Do you like big hair? How about sequins?

Iberia Habitat for Humanity, in an effort to “get its name out there,” will have a float in the Sugar Cane Festival for the winners of its first official Berry Queens Pageant — its inaugural spoof on a beauty pageant, involving women 30-plus.

“We’re encouraging enhancement of all sorts,” said “self-appointed Head of the Berry Queens” and Habitat board member Jerre Borland. “Wigs, sequins, glitter — really, it’s just a way of going out and having fun.”

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There are nine queens competing in the pageant.

There are 26 “divas” who do not compete but help pay for things and also several “wannabes” or “queens in waiting” — women who can’t participate as divas or queens because they aren’t yet 30.

The winner will be deemed “Her Royal Hi-ness” and will “represent Iberia Habitat as Goodwill Ambassador and Official World Peace Spreader wherever her royal journey may take her.” She also will have a royal court, including Divas, Sponsors, Berry Queens, Cabana Boys and more.

“We’re looking forward to making fools of ourselves,” said potential Royal Hi-ness Juliet Granger, participating in a Habitat event for the first time. She said she anticipated having fun and raising money for “a great cause like Habitat.”

“It’s really a fine organization, and it helps some very needy people,” said Cranston “Doc” Smith, president of Iberia Habitat for Humanity. “They (program applicants) have to be willing to work and repay a mortgage.”

Sweat equity — work the family puts into building the house themselves — and donations from the community reduce the size of a house’s mortgage, which the family repays, usually over 20 years, without interest.

Smith said Iberia Habitat formed in response to Hurricane Andrew, building 26 houses locally with an influx of volunteers and donations on a national and state scale.

That, though a blessing, made for problems later on.

“We didn’t establish the grassroots donations and volunteer force here,” said Smith.

When aid from Hurricane Andrew ran out, he said the organization “went dormant.”

Resurrecting Habitat is part of the reason for the fundraiser.

The contest will be held from 8 p.m. until midnight Friday.

The 200 tickets to the Sliman Theater are already sold out. The main event that will introduce Iberia Habitat to the public, therefore, is its royal court’s ride in the Sugar Cane Festival parade. Borland cautions they are “not making fun of any legitimate pageant.”

“All of this is very tongue-in-cheek,” she said.

Borland said the organization is hoping for $5,000 in cleared profit. Those interested in becoming sponsors or contributing should call 367-3083 or e-mail msjerre@aol.com.

More information is available at www.berryqueensunite.blogspot.com.

“We would really like it to be something that benefits New Iberia,” Borland said. “Surprisingly, there are a lot of people who like to dress up and wear big hair. We’re really thrilled.”