By Bonnie Culverhouse

Excitement continues to build as the Miss Louisiana Volunteer Organization officially announced that Minden will serve as the host city for its 2025 state pageant in November.

During a press conference Monday Minden Mayor Nick Cox, Economic Development Director Sarah Overall and Miss Louisiana Volunteer Director Kayla Rodriguez made the announcement. Rodriguez is a Minden native and former Miss Minden who said the decision to bring the pageant home was deeply personal.

“I didn’t choose Minden by chance,” she said. “I chose it because I know the heart of this town …”

Rodriguez described the program as about growth, leadership and connection.

Cox said this is more than just about a pageant.

“To us, it’s about showcasing our city and showing the best part of us, which is the friendly side of Minden,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for us. It’s about economic growth.”

Overall said the pageant will be transformative for the community for many years to come.

“It’s more than just a cultural event,” she said. “It’s a strategic opportunity for economic growth, visibility and a long-term impact.”

Miss Louisiana Volunteer Organization was begun in 2018 with the first pageant taking place in 2021. This year’s state pageant in Minden will be held November 6-8 and will be tied to fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Pictured above are (back row from left), Mayor Nick Cox; new director Kayla Rodriguez; City of Minden Economic Development Director Sarah Overall; Sydney Sotak, Miss Louisiana Volunteer Teen; Anna Claire Lemoine, Miss Louisiana Volunteer; former director Anne Harmon; Harlan Harvey; (front row from left), Emily Grace Yount and Tynlee Alston, who served as Anna Claire’s princesses during the Miss Louisiana Volunteer Pageant.