Avery McMahon, Delta Zeta President, Heads Miss LSU USA Competition

By Marie Jansen Delta Zeta hosted its 16th annual Miss LSU USA competition, March 23, crowning Mass Communication student, Deandra DeNapoli. Delta Zeta hosts Miss LSU in order to raise money for its philanthropies. This pageant is not something that is easily accomplished; it takes a lot of time, planning and people to make this pageant run smoothly. Avery McMahon, Delta Zeta president, makes sure this pageant is successful each year through appointing a Miss LSU board, advertising through her chapter members and working with local companies. McMahon does not put together this pageant on her own. McMahon states, We have 25 ad team leaders from chapter members, 10 people on the Miss LSU committee including two directors. Those on the Miss LSU team have worked five hours once a week since the day after last years pageant ended. McMahon claims that she is on duty all day, every day. Miss LSU is only part of the duties she is entitled to fulfill. Miss LSU USA is Delta Zetas main fundraiser for their philanthropies. McMahons main goal for the pageant is to raise about $60,000, beating last years amount, which was totaled at $55,000. McMahon wants the pageant to be a good learning experience for the contestants along with those watching. McMahon articulates, Speaking for Delta Zeta, We would love to broaden the overall acknowledgement of Speech and Hearing and the Painted Turtle Camp, the philanthropies we support, through this pageant. As chapter president, McMahon hopes to reach out to Delta Zeta Alums and members of the community to attend the pageant to show support for our philanthropies. She hopes to raise money through advertisements, donations and attendance. With any big event, there are complications. McMahon states, Preparing before really helps with anything that could come up. Before the pageant, I am just trying to make sure that everything is planning out and that everything is set ahead of time.

During the pageant, I am able to contact committee members. McMahon explains that if anything goes wrong during the pageant, it helps better prepare them for the next years pageant. Every pageant is a learning experience for those who plan it, those who participate and those who are watching. Delta Zeta has not always had the Miss LSU USA pageant, as this was only the 16th annual pageant. Miss LSU was another sororitys event before Delta Zeta took over. From Delta Zeta taking over Miss LSU, they have doubled the revenue, attendance, community outreach and overall acknowledgement. Delta Zeta has also connected the partnership with the Miss LSU and the Miss USA pageant, meaning the winner gets to compete in the Miss USA Pageant. Delta Zeta turned this into their main philanthropy because of the amount rose that Delta Zeta has been able to give to their philanthropies. With Miss LSU only taking up part of McMahons presidential duties, she is a very busy woman. McMahon exclaims, The most difficult thing is being available at all times. I am on the Greek Life Board Committee, I have a job and work 13 hours a week. It is hard to answer everyones questions whenever I get them, but I try my best to. Another main difficulty is keeping up with outside friendships, family and me time. The best way McMahon combats her busy schedule is by having her phone on her at all times, checking her email regularly and trying to separate school, family and Delta Zeta so that she can make time for everything. McMahon is very thankful for position that she holds. McMahon has not yet calculated the total amount raised from this years pageant, but exclaimed that the pageant ran very smoothly and was a success. Miss LSU is just one successful part of McMahons term as president. McMahons favorite part about being chapter president is, Seeing my chapter members happy. Seeing them feel privileged to be a Delta Zeta and understanding what the sorority actually means. Overall, I want everyone to be pleased with the outcome of the chapter. McMahons love for her sorority doesnt just stem from how Miss LSU has helped their philanthropies. It has grown stronger since the first day she stood on Delta Zetas lawn wearing her sororitys letters.