Miss Louisiana USA Brittany Guidry readies for Miss USA competition

Over the next two weeks, contestants in the Miss USA competition will be in Baton Rouge, visiting with public figures and participating in special events as a way to introduce themselves to the community and drum up interest for the main event.

One contestant who doesn’t need much of an introduction to the Capital City is Brittany Guidry.

The Houma native and current Miss Louisiana USA will represent the state in the Miss USA pageant Sunday, June 8, at the River Center. The event starts at 7 p.m. Limited tickets remain and start at $75 via Ticketmaster. The pageant, which is estimated to fill up to 4,000 local hotel rooms and has a viewing audience of around 100 million people, will be broadcast live on NBC.

This spring, Guidry had a few minutes to talk with 225 about the pageant, her chances and her experience in competition. Check out the Q&A below.

225: What was your reaction to the pageant being held in Baton Rouge?
Brittany Guidry: At first, I was surprised because there were so many rumors it would be in Miami or Las Vegas. It has been in Las Vegas the last couple of years, and it’s held there because it gets big crowds. When it was announced that it would take place here, I was excited. The announcement also made me relax a little bit. I’ll definitely have the largest crowds. My friends and family will come down. Since it’s right in my back yard, I’ll be in my comfort zone.

225: Do you think you’ll have an advantage?
Guidry: I think it will get me noticed more since it’s in my home state. We’re going to be doing a lot of events. All the contestants will get there on May 26. We will have two weeks to see Baton Rouge, do some fun stuff, then rehearse for the live show. If anything, it will benefit me.

225: How do you prepare for the competition?
Guidry: There are three portions to the pageant—swimsuit, evening gown and interview. For the interview, we have a private interview with the judges then have questions on stage. Working out is a huge part of my preparation. They don’t want a stick figure girl, though. They want someone who is relatable. The swimsuit portion is important, and you have to do it right. I’ve been training with Angelo Frazier from South Carolina. I’ve flown to Atlanta to meet with dress designer Sherri Hill for the evening gown, and I’ve got something beautiful picked out. But a lot of it is just staying on top of current events. I’ll turn on Today in the morning. I’ll watch the news. I have to have enough of an opinion of everything. Getting to know yourself and being true to that is an important part, too.

225: What would happen if you won?
Guidry: Well, I’d get a gorgeous crown and tiara [laughs]. I’d have an apartment in New York and be a resident for the next year. I’d travel around the United States, have a daily schedule and participate in different events with philanthropies. We do a lot of work with organizations like Best Buddies, so I have to be a role model for these youth as well.

225: When did you start competing?
Guidry: I’ve been doing this since I was 14 years old. I jumped into it. I was a tomboy when I was little. My teachers had to ask me to stop playing football with the boys in seventh grade. My cousin [Michelle Berthelot] was involved in pageants. I watched when she won the Miss Louisiana USA pageant [in 2008]. It was exciting. I saw all the things she had done that year and how she got involved in the community. I thought all that stuff was cool. It wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. I wasn’t expecting for it to be so rewarding. In 2009, I competed for the Miss Louisiana Teen USA title and won. It’s been a great ride ever since.