There’s a new matriarchal gastropod in town, and her name is Mugzy Slugzy, the 44th S.L.U.G. Queen of Eugene, chosen by a panel of judges Friday night to represent the city with her goodwill and slimy glamour. 

Mugzy Slugzy, also known by her human name Margarita O’Brien, stood out among the six other contestants competing for S.L.U.G. Queen through a combination of slug-tastic costume design, an elaborate musical performance and the presence of her miniature dog, also dressed as a slug.

O’Brien said she was thrilled to have come this far in her slug journey, but becoming queen meant more than just winning a pageant.

“The S.L.U.G. Queen is the unofficial goodwill ambassador of Eugene, and I’m very interested in mental and emotional health, and I feel like building community and building hope in our community is essential in these times,” she said.

Several hundred people attended the year’s S.L.U.G. Queen competition in downtown Eugene, cheering on slug queens past and present. 

Eugene Mayor and S.L.U.G. Queen judge Kaarin Knudson sits in the audience at the 2026 S.L.U.G. Queen competition and coronation in Eugene Aug. 14, 2026. Credit: Payton Bruni / for Lookout Eugene-Springfield

“What’s not to love about SLUG Queens? They’re one of many institutions that make Eugene a beautiful city to call home,” said Eugene Mayor and S.L.U.G. Queen judge Kaarin Knudson.

This was Eugene resident Brandon Mitchell’s first time at a S.L.U.G. Queen pageant.

“None of it was what I expected, in the best way,” he said, adding he was constantly amused and caught off guard. But in the end, the contestant he wanted to see win the crown, Mugzy Slugzy, did.

The night ended with the previous Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod Queen, Hilaria (Jen McElroy) Gastrognome, passing the torch to O’Brien, and O’Brien saying in her acceptance speech, “Go forth, make trails, and let the good slime roll.”