Mobile Carnival Association’s Queen Seline Vaughan Morrissette

This year’s Queen of Mardi Gras is none other than Seline Vaughan Morrissette. For years, Seline has watched numerous members of her family serve in various capacities of Carnival seasons past, and now the crown and scepter have been passed to her. Seline says she’s honored and excited to represent her family and the beautiful city she loves so much this 2020 Mardi Gras season.

By Caroline Edmondson / Photos Stevye Photography

Seline Vaughan Morrissette was born to be Mardi Gras queen­ – literally! Born the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday more than 20 years ago, Mardi Gras has always been a special time for her. With her birthday often falling near the season, it was only natural that she’d have countless parade-themed birthday parties through the years. “Her birth was induced because her dad was catering the OOM’s first Sunday party,” explains Seline’s mother, Melissa Morrissette. “The OOMs had decided to move from having their ball on Tuesday night following their parade to the Sunday before. Her dad didn’t want to miss her birth, but knew he had to be at the OOMs because it was an important change in format for them. Her birthday will fall one week before Fat Tuesday again this year, almost exactly as when she was born,” she says.

 The daughter of Clifton and Melissa Morrissette, Queen Seline is currently a Presidential Scholar in the Honors College of the University of Alabama where she is set to graduate with a Red Cap in May of this year. While at Alabama, Seline has been a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority in which she has served as both New Member Co-Chair and a part of the Standards Committee. She also dedicates her time as a tutor for the Culverhouse LIFT Program, as an Honor College DREAM mentor, and as a Believe UA mentor. Seline also holds membership in various honor societies as a reward for her impressive 4.0 GPA each year. After graduating, Seline hopes to work in Washington, D.C. for a year or two before returning to school to pursue an MBA or JDMBA. “Based on my degrees, in the long-term I know I want some career path in the world of business,” Seline says.

 Seline first found out she would be reigning as Queen in late May of last year when her father sent her on an errand to sign some papers at a stockbroker’s office. The mission was all a rouse, however, which Seline soon realized. “When I opened the door, several members of the Carnival Association Committee were there with champagne and flowers,” she recalls. “Mr. Ma'on, my uncle Tay Morrissette, and a very close family friend, Mitchum Jackson, all asked me to be Queen. I was shocked! It was the last thing I was expecting when I was told to go run an errand, but quickly I got super excited for all the fun ahead,” she beams. Both of Seline’s parents are extremely proud of their daughter for being chosen for such an important role in Mobile culture. “Mardi Gras plays such a significant role in our great city,” Melissa says. “Seline is so thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this great tradition.” Of her selection, Seline adds, “Mardi Gras is a fantastic celebration of our city’s heritage and getting to play a role in the history of it is a tremendous honor.” Mardi Gras has always been a big celebration of family and friends for Seline as well. “Since I am the youngest grandchild on both sides of my family, I have always enjoyed watching my brothers and cousins participate in Mardi Gras, and I can’t believe it’s finally my time to get to be a part of it,” she exclaims.

 Queen Seline’s family history of Mardi Gras is an extensive one, dating back to the 1930s when her great grandfather, Clifton Clarke Inge, Sr., reigned as King of Carnival alongside Queen Sophia Dunlap. Her father, Clifton Inge Morrissette, first served as Herald in the Court of Queen Nancy Turner and King Felix, William Richard Delaney. In 1985, her mother, Melissa Seline Cope, was a Lady in the Court of Queen Louise Shearer Brock and King Felix, Edward Dickson Williams, Jr., while her father served as her mother’s knight. Her brother, Clifton Inge Morrissette, Jr., was an Equerry to His Majesty John Schley Rutherford, Jr. in the court of Queen Margaret Vidmer Oswalt (Mrs. Lyle Emory Hutchison, III). Her brother, William Frank Cope Morrissette, was an Equerry to His Majesty Angus Royal Cooper, III in the court of Queen Katherine Burgin Hope (Mrs. Andrew William Stenger). William also served as a Knight in the Court of Queen Kathleen Anne Shearer and King Felix, James Tunstall Inge, Jr. and also in the court of Queen Anna Robison McClure (Mrs. Theo Frank Middleton, III) and King Felix, Hiram Taylor Morrissette, III. 

