NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — By day, 26-year-old Queen Tahj is a cybersecurity expert. However, her passion for art is slowly gaining her national attention. This year, Tahj’s designs made the jump from Mardi Gras standout to the Super Bowl stage.
Months before the Chiefs and Eagles earned a ticket to Super Bowl LIX, the NFL design team asked Tajh to create both theme art and the logo for Super Bowl 59.
“I like to make a funny joke that the NFL slid into my DMs,” explained Queen Tahj.
Tahj has spent hundreds of hours crafting her Black Masking Indian suits as Queen of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe. She’s known for her intricate beadwork, even being featured on one of the covers of Essence Magazine in 2024. It’s no surprise the major leagues called on her for help.
For the Super Bowl, Tahj knew she wanted to showcase a part of New Orleans culture from a perspective that the public doesn’t always get to see.
“When people think about New Orleans they think about the French Quarter – and all of that is definitely New Orleans. But I think sometimes people forget that we have second line culture, brass band culture, the Babydoll culture, Skull and Bone gang, Black Masking Indians and I just wanted that to shine through,” Queen Tahj explained.
Using vibrant colors and digging deep into her cultural connections, much like her suits, she wanted the Super Bowl art to tell a story.
“Since a kid this is all I’ve ever known. We grow up going to second lines every Sunday and we can’t wait. You sleep next to whatever outfit you plan on wearing for that particular second line,” Queen Tahj recalled. “I just wanted everyone to get those feelings that I used to get as a child looking at New Orleans culture.”
Blending the Black Masking Tradition with a creative spin, not only is Queen Tahj preserving history, she’s also making history.
“It definitely is a huge honor,” said Queen Tahj. “Again, I’m trying to put it all into perspective because how do you talk about history, especially when you’re a part of it. I mean this is definitely a moment that is going to live with me forever.”
