Hello
folks and welcome once more to the spot where it’s my column
and I’ll cry “Rigged!” if I want to…but that
comes later. We have much to discuss in a little time, so let’s
dig right in.
On the national level, I’ll start with one of the two most recent
contests — Miss U.S.ofA. at Large. They didn’t have a fantastic
showing quantity-wise, but the quality of the girls sounds incredible.
There was a little hubbub at the beginning about some of the girls not
meeting the weight requirements of 225 pounds, but appropriate administrative
points were taken off from the “lighter” girls, and everyone
started at a level playing field. After all, the owners have a business
to run and the girls who showed up deserved to compete.
The top 12 included: Payje Turner (winner of solo talent); Khrystal Leight;
Miss TN Ondreah Montrose (winner of Best Production); Miss NC Paisley Parque;
Armani Davenport; Jasmine Skiies; Lady Ivana; fourth runner-up and Miss
Congeniality Alayna Marquez; third RU Kathryn York; second RU Passion St.
Clair; first RU and Overall Interview winner Dorae Saunders; and your new
Miss Gay U.S.ofA. at Large (and Most Beautiful) is TX’s Raven St.
James, who also won Gown and Talent on final night. Best Non-Finalist was
Coco Couture of Asheville and Dorae also won Talent in her preliminary
group and tied for Interview. Hats off to Kitty Litter who was giving up
her title.
Something new where Miss U.S.ofA. at Large is concerned — Craig Henderson,
longtime producer of Miss TX U.S.ofA. and At-Large and his own Mr. TX,
will now be the national promoter. So glad to know it’s in willing,
capable hands. I look for good things to come of this pageant in the near
future.
As for Miss America, where does one begin? First of all, let me say that
my opinions are just that and they do not reflect those of the folks at
Q-Notes. Having said that, I am still boiling mad at the outcome. As a
friend of mine used to say, “Ain’t no way in hell!” But,
let’s start with the review show of Saturday night — it was
absolutely fantastic. They had a major showing of formers and it was an
incredible night — Charity Case; Valerie Lohr; Vickie Vincent was
back; Patti LePlae Safe; that crazy, gorgeous Maya Montana; an exquisite-looking
Tiffany Bonet; the 10 dancing toes of Rachael Erikks; Catia Lee Love; Sabrina
White; and the rock n’ roll hellion Kerri Nichols, celebrating her
10-year anniversary. Add a tantalizing Hot Chocolate to the mix, finishing
up her 25th anniversary, and a surprise visit from one of the original
goddesses of all times, Miss Rachel Wells (what an honor and privilege
to meet her finally after years of wanting to), and you had a show. Plus,
no one knew that Ms. Wells would actually perform. It was rumored that
her “creator” would be there, but no hopes of catching a glimpse
of an old-school diva who made waves back in the day and set standards
for generations to come. Boy, were we all excited when she came out bedecked
and painted and lip-synced and “felt” her number like she had
just done a show last week, when in reality she had not performed since
1986. I hope many new queens knew what they beheld that night — a
true legend. I know this fat old queen did.
And on to final night, if we must. It was a great contest — but how
could it not be, with so many former national titleholders in the mix?
You had, from the past, a Miss Continental PLUS, Miss Gay U.S.ofA., Miss
World, Miss Universe, Miss National and Miss United States. There were
some amazing gowns and incredible talents. My gosh. But the lustre stops
there.
Needless to say, I am not in agreement with the results and I don’t
really think anyone in the audience was much, either. I knew who the winner
might end up being; I had my own ideas. In that system, under new managment
or not, the girl who has successfully done the pageant the longest, referred
to as “paying one’s dues,” usually wins.
Plus, I don’t guess it hurt that the new owners and the one who was
crowned had Mississippi in common, although Nicole DuBois unfortunately
lost her business as a result of Hurricane Katrina and moved home to Baton
Rouge, La. But for the word on the street to be that it would be her, and
then she comes with a less than excellent package but STILL wins EVERY
preliminary category, I’m sorry folks, but I’ve judged contests
before, and it’s not right. It’s just not right.
