Miss America

I would hope that they could see that in a society that teaches you to be dependent upon others, that you need to be an independent woman. You should also be kind and compassionate to all that you meet, because you could be the person to change their life.”

The young woman who has reigned as the 2017 Jeff Davis Parish Fair Queen will not be handing off her crown in person tonight, but she will be serving her country.

Eighteen-year-old Brylee Crochet is currently stationed at Ft. Lee, Virginia, where she is continuing Advanced Individual Training with the United States Army. Just weeks after graduating from Elton High School this year, she left for basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, on June 12, which she completed Aug. 23.

But the soldier is also a queen. Crochet represented her alma mater during the 2017 fair queen contest, ultimately earning the crown. As eager as she was to enter the pageant world, she was even more eager to become a soldier after years of considering careers that help those in need.

“I always wanted to do something that would allow me to help people,” she said. “First I wanted to be a firefighter, then a counselor. Then I decided, why not join the military, where I can help people by serving my country? I also wanted to go to college at the same time to earn a degree in psychology.”

Despite being doubted by some, Crochet began the process of enlisting when she was 16, then was sworn in at 17.

“I’ve had people tell me that I wouldn’t follow through with it and that I wouldn’t make it,” she said. “My family was been called crazy for letting me do it, but my parents tell people that they can’t pick my future. My mom and dad have been my biggest supporters.”

Her older brother Joel was actually inspired by his sister to enlist as well, she said, which gave her more motivation to work toward her goals.

Helping others and wanting to be a positive role model were two reasons she began joining pageants, and the fair queen contest was the one that sparked her interest.

“I watched this pageant for years,” she said. “Finally one day when my mom and I were selling tickets at a Mardi Gras pageant, I begged her all morning to buy a dress and shoes so I could compete, and she did. I always looked up to the older girls that competed, and I hoped that there would be one little girl’s life I could influence like others had done for me.”

Her fellow soldiers did not believe that they were training with a pageant queen.

“They didn’t believe me until I showed them pictures,” Crochet said.

Right now, she is unsure how long she will serve with the Army, though she said she is not opposed to the idea of becoming a career soldier.

No matter what she does, she hopes to inspire young girls.

“I would hope that they could see that in a society that teaches you to be dependent upon others, that you need to be an independent woman,” she said. “You should also be kind and compassionate to all that you meet, because you could be the person to change their life.”

The queen’s contest will begin at 7 p.m. tonight at the fairgrounds arena on La. 26 south in Jennings. There is no entry fee for spectators.