The annual greasing of the poles at the Royal Sonesta helped kick off Mardi Gras weekend in the French Quarter, and a local musician is this year's greasing of the poles champion.
Northshore native Amanda Shaw took home the title by earning a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40 on the four judges' scorecards.
Shaw may have played her fiddle to start this morning's festivities, but she didn't fiddle around while greasing the poles. Shaw rosined--rather, Vaselined--up her bow and her cleavage to lubricate not one but two poles. At one point that bow doubled as a riding crop as Shaw slid down the pole, demonstrating techniques that would have made some of the most experience dancers on Bourbon Street proud.
"Amanda, I loved how you double butter-churned it the entire time," judge Ryan Rogers said. "That was insane!"
However, Shaw suffered a tiny measure of embarrassment in the process. She suffered a wardrobe malfunction during her final slide down one of the poles, forcing her to retreat into the hotel to change tops.
Despite the minor hiccup, Shaw returned to finish her performance and win the bottle of Moët et Chandon Champagne.
"As the queen of Cajun Country, I just wanted to remember my roots, and I wanted to make sure I bring that everywhere I go, even to a pole, so I brought my violin bow. We got out there, and we just greased it all up and did our best," Shaw said.
So, where is champion pole-greaser Shaw off to now?
"To take a shower!" she exclaimed with a laugh.