FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karla Marie (Karlita) Cochran, Founder
Spotlight Strategy Group
504-352-4569  |  karlamarie@inthespotlight504.com  |  inthespotlight504.com

Las Fridas Krewe Makes Its Debut at New Orleans Pride 2026

New Orleans' Latin American Mardi Gras Krewe Brings Art, Color, and Living Culture to the City's Pride Celebration

NEW ORLEANS, LA, June 2026 — Las Fridas Krewe, New Orleans' newest Latin American Mardi Gras krewe, will make its public debut at the 2026 New Orleans Pride on Saturday, June 13. The krewe will not be marching in the parade, but will be fully present in the spirit that defines everything it stands for: showing up, out loud, in full color, as a living celebration of Latin American culture, queer joy, and unapologetic community.

A Krewe Born from Culture, Community, and Conviction

Las Fridas Krewe was founded by New Orleans-based Latina entrepreneur, artist, and community builder Karla Marie Cochran (known throughout the city as Karlita), Founder and CEO of Spotlight Strategy Group and Studio Shakti NOLA. Named in honor of Frida Kahlo, the krewe centers the voices of Latina women and gender-fluid members of the Latin American community in a city whose deep ties to the Caribbean and Latin America have always been present and rarely celebrated enough.

The story of Las Fridas begins with a studio. When Cochran opened Studio Shakti in February 2025, she felt called to fold her Latin American heritage directly into the space she was building. What followed was a year of research, and deeply intentional exploration of the New Orleans krewe landscape. But the krewe was born from something more urgent than inspiration. As attacks on the Latin American community intensified in the last year, Cochran felt a grief that demanded to be expressed, not quietly.

"All I wanted to do was take my latinidad into the streets, loud, unapologetic, grieving. To display it. To scream it into existence where no one could ignore our pain. I knew art had to be at the center of my healing. Las Fridas Krewe was born from that yearning. From resistance. From culture. From love. Supported by allies who choose to stand beside us in solidarity, celebration, and humanity.”

“This is why for Pride, we are not marching at the center, we are standing BESIDE a community that has also been told they do not belong. What began as grief becomes a movement. Color. Community. Visibility. Inclusion. A living declaration that we are here, creating, taking up space with beauty and power. And yes, art that tells the truth is rarely quiet. It will unsettle some. In that case, we lean into discomfort, parading in the street." 

The Las Fridas vision officially came to life with the krewe's acceptance into the Krewe of Mosaique, where Las Fridas will make its official Mardi Gras parade debut on January 9, 2027.

Las Fridas is not a dance krewe. It is not a marching krewe. It is a community that shows up, gathers, creates art, and creates change by simply existing.

What to Expect at Pride

On June 13, Las Fridas members will arrive as a collective presence dressed in the vibrant, art-rich aesthetic that defines the krewe's identity: layered textiles, floral crowns, handcrafted art, painted faces, and the full spirit of Latin American visual culture brought to life in the streets of New Orleans. This debut is intentionally about presence, not performance.

Central to the krewe's identity is the act of making things together. Research consistently shows that crafting in community is one of the most powerful ways to reduce stress and build meaningful connection, and Las Fridas was designed with that truth at its center. Every month, members gather to create art, build their TRAJE pieces (the krewe's preferred term for ceremonial dress), and contribute to something larger than themselves. Membership is open to Latinas, people who celebrate Latin American heritage, and all those called by the krewe's founding spirit. You do not have to be of Latin American descent to join. Membership is open studioshaktinola.com/krewe.

Photo & Interview Opportunity: Saturday, June 13, 2026

The krewe will be in full TRAJE from the first gathering forward. Media are warmly invited at any stop.

  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM  |  Pre-Fest Gathering at Studio Shakti NOLA 2372 St. Claude Ave. Suite 200, New Orleans, LA 70117 (Faubourg Marigny). Ideal for intimate portraits, behind-the-scenes photography, and one-on-one interviews with founder Karlita and krewe members in a relaxed studio setting.

  • 4:00 PM  |  Arrival at New Orleans Pride Fest Prime time for candid photography and capturing the krewe in the full spirit of the celebration.

  • 5:00 PM and Beyond  |  Parade Watch at Esplanade & Royal Las Fridas gathers at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Royal Street for the parade, offering excellent visibility and beautiful photo opportunities at one of New Orleans' most iconic intersections.

To arrange access, contact Karlita Cochran at 504-352-4569 or karlamarie@inthespotlight504.com.

About Karla Marie Cochran
Karla Marie Cochran is a New Orleans-based Latina entrepreneur, PR strategist, belly dance instructor, writer, photographer, and community builder. She is the Founder and CEO of Spotlight Strategy Group, Owner and Director of Studio Shakti NOLA, Founder of Las Fridas Krewe, and creator of the editorial platform In the Spotlight 504. She holds a board seat with the Bywater Marigny Business Organization (ByMBO) and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and has spent nearly two decades building creative and communications infrastructure for artists, nonprofits, and bold entrepreneurs across New Orleans.

###