Sen. John Kennedy, chair of the 75th Washington Mardi Gras, has announced that former New Orleans Saints quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees will reign as King of the 2024 ball. Camille Morrison, a rising sophomore at Texas Christian University (TCU), will be Queen of the celebration. The Mystick Krewe of Louisianians has organized the event for more than 60 years.
“Washington Mardi Gras has always been a celebration of Louisiana’s unmatched spirit and strength. Louisiana is the most interesting state in America and should never be reluctant to remind the world of our value and our values. I can’t think of a better ambassador for that message than Drew Brees. He and Camille have already made our state proud and will make the 75th Washington Mardi Gras’s festival particularly joyous,” said Kennedy.
Brees led the New Orleans Saints to its first ever Super Bowl championship and spent 20 seasons as an NFL quarterback, where he set the record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
“This is one of the greatest celebrations for the state of Louisiana each year. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase the great culture and tradition we share as a state with our nation’s leaders in our nation’s capital. It’s an absolute honor to be chosen as the King for the 75th anniversary of Washington Mardi Gras. This year will be one to remember!” said Brees.
“I am honored to have been chosen by the Mystick Krewe of Louisianans to serve as Queen for the 75th anniversary of Washington Mardi Gras and am proud to help celebrate the Krewe’s historic 75th Anniversary year,” said Morrison.
Morrison is the daughter of Shane and Sarah Morrison. A native of Baton Rouge, she is pursuing a degree in business at TCU and is a member of the Rho Epsilon chapter of Chi Omega sorority. Morrison also enjoys volunteering her time with The Make a Wish Foundation in Fort Worth.
In addition to the Brees and Morrison, the ball’s royal court will include princesses selected by members of Congress, festival queens from across Louisiana, and krewe members. The annual parade will take place at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Washington Mardi Gras is an annual celebration entering its 75th year. The origin of the festivities dates back to the 1940’s, when Louisiana business leaders sought to bring a taste of Louisiana Mardi Gras to its homesick Louisiana Congressional delegation and staffers during the Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras day. The multi-day event and its signature costume ball and parade (featuring a king, queen and royal court of princesses and Louisiana festival queens) has been operating for 68 of those years under the direction of “The Mystick Krewe of Louisianans” (a 500-member krewe consisting of men and women from Louisiana and Washington, DC). The Mystick Krewe is managed by The Washington Mardi Gras Corporation and its five-member board, commonly referred to as its Senior Lieutenants. For more information on the krewe and its history, please see the krewe website, www.mkofl.com.