 Queen Seline’s family members who have served as Mobile Carnival Association Monarchs include her cousin, Queen Sarah Sage Morrissette (Mrs. Ralph Preston Bolt, Jr.) with King Felix, John Patrick Courtney, III in 1980; her aunt, Queen Frances Leatherbury Williams, (Mrs. Harris Vaughan Morrissette) with her uncle, King Felix, Hiram Taylor Morrissette, Jr., in 1982; her cousin, Queen Ashley Eugenia Inge (Mrs. Henry Francis O’Connor, III) with King Felix, Gordon Sandys Stimpson, Jr., in 1990; her cousin, Queen Lynn Wentworth Morrissette (Mrs. Mark Edward Hieronymus, Jr.) with King Felix, Edward Dickson Williams, III, in 2011;  her cousin, King Felix, Hiram Taylor Morrissette, III with Queen Anna Robison McClure, (Mrs. Theo Frank Middleton, III, in 2013; and her cousin, King Felix, Harris Vaughan Morrissette, Jr., with Queen Mary Elizabeth Moultrie Ball in 2016. Several of Queen Seline’s family members have served as Juvenile Court Monarchs including her uncle, King Hiram Taylor Morrissette, Jr. in 1971; her aunt, Queen Frances Leatherbury Williams (Mrs. Harris Vaughan Morrissette) in 1973; her cousin, King Stephen Bennett Cope Jr., in 2000; her cousin, King Joseph Hedley Lee Dzwonkowski, III, in 2001; and her cousin, King Hiram Taylor Morrissette, III, in 2002. In 2012, Queen Seline was in the Juvenile Court of Queen Susan Elizabeth Slaton and King Bancroft Reynolds. Through the years, many of Queen Seline’s family members have contributed to Carnival as ladies, knights, pages, heralds, and equerries as well. “Seline has enjoyed watching so many of her family members participate in Mardi Gras, and she is so excited for her chance to be involved,” her mother says. “We look forward to celebrating with her.”

 Seline and her mother worked closely together to design every aspect of her gown, train, and crown. “We love flowers and architecture and used those as inspiration for her regalia,” Melissa shares. Both Seline’s robe and train share a floral theme based on the floral boiserie from the King’s Petite Apartments at Chateaux de Versailles, as well as the formal flower gardens of France. Purchased in New York, Seline’s Amsale Gown is an ivory silk fit and flare dress with a columnar panel down the front, accented on each side by a pannier. Homer McClure, the Queen’s cousin, and Cristal Jackson of Seams to Fit then embellished the dress in order to execute the floral theme. The bodice is covered in French re-embroidered lace in a trailing Clematis design and beaded with a gilded floral vining and leaf motif. Her straps are encrusted with soft silk ivory hand-beaded three-dimensional flowers and complimented by a rhinestone berry and vine design. The front of the gown features a softly gathered lace panel over a golden rose floral silk damask design. The pannier is embellished with a variety of custom-made silk and rhinestone-embroidered flowers with ivory silk hand-beaded organza blossoms, golden French corded lace, and scrollwork of Aurora bagatelles. The overskirt has delicately winding floral detailing growing in an organic fashion that leads to two large bouquets of flowers. The back of Queen Seline’s dress features a gold lace starburst design as a nod to Versailles and falls into a gold and white lace covered demi-train.

 Seline’s train was originally worn by her first cousin, Worth Morrissette Hieronymus, during her reign as Queen in 2011, though it has been completely modified for Seline’s own reign by Homer McClure and Laura Clark, the Queen’s aunt. Featuring a celadon green and bronze cute velvet fabric encrusted with silver and gold floral designs, the train features a large trumpet vase with three-dimensional flowers made from various materials. Finished with the Queen’s cipher of the letters “S” and “M” entwined and topped by a crown, the whole of the train is trimmed in white fox fur.

 Made entirely with Swarovski crystals imported from Austria, Seline’s crown features two rows of large Tiffany stones at the base. “Rising from the base are brilliant oval diamond cut crystals, each embraced by four large Marquis stones topped by pear-shaped stones encircled with Tiffany stones,” her mother says. “The rear of the crown features her initials in script and the year of her reign.” In addition, Seline will carry the same scepter Worth carried during her reign.

 Both Seline and her family have enjoyed every aspect of her reign thus far, citing some of their highlights as her presentation at the Camellia Ball, and the Strikers Independent Society Ball in which Seline was Leading Lady. Though there has been tons of fun and excitement so far, there are still so many wonderful memories to be made in the coming months. “I’m most looking forward to Mardi Gras Weekend – The Coronation to the Queen’s Luncheon to parading – and hosting my out-of-town friends to see the ‘Original Mardi Gras,’” Seline says. “Seeing all the planning over the past months come to fruition will be worth it.”