Photo: Getty Images
A decorated combat veteran and a volunteer for the deaf are set to reign as King and Queen of Carnival in New Orleans.
James Reiss, III was familiar with the Rex organization from his childhood, since his grandmother, Alice Peak Reiss, designed all of Rex's costumes and floats from the mid-1950s to 1968.
Elinor White is a native of Metairie and a senior at the University of Texas.
She volunteers at the Bright School for the Deaf, which was founded by her grandmother because her father is deaf.
In another part of the state, The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association is naming three people as this year's royalty.
Dr. Jimmy Bienvenue will serve as King Gabriel, while Meghan Colomb and Olivia Phiarr will both serve as Queen Evangeline.
This is the first time the event has ever had two queens.
Phiarr was crowned Queen Evangeline last year, but the pandemic shut things down.
After attending the Queen's Parade Monday night, the royal threesome appeared at the King's Parade on Mardi Gras Day.
Copyright © 2021 TTWN Media Networks Inc.