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The annual Twelfth Night celebration took place on Friday, Jan. 7 and introduced the candidates who are currently running for King and Queen of the Mask. Cochran Gallery hosted the crowd for about two hours as the candidates and their loved ones celebrated the nomination and tried to garner support for their campaigns. The annual fundraiser provides funding for Twin Cedars, which helps children and families in the Troup County community. The organization’s programs aid in child advocacy and drug prevention, such as the Troup County Prevention Coalition.

The month-long campaign will conclude on Feb. 12 with the Behind the Mask Mardi Gras Ball.

Sheri Codi, executive director of Twin Cedars, said she was excited at Friday’s event despite her worries about the pandemic.

“I’m feeling really excited. We were concerned about the virus and whether people would want to come and how to make it safe,” Codi said. “I feel good. I feel good about that.”

Codi said the candidates for king and queen are members of the community who have both strong ties to LaGrange and an outgoing personality.

“We look around the community for a couple things. Who has connections in the community, but who also has that personality [where] they don’t mind putting themselves out there?” Codi said.

The five men running for king are Alex Beall, Zack Britt, Coleman Foss, Lonnie Thornton, and Nigel Walker. The seven women running for queen are Larhonda Bailey, Avery Britt, Kendall Butler, Jenna Eady, De’sa Fuller, Angelia Laws and Tiffany Lowery.

Codi said the members of their court are unique in their own ways, but they all have a part of their personality in common.

“[They are] the group of people who are willing to jump into the river in the winter time with hype, not just anybody’s going to run for king or queen,” Codi said. “These are people that people in the community know and go, ‘oh, that person has the perfect personality to take that on.’”

To vote for a candidate, visit https://www.twincedars.org/behind-the-mask-royalty-2022. Codi said if citizens want to support their candidate they need to help with their king or queen’s campaign. They can do this by raising awareness and donations. She said they hope to meet last year’s donations total which was over $120,000.

“Every dollar is a vote. So if they’ve got a favorite candidate, give lots of votes to that. If on the other hand, they don’t have a favorite candidate, give a few votes to several friends,” Codi said.