Drag pageantry
Encyclopedia
Drag pageantry is a highly developed form of pageantry
for female impersonators and trans women
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
coronations.
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
for female impersonators and trans women
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
coronations.
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
for female impersonators and trans women
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
coronations.
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
In 1980, Chicago
nightclub promoter Jim Flint, owner of the Baton Show Lounge, filled this void with the creation of the Miss Continental U.S.A. Pageant. Contestants were scored in interview, swim wear, talent, and evening gown; for the finalists, an on stage question. The first Miss Continental was Chili Pepper, who has never had implants. Chili, the first Miss Continental represents female impersonation in its truest form. The Continental Pageantry System became renowned for its "titty girls," or pre-operative transsexual contestants.
List of Former Miss Continental Titleholders:
(All winners were crowned in Chicago, IL)
USA Unlimited, under the direction of President and CEO Jeff Reeves (aka former Miss Gay USA at Large Nancy Newton), has been one of the nation’s premier male entertainer contest outlets. Giving an outlet for both male entertainers of all types and male impersonators for 20 years, USA Unlimited has broadened the horizons for many entertainers, recently adding female competitions to the line up in 2011. For many years, these types of contests were not a popular as the female impersonator pageants, but a recent boom in attendance and talented individuals have given a surge in popularity to these events. Annually holding in addition to the Mr. Unlimited contest, USA Unlimited also presents:
– Mr. Unlimited
– Mr. Unlimited Bear
- Mr. Unlimited Cub
– Mr. Unlimited FMI – Must be female
– Miss Unlimited – For female impersonators
– Mr. & Miss. Unlimited @ Large – Must weight a minimum of 200 lbs
– Mr. & Miss Classique- Must be at least 35 years of age
- Miss. Unlimited Lipstick- must be female
The USA Unlimited Family is a closely knit group of people from across the country who shares a single goal. That is giving male and female entertainers the opportunity to perform and be recognized for the entertainment qualities they possess.
Current National Title Holders:
Mr. Unlimited 2011- Cielo Whitney
Miss. Unlimited 2011- Raven Wood
Mr. Unlimited Cub 2011- Chip Matthews
Mr. Unlimited Bear 2011- Stone Parque
Mr. Unlimited FMI 2011- Maccon Haze
Mr. Unlimited @ Large 2011- Jerry Trollinger
Miss. Unlimited @ Large 2011- Ivy White
Mr. Unlimited Classique 2011- Jemar
Miss. Unlimited Classique 2011- Erica Martinez
Miss. Unlimited Lipstick 2011- Miss Amy
Miss. Unlimited Newcomer 2011- Reina Michaels-Parque
Mr. Unlimited Newcomer 2011- Trey Love
www.usaunlimited.org
based MGA promoter Jerry Bird
purchased the bankrupt Miss Gay USA pageant from former MGA Jimi Dee in 1985. Within a few years he took the pageant from a small twelve contestant affair to a national showcase with over eighty participants. In 1986, the first Miss Gay USA Naomi Sims
crowned Michael Andrews
. In the mid-1990s the pageant was re-named Miss Gay USofA after complaints and legal threats from the owner of Miss USA, Donald Trump, who placed a cease and desist order until verbiage could be agreed upon that allowed for both competitions to continue without confusion or discrimination.
There have been a wide range of contestants in the Miss USofA System, and it is interesting to note that many USofA titleholders also count the Miss Gay America crown as accomplishments in female impersonation. These include:
Naomi Sims, Miss Gay USA 1979 (Miss Gay America 1985);
Michael Andrews, Miss Gay USA 1986 (Miss Gay America 1977);
Jacquelyn DeVaroe, Miss Gay USofA 1997 (Miss Gay America 1994);
Lauren Taylor, Miss Gay USofA 1998 (Miss Gay America 1997);
Alyssa Edwards, Miss Gay USofA 2006 (Miss Gay America 2010, though she was stripped of the title a few short months after winning the crown);
Dominique Sanchez, Miss Gay USofA 2010 (Miss Gay America 2003); and, Luscious, Miss Gay USofA 2011 (Miss Gay America 2007).
Former Miss Gay U.S.A.'s :
Former Miss Gay USA's :
Former Miss Gay USofA's :
During the 1990s, the range and variety of drag pageantry continued to expand; however the "big three" pageant systems still dominated the market. New competitions with new requirements brought a wider variety of performers to drag pageantry. Contests for plus-sized, mature and African American female impersonators became popular. Today, drag pageants like Miss Gay USofA at Large, Miss Gay USofA Classic, Miss Continental Plus , Miss Continental Elite, and Miss Gay Black USofA demonstrate the expansion of both the USofA and Continental franchises.
