A local business owner is this year's Mardi Gras pole greasing champion.
Fleurty Girl proprietor Lauren Haydel won the 2025 edition of the Greasing of the Poles on Bourbon Street. To do so, she used a ton of Vasoline, a wardrobe appropriate for Bourbon Street, and a stroke that would make Billy Squire and Clarence Carter jealous.
"First of all, I feel like, have you been on a pole before?" New Orleans TV news anchor Tamika Lee joked while critiquing Haydel's performance. "You looked so good up there (with) that little tight body. You worked that pole!"
Lee and her fellow judges awarded Haydel perfect scores of 10. The crowd agreed with the judges' assessments, chanting Haydel's name as she basked in her glory.
For her efforts, Haydel won a bottle of champagne.
Bounce musician Ha Sizzle was this year's runner up. The other contestants were journalist Chelsea Brasted and food blogger Evelyn Bories.





