University of Louisiana at Monroe student Megan Dutton will reign as the 21st Queen of the Krewe of Dionysus in one of the most celebrated New Orleans Mardi Gras parades.

Dutton, a freshman student and pre-pharmacy major, will rule over the streets of Slidell with over 10,000 people in attendance on Sunday, Feb. 19, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Krewe of Dionysus has 300 members with 15 floats, seven high school bands, four horse riding groups, five dance teams, three motorcycle groups and the Budweiser Clydesdales. This year’s theme is “Dionysus goes Caribbean.”

“She is an excellent student as well as an wonderful person to know,” said Scott Hughes, president of the Krewe of Dionysus.

Dutton has a long-standing family history with the Krewe. She began her royal journey by being nominated as one of six honored maids at a coronation ball on Jan. 14. The maids then experienced an almost musical chairs scenario with a king cake spinning in the opposite direction. When the music stopped, each maid selected a ribbon from the cake. Dutton’s medallion displayed diamonds, and she became queen for all of the Krewe’s activities throughout the year.

“I consider my appointment as queen to be a high honor, and I’m very proud to represent the Krewe of Dionysus,” said Dutton.