As with most pageantry systems, drag pageants have been rocked with scandals over the years. Accusations of rigged contests, biased judging, and power struggles between local and national promoters resulted in the spin off of dozens of national female impersonation contests.
The Miss International Queen Pageant in Pattaya City, Thailand, is produced and organized by The Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co., Ltd., the world's largest transvestite/transgender cabaret show and support by Tourism Authority of Thailand.
List of Miss International Queen Titleholders:
Pageantry
Pageantry is a colorful display, as in a pageant. It may refer to:*Beauty pageant*Drag pageantry*Medieval pageant...
for female impersonators and trans women
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
Pageants in the United States
National drag pageants became enmeshed within the gay communityGay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
coronations.
Miss Gay America
Mirroring the format of the Miss AmericaMiss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
List of Former Miss Gay America Titleholders
Drag pageantry is a highly developed form of pageantryPageantry
Pageantry is a colorful display, as in a pageant. It may refer to:*Beauty pageant*Drag pageantry*Medieval pageant...
for female impersonators and trans women
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
Pageants in the United States
National drag pageants became enmeshed within the gay communityGay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
coronations.
Miss Gay America
Mirroring the format of the Miss AmericaMiss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
List of Former Miss Gay America Titleholders
Drag pageantry is a highly developed form of pageantryPageantry
Pageantry is a colorful display, as in a pageant. It may refer to:*Beauty pageant*Drag pageantry*Medieval pageant...
for female impersonators and trans women
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
, styled after traditional beauty pageants or beauty contests.
Pageants in the United States
National drag pageants became enmeshed within the gay communityGay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
during the 1970s, and have become increasingly prevalent since. The first drag pageants were held in individual gay bars, and discothèques during the post Stonewall
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
era. Drag pageants evolved independently, in the decade subsequent to the first gay Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
coronations.
Miss Gay America
Mirroring the format of the Miss AmericaMiss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
contest, the first national gay pageant Miss Gay America (MGA) was held in 1972 at the Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Nashville's first gay dance and show bar. Jerry Peek opened this bar in 1971,and was an instant sensation. Not only with the gay patrons, but also with the straight crowd. Norma Kristie, state representative of Arkansas, was crowned as the winner. In 1975 Norman "Norma Kristie" Jones purchased the pageant from the previous owner, Jerry Peek, who founded the Miss Gay America Pageant, and formed Norma Kristie, Inc. to run the pageant and its network of preliminaries.
The MGA pageantry system grew in size and scope over the next decade. Like its mainstream counterpart, MGA developed a system of preliminary state-wide and regional contests (i.e. Miss Gay Arkansas, Miss Gay Texas, Miss Gay Midwest, etc.) from which to draw contestants. Female impersonators were scored in interview, evening gown and talent competitions. Later a sportswear category was added, called "Contemporary Fashion." After about 12 years it was decided to change the category to "Creative Fashion," a category that was never fully understood by anyone, especially the judges and contestants, and finally morphed into "Creative Costume." It was eventually replaced with Solo Talent. While some of the contestants performed live vocals, dance or comedy skits; the vast majority showcased their talent of lip syncing to music on records, then cassette tapes, and finally CD's. In February 2005, the Miss Gay America pageantry system was purchased by Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of L & T Entertainment. Currently, contestants are judged in 5 categories: Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On-Stage Question & Answer, and Talent.
