Terreanians makes history with dual queenship

Ashley and Nicole Russo have been virtually inseparable since birth.

School clubs, dancing, cheerleading, attending college, and even going into business. You name it, they’ve done it together. A package deal.

The 19-year-old Houma teens will make Carnival history in the Tri-parishes Sunday, serving as co-queens as the Krewe of Terreanians presents “Only in New Orleans.”

Now in its 57th year, Terreanians will take its traditional West Houma route at 12:30 p.m. Kirk Meche is slated to reign as king. And the Russo sisters will serve as his queens.

“It’s a beautiful situation because these girls are so close,” said krewe captain Donnie Braud. “These girls were born into the Krewe of Terreanians. Their parents have been with us for a long time. And they’ve served before as pages and, a couple of years ago, as maids. I had a vision this year of them serving as queens.”

Dual queens are not a first for Mardi Gras, Braud said. In 1980, the Krewe of Alla in New Orleans anointed two women to the role.

But to the best of local historians’ recollection, two queens in one parade is a first for the Tri-parishes.

The Russo girls’ selection, Braud said, was always a given. In Terreanians, the job of choosing a queen falls to the ball and tableau captain.

“The thought of having one without the other never entered my mind,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to make a statement or anything. The idea of these twins as queen, especially with our chosen king, was a beautiful pairing.”

When the queens take center stage at Saturday night’s tableau at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Braud is certain Terreanians will appreciate the “marriage” between the king and queen.

“I can’t wait to see the court coming out from the curtains,” the krewe captain said.

The Russos share the sentiment.

Their schedule has been non-stop since the presentation of the court Dec. 31. There’ve been dress fittings n a second gown had to be made to accommodate the dual queenship, barbeques, umbrella decorating sessions and teas.

And with the big day fast approaching, the Russo twins said excitement was beginning to give way to nerves.

“Up to now I’ve just been excited,” Ashley said. “I’m sure the day before I’m going to be real nervous.”

With all the pre-parties and rehearsals before the big event, readying for the tableau and parade are not all that different from preparing a wedding feast. “Only you have a much bigger team to help,” she said.

An added benefit, Ashley is quick to remind others, is that she has someone she trusts going through the same experience to help keep her calm.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to do this without her,” she said of Nicole. “We just want to have fun… to have a real laid back reign and share it with her.”

And they’ll share a place in Terrebonne Parish’s Mardi Gras history.

“It’s a great honor to be part of that,” Nicole said, noting that she and Ashley have made friendships that will continue long after the weekend’s party is over.

“We’ve been pages and maids, so we knew there’s nothing to prepare you for the Terreanians’ royal treatment,” she said. “Our king and his wife are such wonderful people and the krewe has been so terrific, I’m just looking forward to the tableau and then the king’s day Sunday.”

For his part, Meche is realizing a dream of 22 years. “This is something I always dreamed of since the first day I joined the Krewe of Terreanians,” he said. At the krewe’s den Monday night, riders loaded their throws aboard the floats in preparation of Sunday’s big event.

“We’re hoping the weather will be good for us,” Meche said.

A board member, past duke and tableau producer, the Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., executive vice president is anxiously awaiting the weekend. “I can’t wait until we hit City Hall,” he said. “When we’re coming down toward City Hall and I see my family and my queens… that will be nothing but spectacular.”

From the stands, Meche’s wife, Ann, and his sons will be watching with Jon and Pamela Russo, the parents of Ashley and Nicole.

And just as the Russo twins have worked their way up the ranks to queen, Meche is hopeful he will one day pass the torch to his sons, Michael and Matthew.

Michael, 18, is a freshman studying pre-medicine at Nicholls State University. Matthew, 16, is a sophomore at Vandebilt Catholic High School. Like the Russo twins, the two have served as pages.

“Hopefully, one day, they may have the privilege and honor of knowing just how tremendous an experience serving as king of the Krewe of Terreanians has been.”

As for the Russo girls, it will be back to studying at Louisiana State University where Ashley is pursuing a degree in business accounting and Nicole is studying civil engineering. Ashley intends to run the family business, Sorelle’s shoe store in Houma. Nicole is keeping her options open.

“They have a special bond and we’re all excited about their special day,” Pamela Russo said. “But other than the Krewe of Terreanians, they’re not really queens. No one else is bowing down to them.”

Photo courtesy of Doug Keese Photography * Ashley and Nicole Russo, 19, of Houma, have been named queens of the 2007 Krewe of Terreanians’ Royal Court. Having served as past pages and maids, krewe captain Donnie Braud said naming the twins queen was the next logical step. For Terrebonne Parish, a dual queenship is a Mardi Gras first.

Doug Keese