By Darragh Doiron
The News staff writer
GROVES — Just as soon as Danielle Chelette returned her Texas Pecan Festival Queen crown, a new tiara was set to sparkle by the fireplace.
Chelette is now a double queen. This year the Groves resident will represent Port Arthur as the CavOILcade Queen. Catch her in Saturday’s parade in downtown Port Arthur.
“Oh goodness, I’m so grateful to be the CavOILcade Queen. It just came as such a shock. I was just so excited,” Chelette said, recalling the announcement on coronation night.
She said she reacted, then thought for a moment on if she really, actually did hear her name called as the winner.
Chelette, daughter of Charles and Becky Chelette, represents Port Arthur Rotary. She served as Texas Pecan Festival Queen this past year and is an Indianette at Port Neches-Groves High School.
As Pecan Queen, she organized a community drive to benefit animal shelters and said she plans to study the CavOILcade organization to see how she could better serve as Queen.
Because her mother was a CavOILcade princess, Chelette said she’s been enjoying looking at her scrapbook.
“I think it’s awesome that I’ve followed in my Mom’s footsteps. She’s a great person,” Chelette said.
Her mother, Becky, said she has fond memories of the city festival and they’re blending in with these new memories of her daughter’s participation.
“It’s just been exciting and overwhelming. Yes it has,” Becky Chelette said. “It really is surreal. It’s wonderful. I just never dreamed that this would be happening. I was in it 26 years ago.”
Chelette said she’s been sharing her excitement with Charlee, her 13-year-old sister.
At PN-G High School, Chelette is active with Future Teachers of America, Family Career Community Leaders of America and Student Council. She is a peer tutor for elementary students and she is part of the journalism staff. She plans to attend Lamar University to study business and real estate.
CavOILcade continues with a style show at noon on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Pompano Club. For ticket information, call 498-1793.
The CavOILcade parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in downtown Port Arthur.
ddoiron@panews.com