List of Former Miss Gay America Titleholders
| Year | Winner | Title Representing | City of Residency | Crowning Venue | City | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Norma Kristie | Miss Gay Arkansas | Hot Springs, AR | Watch Your Hat & Coat Saloon | Nashville, TN | Retired |
| 1974 | Lady Baronessa* | Miss Gay Illinois | Chicago, IL | The Glass Menagery Nightclub | Nashville, TN | Deceased 1992 |
| 1975 | Shawn Luis | ? | Chicago, IL | Atlanta Americana Hotel Ballroom | Atlanta, GA | Retired |
| 1976 | Shan Covington | ? | Dallas, TX | The Depository Nightclub | Houston, TX | Decrowned** / Deceased |
| 1976 | Dani Daletto | Miss Gay Michigan | Detroit, MI | Vapors Nightclub | Hot Springs, AR | Deceased 1989 |
| 1977 | Michael Andrews | ? | Houston, TX | The Old Plantation Nightclub | Houston, TX | Deceased |
| 1978 | Jimi Dee | Miss Gay South | Dallas, TX | Machinist's Hall | St. Louis, MO | Deceased |
| 1979 | Rachel Wells | 1st Alt., Miss Gay South | Atlanta, GA | Fox Theater | Dallas, TX | Retired |
| 1980 | Hot Chocolate | Miss Gay East Coast | Houston, TX | Atlanta Convention Center | Atlanta, GA | Las Vegas Headliner |
| 1981 | Lady Shawn | Miss Gay East Coast | Dallas, TX | Masonic Temple | Detroit, MI | Deceased |
| 1982 | Jennifer Foxx | Miss Gay North | Detroit, MI | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | |
| 1983 | Francesca Wakeland | ? | Johnson City, TN | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC | Retired |
| 1984 | Tasha Kohl | Miss Gay Mid-America | Ft. Worth, TX | Oklahoma City Convention Center | Oklahoma City, OK | Retired |
| 1985 | Naomi Sims | Miss Gay Tri-States | Houston, TX | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | Deceased 1992 |
| 1986 | Lauren Colby | 1st Alt., Miss Gay North Carolina | Wilmington, NC | Indianapolis Convention Center | Indianapolis, IN | ~ |
| 1987 | Blaze Starr | Miss Gay Tri-States | Atlanta, GA | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, XT | Retired |
| 1988 | Cherry Lane | Miss Gay Tri-States | Little Rock, AR | Fox Theater | Atlanta, GA | Retired |
| 1989 | Vicki Vincent | Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic | St. Louis, MO | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | ~ |
| 1990 | Brandi Alexander | ? | Baton Rouge, LA | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | Retired |
| 1991 | Valerie Lohr | 1st Alt., Miss Gay South | Dallas, TX | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | ~ |
| 1992 | Tiffany Bone't | Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic | Winston-Salem, NC | Majestic Theater | Dallas, TX | ~ |
| 1993 | Leslie Rage | Miss Gay Mid-East | Baldwin, NY | Majestic Theater | Dallas, TX | Deceased |
| 1994 | Jacqulyn DeVaroe | ? | Norman, OK | Majestic Theater | Dallas, TX | Retired |
| 1995 | Ramona LeGer' | Miss Gay Mid-East | Independence, LA | Majestic Theater | Dallas, TX | Deceased*** |
| 1995 | Patti Le Plae Safe | Miss Gay Gulf States | Dallas, TX | Robinson Center Music Auditorium | Little Rock, AR | ~ |
| 1996 | Kerri Nichols | Miss Gay Mid-America | Charlotte, NC | Robinson Center Music Auditorium | Little Rock, AR | ~ |
| 1997 | Lauren Taylor | Miss Gay Texas | Austin, TX | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC | Retired |
| 1998 | Maya Montana | Miss Gay Virginia | Falls Church, VA | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC | ~ |
| 1999 | Linda Carrero | Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic | Silver Springs, MD | Athena Theater | Little Rock, AR | ~ |
| 2000 | Catia Lee Love | Miss Gay Mid-America | Tulsa, OK | Athena Theater | Little Rock, AR | ~ |
| 2001 | Charity Case | Miss Gay Central States | Dallas, TX | Athena Theater | Little Rock, AR | ~ |
| 2002 | Sabrina White | Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic | Baltimore, MD | Dallas Convention Center | Dallas, TX | ~ |
| 2003 | Dominique Sanchez | Miss Gay Mid-America | Little Rock, AR | ? | ? | ~ |
| 2004 | Rachael Erikks | Miss Gay Heart of America | Oklahoma City, OK | ? | ? | ~ |
| 2005 | Raquel Chevalie'r | Miss Gay Tri-States | New Orleans, LA | ? | ? | ~ |
| 2006 | Nicole DuBois | Miss Gay Mid-America | Gulfport, MS | Cannon Center | Memphis, TN | ~ |
| 2007 | Luscious | Miss Gay Western States | Columbia, SC | Cannon Center | Memphis, TN | ~ |
| 2008 | Mikaila Kay | 1st Alt., Miss Gay Western States | Phoenix, AZ | Holiday Inn Select Airport Grand Ballroom | Memphis, TN | ~ |
| 2009 | Victoria DePaula | Miss Gay District of Columbia (D.C.) | Kansas City, MO | Millennium Hotel Grand Ballroom | St. Louis, MO | ~ |
| 2010 | Alyssa Edwards | 1st Alt., Miss Gay Heartland | Mesquite, TX | Millennium Hotel Grand Ballroom | St. Louis, MO | Decrowned**** |
| 2010 | Coco Montrese | Miss Gay Heart of America | St. Petersburg, FL | The Grey Fox Nightclub | St. Louis, MO | ~ |
| 2011 | Coti Collins | Miss Gay District of Columbia (D.C.) | Raleigh, NC | Lifestyles Pavilion Auditorium | Columbus, OH | |
| 2012 | Kirby Kolby | Miss Gay District of Columbia (D.C.) | Raleigh, NC | The Capitol Theatre at the Riffe Center | Columbus, OH | Current |
- (*)Lady Baronessa's full name was "The Lady Baroness Maria Andrea del Santiago."
