IBERIA PARISH — Nearly a decade ago, Berry Queens President Andree Schlicher recognized a need in her community—and set out to fill it.

“I noticed almost 10 years ago that there was a similar event going on in Lafayette… and I thought, why aren’t we doing that in Iberia Parish?” Schlicher recalled. That idea became Beauties & Beauxs, an annual event hosted by the Berry Queens of New Iberia. The program makes sure every high school student in the area has access to free homecoming attire— dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories.

“A lot of families find that as a hardship to have to go get the homecoming dress or the prom dress and all of the things that come with it,” Schlicher said. “So if we could kind of alleviate that hardship by providing the dress and the accessories, then it’s just

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