Anita Oubre Takes her Love for New Orleans to the Streets
photo by MJ Mastrogiovanni
By Jann Darsie
Notes From Ella is presented in part with funding from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation
It’s hard to keep up with all the cultural activities of Anita Oubre. You might see her dancing in a Carnival parade, in a second-line or with the Baby Dolls, alongside Black Masking Indians.
Another cultural activity is her service on the Ella Project’s Board of Directors since the days of the pandemic. Through co-founder Gene Meneray, she was invited to join the board in 2021.
“It’s an honor for me because the work they do is so important — so important for the community, the culture bearers, artists and musicians,” Oubre said. “They are an amazing group of people.”
Oubre goes on to emphasize how many artists do not know their rights and do not understand the legal underpinnings of their business. This is why the Ella Project is so valuable, she said.
Oubre herself is a New Orleans’ culture bearer. Whether she is parading with the Muff-a-lottas, dancing as the spirit moves her with the Mahogany Blue Baby Dolls, or being an ambassador for our city at conventions, Oubre seems to have limitless energy. These are some of the organizations she belongs to, at least as of this writing. It would not be surprising if more were added by the time this is published.
Oubre founded the Mahogany Blue Baby Dolls, one of 22 “doll houses,” as the various groups within The Baby Dolls, as they are collectively known. Mahogany Blue performs at festivals year round, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And this year, says Oubre “We are excited to be in the opening day parade for French Quarter Fest.”
They were invited by the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council this year to come out at The Dew Drop Inn and parade down LaSalle Street on Mardi Gras Day. “They hosted us for the day and provided the backdrop to a glorious and memorable Mardi Gras Day,” Oubre said. Like the Black Masking Indians, the Baby Dolls are a family affair, with Oubre’s daughter and sometimes her three granddaughters taking part.
“We love what we do,” said Oubre,” about the Baby Dolls. “You turn into a different persona, and I feel magical. It brings me so much joy.”
The first Baby Dolls, according to a popular narrative, were workers from the so-called Black Storyville, dressing like little girls and strutting their stuff on their day off, Fat Tuesday 1910. The Million Dollar Baby Dolls were documented parading on Mardi Gras in 1912, using the anything-goes holiday to fly in the face of convention and express themselves. Scholar Dr. Kim Vaz-Deville, who has written about and researched the Baby Dolls extensively, has said that although the origins have been debated, it was the dissatisfaction with the dismissive treatment the women of color encountered that made the Baby Dolls a formidable voice in their community, as well as a symbol of empowerment.
She is also a member of the Lady & Men Rollers Social Aid & Pleasure Club, which parades Uptown on the last Sunday of the year and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This organization has almost 30 years supporting the community in the tradition of the benevolent societies, with things like food and monetary donations. And they sponsor stops for other clubs during their parades.
Another one of her organizations is the Muff-a-Lottas Dance Troupe. Their retro-style theme features 1950s and ‘60s music, with an emphasis on New Orleans R&B, and diner-waitress costumes. They participate in five or six parades annually, as well as fundraising events.
Her latest venture is as part of the inaugural leadership team of the NOLA LOLAS, a new organization whose members will add a glamorous flair to Mardi Gras. Beginning with the 2025 Carnival season, they will parade dressed as showgirls, complete with high feather headdresses, beautiful outfits and choreographed dances. Comprised of women who are seasoned paraders, this new krewe will celebrate the spirit of New Orleans through dance and community events.
Anita Oubre has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the cultural vitality of our city. She was invited to be Carnival royalty twice in one season. She was one of five Queens of the Krewe of Stars, and is the reigning Baby Doll Queen of Krewe Delusion, which unfortunately did not parade in 2024.
Using her stage name “ChiNOLA,” she also frequently serves as a Grand Marshal in second-line parades for conventions, weddings and other celebrations. “People coming to New Orleans want to have a parade, and the work we do at The New Orleans Music Company makes all of their wishes come true,” Oubre said.
A human resources director in the hospitality industry by day, Oubre is in her own words “an entertainer” at night. And she adds: “I am incredibly blessed and filled with gratitude in my role as a culture bearer of New Orleans. It gives me immense joy to dance in the streets of the city I love.”
Spreading happiness and the distinctive culture of New Orleans is what Anita Oubre is all about. She thinks of this as service to the community as well as the promotion of sisterhood and inclusion. New Orleans is certainly lucky to have Anita Oubre “in that number.”
The Mahogany Blue Baby Dolls can be found on Instagram and Facebook, as well as The Muff-a-Lottas and the Lady & Men Rollers Social Aid & Pleasure Club and the online presence of the NOLA LOLAS is still in process.
