The weekend before, Ginger Manchester relinquished her title of Miss Classic U.S.ofA., and the new winner is LaToya Bacall. Her runners-up included Nancy Taylor and the beautiful Chelsea Pearl.

In other news, Erica Andrews is racking up the frequent flyer miles as she tours the country going from preliminary to preliminary as Miss Continental. Winners at the most recent ones include: Miss AL, Fantasia Richards; Oklahoma, Ebony Hall; Missouri, Regina Aignier with RU Jasmine Knight; Miss First Lady, Sasha Valentino with RU Nya Campbell; Hawaii, Sasha Colby; and Windy City, Michelle Fight. Tickets for the Labor Day showdown in Chicago go on sale next month, ok?

With Miss EOY coming up at the end of July, let’s talk about recent qualifiers to that contest, too. A young lady by the name of The Princess just won Miss 41st Parallel. Angelique Ali is the new Miss Gulf Coast with RU Dee Ranged. Miss Midwest is Mokaa Monroe with RU Kris Kohl. Miss Southern is Petite de Jonville. Miss Ohio is Lady Angelica with RU Jasmine Knight. This year’s contest will be the 15th anniversary — congrats to the owners George and Eddie.

Since I mentioned Angelique Ali, it’s only fair that I mention that recently there was a parting of ways between her and the owner of the Female Impersonator’s Miss Florida pageant. Angelique’s title was taken away and her first runner-up from last year, Gina (not Nina) DeAngelo, was crowned at a ceremony with approximately four formers present plus the FI Miss FL at Large at Electra’s restaurant, Madame’s. This was Memorial Day. Gina is a lovely girl from South America and you may remember she tied for 1st RU at Alyson Thomas’ Miss S.C. Continental Pageant. Now you’re in the know.

Speaking of Miss Alyson, wanted everyone to know she was given the Raphael Velasco Service Award during the Continental Elite and PLUS pageants several weeks ago. Congrats, gal.

We’ve had a few contests locally that I’ll mention up in the gorgeous N.C. mountains. They had Miss Vanderbilt recently, a prelim to the Miss Land of the Sky pageants, and Serena won; her RU was Vanity Love. Kirby Kolby recently relinquished her title of Miss Ibiza in Wilmington and Dorae Sierra Saunders took all categories. Get it, girl. Her runners-up were Chy Chy Rodriguez and Ariel Nicole Knight Addams. Congrats, ladies. Also, the new Miss Atlanta is none other than Rock’em Sock’em Raquel Lord. Her RU’s included Savannah Leigh and Paula Sinclair. Tamisha Iman, the newest Miss U.S.ofA. was giving it up and many formers were there, including the incredible Tasha Long. A special guest appearance was made by Kelly Raye. Bitter I missed it.

I must unfortunately close with the news of two fallen stars to our community. Jamie Levi of Charlotte recently passed away. Jamie was a housecast member of Oleen’s and worked all over the region and held the titles of Miss Satellite at Large, and the bar title (if I’m not mistaken) of the Parliament Resort in Augusta, Ga. She was also co-promoter of Miss Cabarrus County America with her late lover, Hoke. Pauletta Leigh of San Antonio, Texas was a legend in her own time. She was a housecast member at The Saint and many, many other bars in the Lone Star State. She had many titles, including Miss Texas. I remember her being a finalist at Miss Gay U.S.ofA. the year Tommie Ross won, back in 1988.