- (**)Shan Covington had his crown removed for conduct unbecoming a Miss Gay America. The title was offered to first alternate Michael Andrews, who passed it up because he wanted to come back & win it. It then went to the second alternate, Dani Daletto. Dani was crowned in a special ceremony at the 1976 Miss Gay South Pageant held at Vapors Nightclub in Hot Springs, AR.
- (***)Ramona LeGer' died 5 months into his reign. First alternate Patti Le Plae Safe opted not to be crowned or wear the crown during his 'reign'. He was the Official Miss Gay America Representative, until the night of the 1996 Miss Gay America Pageant, at which he was finally crowned the Official Miss Gay America 1995 in a special ceremony.
- (****)Alyssa had his crown removed due to scheduling conflicts with previous engagements & his Miss Gay America duties. The title went to first alternate Coco Montrese, who was crowned in a special ceremony at The Grey Fox Nightclub in St. Louis, MO.
- Coti Collins is the longest-competing Miss Gay America winner. His first appearance at Miss Gay America was in 1988.
Miss Continental U.S.A.
As MGA grew in popularity, many professional female impersonators found they were unable to compete in the pageant due to its prohibition against the use of hormones, silicone injections (below the neck), and/or breast implants. Aside from the prestige of holding a national title, the MGA crown afforded the winner guaranteed show bookings at every state preliminary held during the title year. For the winner, the MGA crown turned what was often local, part-time work into a full time job. As many transsexual and trans-gender performers used drag shows as a source of income, it was only natural that a pageantry system would evolve to meet their needs.In 1980, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
nightclub promoter Jim Flint, owner of the Baton Show Lounge, filled this void with the creation of the Miss Continental U.S.A. Pageant. Contestants were scored in interview, swim wear, talent, and evening gown; for the finalists, an on stage question. The first Miss Continental was Chili Pepper, who has never had implants. Chili, the first Miss Continental represents female impersonation in its truest form. The Continental Pageantry System became renowned for its "titty girls," or pre-operative transsexual contestants.
List of Former Miss Continental Titleholders:
(All winners were crowned in Chicago, IL)
- 1980 - Chili Pepper
- 1981 - Heather Fontaine
- 1982 - Tiffany Ariegus
- 1983 - Chena Black
- 1984 - Cherene Alexander
- 1985 - Maya Douglas
- 1986 - Tandi Andrews
- 1987 - Dana Douglas
- 1988 - Kelly Lauren
- 1989 - Lakesha Lucky
- 1990 - Chanel Dupree
- 1991 - Amber Richards
- 1992 - Mimi Marks
- 1993 - Monica Monroe
- 1994 - Cezanne
- 1995 - Lady Cateria
- 1996 - Paris Frantz
- 1997 - Tasha Long
- 1998 - Michelle Dupree
- 1999 - Tommie Ross
- 2000 - Danielle Hunter
- 2001 - Candis Cayne
- 2002 - Yoshiko Oshiro
- 2003 - Erika Norell
- 2004 - Erica Andrews
- 2005 - Domanique Shappelle
- 2006 - Victoria LePaige
- 2007 - Necole Luv Dupree
- 2008 - Tulsi
- 2009 - Armani
- 2010 - Mokha Montrese
- 2011 - Alexis Gabrielle Sherrington
USA Unlimited
North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
USA Unlimited, under the direction of President and CEO Jeff Reeves (aka former Miss Gay USA at Large Nancy Newton), has been one of the nation’s premier male entertainer contest outlets. Giving an outlet for both male entertainers of all types and male impersonators for 20 years, USA Unlimited has broadened the horizons for many entertainers, recently adding female competitions to the line up in 2011. For many years, these types of contests were not a popular as the female impersonator pageants, but a recent boom in attendance and talented individuals have given a surge in popularity to these events. Annually holding in addition to the Mr. Unlimited contest, USA Unlimited also presents:
– Mr. Unlimited
– Mr. Unlimited Bear
- Mr. Unlimited Cub
– Mr. Unlimited FMI – Must be female
– Miss Unlimited – For female impersonators
– Mr. & Miss. Unlimited @ Large – Must weight a minimum of 200 lbs
– Mr. & Miss Classique- Must be at least 35 years of age
- Miss. Unlimited Lipstick- must be female
The USA Unlimited Family is a closely knit group of people from across the country who shares a single goal. That is giving male and female entertainers the opportunity to perform and be recognized for the entertainment qualities they possess.
Current National Title Holders:
Mr. Unlimited 2011- Cielo Whitney
Miss. Unlimited 2011- Raven Wood
Mr. Unlimited Cub 2011- Chip Matthews
Mr. Unlimited Bear 2011- Stone Parque
Mr. Unlimited FMI 2011- Maccon Haze
Mr. Unlimited @ Large 2011- Jerry Trollinger
Miss. Unlimited @ Large 2011- Ivy White
Mr. Unlimited Classique 2011- Jemar
Miss. Unlimited Classique 2011- Erica Martinez
Miss. Unlimited Lipstick 2011- Miss Amy
Miss. Unlimited Newcomer 2011- Reina Michaels-Parque
Mr. Unlimited Newcomer 2011- Trey Love
www.usaunlimited.org
Miss Gay USofA
Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
based MGA promoter Jerry Bird
Jerry Bird
Jerry Lee Bird is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky.He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1956 NBA Draft....
purchased the bankrupt Miss Gay USA pageant from former MGA Jimi Dee in 1985. Within a few years he took the pageant from a small twelve contestant affair to a national showcase with over eighty participants. In 1986, the first Miss Gay USA Naomi Sims
Naomi Sims
Naomi Ruth Sims was an African American model, businesswoman and author., who is widely credited as being the first African American supermodel.-Early life:...
crowned Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews may refer to:* Michael Andrews , British artist* Michael Andrews , US musician* Michael Andrews , Australian rugby league footballer* Michael A...
. In the mid-1990s the pageant was re-named Miss Gay USofA after complaints and legal threats from the owner of Miss USA, Donald Trump, who placed a cease and desist order until verbiage could be agreed upon that allowed for both competitions to continue without confusion or discrimination.
There have been a wide range of contestants in the Miss USofA System, and it is interesting to note that many USofA titleholders also count the Miss Gay America crown as accomplishments in female impersonation. These include:
Naomi Sims, Miss Gay USA 1979 (Miss Gay America 1985);
Michael Andrews, Miss Gay USA 1986 (Miss Gay America 1977);
Jacquelyn DeVaroe, Miss Gay USofA 1997 (Miss Gay America 1994);
Lauren Taylor, Miss Gay USofA 1998 (Miss Gay America 1997);
Alyssa Edwards, Miss Gay USofA 2006 (Miss Gay America 2010, though she was stripped of the title a few short months after winning the crown);
Dominique Sanchez, Miss Gay USofA 2010 (Miss Gay America 2003); and, Luscious, Miss Gay USofA 2011 (Miss Gay America 2007).
List of Miss Gay USA and Miss Gay USofA Titleholders
The following is the list of the winners of the Miss Gay U.S.A. Pageant—then a complete change of ownership—Miss Gay USA winners 1986 through 1994 and Miss Gay USofA winners from 1995 through 2010:Former Miss Gay U.S.A.'s :
- 1979 - Naomi Sims. Crowned at Numbers in Houston, Texas from a field of 36 contestants that included Miss Gay America 1976, Michael Andrews (who was named First Runner-up to Naomi Sims - a twist of irony, since Naomi Sims was named First Runner-up to Michael Andrews at the 1976 MGA pageant.) Deceased.
- 1980 – Jahanau Reis, competing as Second Runner-up to Miss Gay USA - Texas, which was won by Sabrina Ross of Austin. First Runner-up Heather of Houston also competed in the national competition, which was held at Numbers once again. Runners-up to Miss Gay USA 1980 included Roskie Fernandez, Dena Jacobs and Sabrina Ross. Jahna later became famous as Jahna Steele, voted "Sexiest Showgirl on the Strip" in Las Vegas after transitioning to female - verified through her interview at www.carriefairfield.com DETHRONED – Deceased.
- 1980 & 1981 - Dena Jacobs accepted the title after Jauhna was dethroned.
- 1982 & 1983 – Eartha Kitt. Runners-up included Odessa Brown and Vonda DeLayne in the contest that was held at Austin Country Nightclub in Austin, TX. Deceased.
- 1984 & 1985 – Lisa King (Crowned in Atlanta, confirmed by thelisaking at aol.com and her interview on CarrieFairfield.com)
Former Miss Gay USA's :
- 1986 - Michael Andrews - from Houston, TX. Naomi Sims was named Miss Gay USA Emeritus during the competition, which was held at the Copa in Houston. Deceased
- 1987 – Diana Hutton – Deceased
- 1988 - Tommie Ross - from Dallas, TX
- 1989 - Netasha Edwards – from Indianapolis, IN - Deceased
- 1990 - Cezanne - Crowned in Atlanta, GA
- 1991 - Sable Chanel – from Johnson City, TN - Crowned in Dallas, TX - Retired
- 1992 - Tandi Andrews – from San Antonio, TX - Crowned in Dallas, TX - Deceased
- 1993 - Sweet Savage - from Dallas, TX - Crowned in Dallas, TX
- 1994 - Coco - from Dallas, TX - Deceased
Former Miss Gay USofA's :
- 1995 - Maya Douglas - from Dallas, TX - Crowned in the Indianapolis Civic Center in Indianapolis, IN
- 1996 - Natasha Richards - from Tampa, FL - Crowned in The Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom in Dallas, TX
- 1997 - Jacquelyn DeVaroe - from Norman, OK - Crowned in The Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom in Dallas, TX
- 1998 - Lauren Taylor – from Austin, TX - Crowned in The Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom in Dallas, TX - Retired
- 1999 - Erica Andrews - from San Antonio, TX - Crowned in The Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom in Dallas, TX
- 2000 - Chevelle Brooks - from Dallas, TX - Crowned in The Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom in Dallas, TX
- 2001 - Erika Norell - from Orlando, FL - Crowned in The Dallas Market Center in Dallas, TX
- 2002 - Alexis Gabrielle Sherrington
- 2003 - Raquel Lord
- 2004 - Layla LaRue
- 2005 - Tamisha Iman
- 2006 - Alyssa Edwards
- 2007 - Asia O'Hara
- 2008 - Kara Young-Ross
- 2009 - Stasha Sanchez
- 2010 - Dominique Sanchez
- 2011 - Luscious
During the 1990s, the range and variety of drag pageantry continued to expand; however the "big three" pageant systems still dominated the market. New competitions with new requirements brought a wider variety of performers to drag pageantry. Contests for plus-sized, mature and African American female impersonators became popular. Today, drag pageants like Miss Gay USofA at Large, Miss Gay USofA Classic, Miss Continental Plus , Miss Continental Elite, and Miss Gay Black USofA demonstrate the expansion of both the USofA and Continental franchises.
As with most pageantry systems, drag pageants have been rocked with scandals over the years. Accusations of rigged contests, biased judging, and power struggles between local and national promoters resulted in the spin off of dozens of national female impersonation contests.
Pageants worldwide
Gay pageants are also very popular in the Philippine and Thailand; most local fiestas features one. Pageantry of all forms is deeply rooted in Filipino culture as a popular form of entertainment. Many Filipinos are fans of the extravagant Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Earth pageants; this fascination extends logically to drag pageants.Miss International Queen Pageant
Striving to advance and support today’s transgender/transsexual, Miss International Queen™ Pageant offers great opportunities for transgender/transsexual from all over the world to present their individual beauty and intelligence in a friendly atmosphere.The Miss International Queen Pageant in Pattaya City, Thailand, is produced and organized by The Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co., Ltd., the world's largest transvestite/transgender cabaret show and support by Tourism Authority of Thailand.
List of Miss International Queen Titleholders:
- 2004 - Treechada Petcharet (Thailand)
- 2005 - Mimi Marks (USA)
- 2006 - Erica Andrews (Mexico)
- 2007 - Tanyarat Jirapatpakon (Thailand)
- 2008 - no contest due to political unrest in Thailand
- 2009 - Ai Haruna (Japan)
- 2010 - Mini Han (Korea)
See also
- Drag (clothing)Drag (clothing)Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
- Drag queens
- Drag kings
- Faux queen
- List of transgender-related topics
- List of drag queens
External links
