Simone Bruni, owner of Demo Diva, 2015 Queen Yolande honorary character

Since 2013 the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc has selected a local female leader to portray the role of Queen Yolande of Aragon. Women selected to portray Queen Yolande, who funded Joan’s army that ultimately made the King’s crowning a reality, are women who have demonstrated significant support for young women in the community, have business savvy and most importantly, like Queen Yolande, work strategically “behind the scenes” to uplift and improve the lives of New Orleanians.

About Simone Bruni, Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Queen Yolande of Aragon (2015)

As the founder and owner of Demo Diva Demolition Company, Simone blazed a trail for herself in a male dominated industry and all the while painting the town pink. Out of a storm, Demo Diva Demolition was born as hope triumphed over devastation. As a former corporate event planner, Simone applied her marketing and branding savvy to the demolition industry and built an iconic hot pink dumpster and demolition business quickly noticeable all around New Orleans. Nine years later and with a fleet of hot pink excavators, dumpsters, trucks, and a crew of men in hot pink hard hats, the Demo Diva is a symbol of fortitude and resilience.

Simone has invested in the young women of New Orleans through sponsoring flag football for girls and the cheerleading competitions to teach young women their voice and their strength. Simone is a board member of the LASPCA and the LA Women in Government and Business.

The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc selected Simone for her unwavering belief in herself and other women and her ability to make things happen against all odds.  Her kinship with Joan is as significant as her likeness to Queen Yolande, a clever and successful operator of kingdoms and armies.  “Simone displays the same type of fortitude as all powerful women in history: She takes herself seriously, and she listens to her inner voices.  It was Queen Yolande who made Joan of Arc a success with her big-picture understanding of politics and people.  It takes a certain kind of woman to get things done in what is still in many ways a man’s world. We select women who accomplish things in their own unique, sincere way.”

Former Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Queens:

2013: Betsie Gambel, Gambel Communications

2014: Mary Beth Romig, Public Affairs Specialist, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Division