The top 10 included Truly Fabu, Alina Maletti, Luscious, Victoria DePaula,
China Collins and then fourth RU Layla LaRue, third RU Alyssa Edwards,
second RU Victoria Parker, first RU Coti Collins and Nicole DuBois, a dear
friend of mine whom I love dearly, was crowned. And based on what I saw
that night, I would not have even had her in the top five. She sang live
in a male voice at a national contest for female impersonators, her hair
was horrible for Evening Gown and her shoes did not match her gown.
So disappointing. Especially for someone like Coti Collins who was exquisite
in every category and who usually wins the Interview category at every
contest she does. There were just so many others whose Talent alone was
better than Nicole’s, including Luscious, who commanded the stage
all by herself without props or back-up dancers — just a good make-up
job with a pretty smile, a nice costume and a look of effortlessness on
her face. All this, and then there was chatter of a judge whose calls might
have been questionable (personally been there, done that, but I stand by
everything that I have ever put down on a piece of paper) and it’s
no wonder people after the contest were saying, “Different owners,
same old bullshit.”
It’s not encouraging to girls who try hard, excel and spend money
and I, for one, am tired of biting my tongue. I will not make some broad
statement like I’ll never go back or they’ll never get another
dime from me, because I love pageants and it was a good one and hey — Layla
or Victoria might go back, let’s face it. But I refuse to be surprised
at what happens anymore at a pageant like this, riddled with problems and
seemingly unfair practices and shady dealings for decades, even if it is
under new ownership.
Let me further say that that does not imply that the new owners, who seem
to be lovely people, had anything to do with the outcome, but it seems
to me that someone should have questioned those prelim awards a little
closer after the last signed page was turned in on Friday night. I just
feel truly sorry for girls like Coti Collins and Victoria Parker, the next
two in line, and all those other girls in the past who brought a winning
package but were not chosen for whatever reason.
True, the audience doesn’t see the interview, but it doesn’t
count so much that it makes the final say if the girl was excellent in
every other category. And yes, to all the naysayers out there, Victoria
and Coti are both very dear friends of mine, but I also said earlier that
I loved Nicole too, right? Anyway, believe it or not, I wish her well — she’s
gonna need it this year. She’s talented and pretty, maybe she can
prove herself. I feel like she will.
We’ll close with prelim news from other systems and local things
as well. On the national level, we have congrats going out to Whitney Paige
who just won Miss Show Me States U.S.ofA. with RU Mia Adams. Whitney had
just given up Miss Dreamgirl Continental PLUS and crowned that gorgeous
Rita Marlowe. Simply Liz just won one of the last prelims to Miss NC FFI,
she’s the new Miss Cosmopolitan. Congrats to Crystal Froste, the
newest Warehouse Witch, the long-running Halloween contest they have there
in Greensboro. Her RU’s were Jessica Jade and Neely O’Hara.
The most recent prelim to the Land of the Sky pageants up in Asheville
was Miss Buncombe County and a young lady by the name of Honeysuckle from
Johnson City, TN, won. Congrats to Elaine Davis who won all categories
recently at Miss Fayetteville U.S.ofA., with RU Vanessa Cottrell. They
recently had Miss and Mr. Galaxy International in Fayetteville and the
outcome follows: Miss winner was Arabia Knight Addams, first RU Ava Chanel
Alexandria, second RU Triona Ova Spaulding, third RU Elise C. Snow and
fourth RU Rashonda McCray. For the Mr. we have winner Damoni Dickerson,
first RU D’onte Knight Addams and second RU Will Allure. The Miss
Castle Entertainer of the Year to be held in Greenville, S.C., has been
postponed until the first of the year. And last but not least, the new
Miss O’Henry’s is Detra Penucci with RU Riva Iman Black. |
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