| Happy
holidays, folks — just like last year, before we enter into a
new year, let’s look back on some of the biggest stories in female
impersonation pageantry.
1) Perseverance does the trick. In May, the
multi-talented Layla LaRue won Miss Gay U.S.ofA. after having won
Overall Talent for three years in a row (but the gowns held her back
in my opinion); Raquel Chevalier won Miss Gay America after several
attempts; and Kitty Litter won Miss Gay U.S.ofA. at Large in Dallas
in December after having excelled at competing at Miss At-Large before,
as well as EOY and Miss Continental PLUS.
2) Year of the return to competition? Impersonators
who were either successful on a national level before or who were
known in the industry competed once again on whatever level in 2003,
like Kirby Kolby who won Miss Ibiza down in Wilmington, Ashley Kruiz
who won Miss Renaissance in Orlando, Continental promoter Alyson
Thomas who won Miss Time Out in Myrtle Beach, Jessica Raye won Miss
Liquid Pearl in Myrtle Beach, Angela Carrera (a previous Continental
favorite) crossed over and won Miss Pennsylvania U.S.ofA. (and made
finals, thank you) and Kourtney Van Wales returned to Continental
after 5 years and made finals there.
3) Healthy girls rule! Seems like 2003 was
a year when healthy impersonators were at the forefront—Kofi,
a former Miss U.S.ofA. at Large, won Miss Texas U.SofA., Dena Cass
was named Miss International PLUS, former Carolina girl Tajma Hall
won Miss Canada Continental PLUS, and at Miss U.S.ofA. in May, three
big girls are featured prominently in the opening—Miss Continental
PLUS Angelica Sanchez, former Miss U.S.ofA. Chevelle Brooks, and
Kelexis Davenport, who was Miss U.S.ofA. at Large then. And not to
mention, one pig crowned another — Miss Continental PLUS Victoria
Parker, known as “the Pig,” crowned Angelica “Piggy” Sanchez.
Nice nicknames.
4) Texas domination, as usual. Not to the surprise
of anyone, at the time of this writing, five national titleholders
have Texas in common — Mr. Continental Antonio Edwards called
Dallas home for more than a decade (but is now based in Roanoke,
Va.), Miss Continental Erica Andrews hails from San Antonio, Miss
Black America Tommie Ross is from Houston (but now living in Memphis),
Miss Big and Beautiful Chevelle Brooks is also from Houston and Miss
U.S.ofA. Layla LaRue moved from San Antonio to Dallas. Like I always
say, Don’t Mess with Texas!
5) New ones come, old ones go — Mimi
Marks of Chicago took top honors at the first pageant for “transies” in
Las Vegas with Erica Andrews right on her stiletto heels. Three girlies
with local ties competed also — Victoria Parker, Dorae Saunders,
and Tamalah Taylor. From what I understand, a small scandal came
to light afterwards — the organizers thought all the contestants
were post-op. Uh oh! We also saw the premier of the first Miss Gay
United States in Roanoke, which Coti Collins won. Also, there was
all kinds of chatter as to the future of the Miss National pageants — a
website that would come and go, and the Miss National at Large Chelsea
Pearl reportedly surrenders her title in frustration with Miss National
Natasha Richards supposedly considering doing the same.
6) Continental is a quarter of a century old!
James W. Flint and staff celebrated 25 years of diva-ness in September,
and got a fierce queen out of it, too — Erica Andrews, whose
late mother Tandi had won years before her, left victorious just
weeks after having won the Universal Showqueen title in Honolulu.
7) Black pageants seem to prosper — hey,
when you’ve got Tommie Ross as your Miss Black America, and
that gorgeous Az’sia wins Miss Black Universe on her first
attempt, and Monte St. James and Yosmein Campbell Starr are Mr. and
Miss Ebony International, and the staff of Miss Gay U.SofA. announces
the forthcoming Mr. and Miss Black Gay U.SofA., it seems like the
African-American contests have really got it goin’ on.
8) Brandy Alexander celebrates 40 years in
the business — I don’t know of many who made that landmark
this past year…Danny Leonard, who brings the character of Brandy
Alexander to the stage, and was our first Miss NC America, marked
his 40th anniversary of entertaining with a tour of the Tarheel state
and beyond. Congrats, Brandy!
9) Never forget the ones we had to say good-bye
to: Florida’s Billie Boots, Charlotte’s Ebony Devone,
Charleston’s Edie Holiday, Miami’s Jessica Nolan, Tampa’s
Kim Ross and Greenville’s (and my) Taylor Baldwin.
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