MARDI GRAS PARADE | February 23, 2025

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Head on out to the parade route! Click here for more information. 

Meet Femme Fatale

The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale was founded in 2013. Femme Fatale is the first krewe founded by African American women for African American women, but all women are welcome.  The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale parades on the traditional Uptown route the first Sunday of Mardi Gras season. There are also a number of community service projects associated with the Krewe, most notably, "Say Yes to the Prom Dress," which gives away prom dresses and more to teenage girls.


Cherchez La Femme is a dance krewe comprised of members that belong to Femme Fatale. They are forty members strong and perform choreographed dances in parades. They have also appeared in PJ Morton's New Orleans Girl video, the Krewe of Boo Parade, the Krewe of Jingle Parade and Pelicans' home games.


Future Femmes and Le Jeune Femmes are made up of girls ranging from 7 to 20 years of age. Because MKFF is more than a Mardi Gras Krewe, mentoring this group of girls is one of the many ways we give back to the community. In addition to participating in the annual MKFF parade, they take part in other activities throughout the year such as mother daughter tea, sip N paint, skate parties, compact decorating, and umbrella decorating.

Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale Herstory

I was a girl who had a dream that grew into a woman with a vision. That vision was made a reality when I gave birth to the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, affectionately known as MKFF.  I grew up in the richness of the making of Mardi Gras parades; while watching my father, George V. Rainey, spend countless hours and energy into growing the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Mardi Gras parade.


My father instilled in me, “Everything that you need to be successful is with you.” I found this to be true in all aspects of my life, but in this particular in this endeavor.


I was introduced to the Kern family at an early age. Through our family restaurant and catering business, we were hired to work a variety of events.  I can remember running around our restaurant when Mr. Blain Kern, Sr. would visit.  Simultaneously, I was introduced to Mr. Dan Kelly, owner of Beads by the Dozen.  Through my father’s relationship with Blain Kern, Sr. and Barry Kern, his son; as children, we were growing into the knowledge of Mardi Gras.  Barry welcomed my vision and supported me along the way.  Mr. Ed Muniz, former Mayor of Kenner and Founder of the Krewe of Endymion was very insightful and helpful.  Whenever I called, he embraced me wholeheartedly.


Our Mayor Latoya Cantrell, who was a councilwoman at the time, was overjoyed about the vision.  The city ordinance had reached its quota with the number of Mardi Gras permits, but she was willingly and enthusiastically pushing for us to receive a permit.  I was preparing to ride in 2016, but her phone call in August of 2014 stated, “if you do not ride in 2015, you will forfeit the opportunity to ride.”  So, with all the God given resources we were able to ride in 2015.  A special thanks to all the City Council members who were serving at that time.

No organization can blossom without resources, Mr. Alden McDonald, President & CEO of Liberty Bank, whom I worked with during my Wall Street days and catered his events was no stranger to me.  He too was on board with the endeavor and realized it was necessary for our community.  He later agreed to a financial package for members of the organization, which I call financial empowerment.


So, when God began to speak to my spirit about MKFF he had already equipped me with the necessary resources.  So, it goes back to what my father told me, “Everything you need to be successful is with you."


In 2013, the dream was realized into a vision. Unbeknownst to me, my father shared my vision with former king and president, Attorney David Belfield who was so elated that he laid out a the road map for me in June of 2012.


Like anything else in life when embarking upon a new endeavor there are hesitations, doubt, and fear.  I was in a comfortable place in my life. I kept telling God, this is too many women; I don’t feel like dealing with all those attitudes.  I gave him every excuse in the book.  But God, like everything else, God knew the end of the story.  Finally, in black history month of 2013 the first meeting was held.  The rest is history.


New Orleans has a rich culture. We celebrate everything and everyone.  Over the years, we have seen an insurgence of female Mardi Gras krewes.  In this rich culture, we were the missing piece.  There was no place for women and girls of color to identify themselves, albeit we accept women of all creeds.  The soul of MKFF was designed around these two factors.  However, we are not just a Mardi Gras Krewe. We are indebted to our mission statement that is impactful to this community.


Special thanks to family and friends who believed, listened, and encouraged me on this journey.


Finally, I firmly believe “You have to give something in order to get something.”

MKFF Founder


Gwendolyn Victoria Rainey

Mission Statement

The mission of the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale is to offer women of all creeds and colors a unique opportunity to promote and support New Orleans’ cultural landscape through participation in the annual Mardi Gras season, while uplifting the community through various endeavors of engagement, awareness and social enhancement in order to further the growth of the organization.

Purpose

The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale is formed for women for social purposes, to establish between its members ties of friendship, sociability and esteem, for the promotion of good fellowship.

Member Information
Share by: