2024 Maid of Honor Marley Marsalis
Apply to be Joan of Arc in 2026 in the Joan of Arc parade January 6 in New Orleans, and in our sister city Orléans, France, in the summer of 2026.
DEADLINE: November 1, 2025 at Midnight. No Exceptions!
The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc announces its annual student Joan of Arc competition for young women between the ages of 16-19 years old in New Orleans. The selected Maid of Honor will be chosen to ride on horseback as the namesake of our annual French Quarter Joan of Arc Parade on January 6, 2026. This contest is modeled after the contest held annually in Orléans, France, where a local girl is selected to lead a military parade celebrating Joan’s victorious lifting of the siege of Orléans from the British in 1429.
As of 2024, in addition to leading our French Quarter Joan of Arc parade on horseback on Twelfth Night and serving as the Maid of Honor throughout the parading year, the selected Maid of Honor will receive a travel scholarship to France to meet the French young Joan and represent New Orleans in our sister city!
FREE TO ENTER: There is no fee to enter the contest. The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc will provide the majority of the costume for the selected Joan. Some fees for special events and opportunities during the parading year may apply for the Maid’s family and associates, but all costs for parading, attending the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc’s special events, and travel to France, are included in this award.
Eligibility: This contest is open to young women, 16-19 years old (the ages of Joan’s most notable feats and trial), who have shown unique leadership abilities and are currently or have recently studied French in high school, college, or at home. (The candidate must be able to speak some French in conversation and be able to represent Joan for media opportunities, public presentations, and the travel to our sister city of Orleans). This contest does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ancestry or creed. The three top candidates will receive a brief phone interview to assess poise, confidence, grace, and French fluency so we may choose the best possible candidate to represent Joan of Arc in our parade, and throughout the year at local, national, and international events.
DEADLINE: November 1, 2025
- In addition to filling out the application form including two essays, send a letter of recommendation to founder_amy@joanofarcparade.org or by mail to THE JOAN OF ARC PROJECT 7330 Sycamore Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
- The selected Maid of Honor must be available 2 (two) horseback riding practice lessons to be scheduled with our parade horse coordinator in the weeks leading up to the January 6 parade.
- The selected Maid of Honor must be available to be publicly announced and meet the krewe at the coronation party (Dec. 15, 2025). The Maid will write and present her own brief inspiring speech in English and French for this event.
- The selected Maid of Honor must be available to ceremonially crown the king at the pre-parade banquet on January 5, 2026.
- The selected Maid of Honor must be available to ride on horseback and participate in two ceremonies at stops in the parade, the sword blessing at St. Louis Cathedral and the king cake ceremony in Oscar Dunn Park, January 6th, 2025.
- The selected Maid of Honor must be available (pending school and other obligations) for TV and radio appearances throughout the year, from the coronation date in December 2025 through December 2026.
- The New Orleans Rotary Fund, Inc., will award a travel scholarship to the New Orleans Joan of Arc to visit Orléans, France. The goal is for the New Orleans, Louisiana, “Joan of Arc” to meet the Orléans, France, “Jeanne d’Arc,” to experience and learn the history and culture of Orléans, and to build friendships. The Rotary Club of New Orleans formed a Sister City relationship with the Rotary Club of Orléans in 2021. The scholarship includes airfare and travel insurance for the recipient and a parent/chaperone. Lodging in local homes and most meals will be provided by the Rotary Club of Orléans. The date of this visit will be during the summer of 2026. Past Maids of Honor include: Life Sacco (2025), Marley Marsalis (2024), Emmeline Meyer (2023), Ava Wilkes (2022), Zoe Kanga (2020), Alyssa Fortier (2019), Martha Pinney (2018), Heloise Trumel (2017), Margaux Schexnider (2016), Emma Martello (2015), Clara Bajeux (2014), Gretchen Neuenhaus (2013), Aggie Bell (2012), Mallory Young (2011) and Blair Davis (2010).
- Questions: captain@joanofarcparade.org + founder_amy@joanofarcparade.org
2026 Maid of Honor Life Sacco (Photo by Gary H. Jones)
2020 Maid of Honor Zoe Kanga from Lusher.
2012 Maid Aggie Bell crowns our 2012 King Charles VII, Damien Regnard at the king cake ceremony at the end of the parade
2013 Maid of Honor Gretchen Neuenhaus