It’s a tradition that Kelsey French and her grandmother share each year, planting lilies.
“We have a farm in Poplarville, Mississippi, and my grandmother and I have grown lilies together, outside the farmhouse. And every year they come back so much bigger than the year before,” said French.
Ahead of the typical spring season, French’s beloved lilies are blooming in a different way this year.
They will be prominently featured on her gown, as she serves as this year’s Queen of Carnival.
“So, we incorporated that into the dress, because the parade’s theme this year is ‘Rebirth and Renewal,'” said French.
French’s family has a deeply rooted history in the Rex Organization.
Her father, William Darwin French, is a lieutenant and serves as co-host of the live Meeting of the Courts broadcast. Her grandmother, Flora French, served as Queen of Carnival in 1959, and her grandfather, Ronald French, was Rex in 2007. Her brother, Ethan French, was a page in 2022.
Her family’s history with the Rex Organization dates back to John Schriever, who was King of Carnival in 1889.
“I’m so excited that I get to have this honor and share it with them,” said French.
“I think I’m most excited for my friends and family to just see their reactions to everything and see how much fun they’re all having. I’m also so excited to be able to have fun with the city and to have everyone celebrating Mardi Gras together, because this year it feels extra special.”
French is a 2023 graduate of Isidore Newman and currently attends TCU, where she is majoring in finance.
Despite her focus on funding, her passion project is the nonprofit founded by her mother, Kara Van de Carr.
Eden Centers for Hope and Healing is dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking by providing long-term and emergency shelter along with recovery services.
“It’s just so rewarding to get to give back to our community that’s so important to us. And we love the city of New Orleans, and anything we can do to help better the city is so rewarding for us,” said French.
In her free time, French enjoys running and just completed a half-marathon in December.
She also enjoys baking and traveling.
French said New Orleans is the perfect place, especially for Mardi Gras, and she can’t wait to celebrate with everyone along the route, and she begins a new toasting tradition for Rex at the Josephine on Napoleon Avenue.
“I hope that they’re having as much fun as I am this year, and that everyone knows how truly lucky we are to have these traditions and to have such a special city,” said French.
READ MORE:Queen Rex 2026 is Kelsey Grace French
