized experience; that is what sets it apart." If chosen Miss Louisiana,
Newton plans a "combination of service, leadership, performing, and working with the
people of my home state.”
Ambria Terrell, Miss Lagniappe – Terrell is a senior in the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing. From
Shreveport, Terrell's Social Impact is "LEARN – Let's End Assault and Rape Now." She
describes ULM "as a home away from home. It's filled with a beautiful bayou surrounded
by diversity and creativity within its student body." Terrell said she wants to be
"Miss Louisiana because I want to make a bigger impact in our community. I strive
to be a leader in the present moment; however, with the title, I can elevate even
further!"
Carmin A Velasquez, Miss Natchitoches City of Lights– Velasquez is majoring in Political Science with
a minor in Communications. From Sterlington, she is the daughter of Kimberly and Caesar
Velasquez. Velasquez chose the Social Impact "Don't Worry Beat Happy" and hopes to
become Miss Louisiana "to be a voice for those misdiagnosed with heart conditions.
When I was in middle school, I was misdiagnosed with anxiety, and I want individuals
to know they know their body best and to speak up about what is truly going on with
themselves." She loves being a Warhawk and said, "ULM is a welcoming and beautiful
place to call your home for the next four years of your life!"
Monica Whitman, Miss Dixie Gem Peach – Whitman is a third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student who earned
her bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minor in chemistry. The Tioga resident
is the daughter of Angie Waggener and Tim Whitman. Her Social Impact is "Full STEM
Ahead" to promote STEM courses for high school students. She said, "ULM is a place
where you have so many opportunities to get involved, which I love! There is something
for everyone, and every single faculty member is there to help you in whatever your
goals are after college. It's also the most beautiful campus I've ever seen! If crowned
Miss Louisiana, Whitman wants to "redefine who Miss Louisiana is and what she can
accomplish. I'm a scientist, and I'm proud to be one. I want to show everyone that
Miss Louisiana can be a scientist.
Julia Williams, Miss Heart of Pilot – Williams graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2020 with a
Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med and a minor in chemistry.
Williams, from Kinder, is the daughter of Angela Palermo LaBuff and Jim Williams.
Her Social Impact is "Find Your FREDDY: Fostering Rewarding Engagements with Disabled
and Disadvantaged Youth." Describing her university experience, she said, "ULM feels
like a home away from home! The best truly is on the bayou!" She said being selected
"Miss Louisiana would provide me with the perfect means by which to bolster community
support of disabled and disadvantaged youth while also representing our beautiful
state that I so dearly love."
Laura Willis, Miss Krewe de Bon Temps Amis – Willis is a senior in Communications with a concentration
in Public Relations. She is the daughter of Lawrence and Kaye Willis and is from Sikes.
Her Social Impact, "Promoting Excellence in Youth," provides children the opportunities
to develop creativity and talent and provide the resources to become positive contributors
to society. Willis considers ULM her home. "I could not imagine these last few years
without being a part of this university and its family." If chosen Miss Louisiana,
she will "not only represent this state but to serve this state. This state is so
uniquely beautiful, and I would love the opportunity to showcase that at Miss America."
Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen
Katie Redman, University of Louisiana Monroe Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen – Redman is from
West Monroe and the daughter of Michael and Yvette Redman. She is majoring in Animal
Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Redman describes ULM "as my home away from home.
I grew up participating in events such as the Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen pageant
and dance workshops that were held at ULM." Her platform is Rachel's Challenge: Choosing
Kindness over Bullying.
#misslouisiana2021
