Oh, here we go again. I know if you follow pageants you already know what I’m talking about — another mysterious outcome at Miss Gay America. If I didn’t want to include all the news from as many national pageants as I could get my hands on and if I didn’t respect a majority of the former winners, I’d just drop reporting on MGA all together. Such is my dilemma. Victoria DePaula finally won. I’m happy for her. After all, she didn’t judge herself. But all the reports I got say that based on what they saw, she shouldn’t have even made Top 10. They have killed it. Once again. Runners-up included Chantel Reshae, Coti Collins, Alyssa Edwards and China Collins. Rounding out the Top 10 were Jade Sinclair, Sue Nami, Jessica Jade, Tatyana Voce and Alana Steele. I hear I missed a duet by Hot Chocolate and Tasha Kohl—now there’s something to regret! At least the Miss North Carolina pageant won several awards for Prop Design and such; Scorpio and former Miss Tiffany Storm, along with our outgoing Miss, Coti Collins, worked hard to make that week-end special and memorable, and it worked!
Speaking of Hot Chocolate, she was just featured [again] in Robin Leach’s column about the life of celebrities in Las Vegas after seeing illusionist Criss Angel’s Believe show at the Luxor. Proud Larry was photographed with the hunky Angel and there was another picture of a headdress that his female alter ego wears at the club Piranha.
Shame on me for not mentioning the return of Chanel Dupree, one of my all-time favorites, to Miss Continental back in September. She was resplendent from head-to-toe in what else — Chanel, my darling! And, she did a gorgeous old school ballad in it, too. The fashionista is back!
The rest of the Rag is dedicated to local news this time — like the results of the Miss Hide-A-Way contest. Congrats are due Emery Starr. She won every category. Her RU was Sierra Santana who came out of a little break for competition. Emery also just won Miss Libra at Night Owls in Gastonia. Her RU was London Dior. I also saw Emery in a show recently at Chasers along with Angela Lopez and our own Chocolate (formerly Andrea Carlisle). The 16th Miss Cosmopolitan took place in Hickory at Club Cabaret recently. Alexxa Chandler won and her RUs were Kelly Brooks (what was I just saying about coming off your hiatus?) and Stephanie Collins. Congrats also go out to Amanda Blake who was recently crowned the first Miss Gay Carolinas in Columbia, S.C. — a pageant that will alternate between North and South Carolina and is open to Carolina residents only. The Mr. and Miss Warehouse 29 contests were recently held and Mykel Knight-Addams won with RU Mystic Parque and for the ladies, Orlando Chanel won, with RUs Crystal Froste and Cheetah Shaw.
Hats off to Brooklyn Dior who recently celebrated 25 years in the business with a special show at Central Station. Joining Brookie in the show were Kasey King, Angela Lopez, Amber Rachelle St. James, LuAnne Landreth, Chea Allen, Jamie Monroe, Kiana Lane and a scandalous Keshia LaShawn Wellington who had on very little costume that evening.
The column this time is dedicated to a keen gay businessman by the name of Rick Wildes who owned Scorpio and Chasers and other local establishments. He also brought Miss NC America to Charlotte after many years of being in Durham at the old Power Company. Rick had his own certain way of doing things, but people always knew where they stood with him. He helped cultivate many female impersonators who went on to achieve local, state and national success. He will be sorely missed.
info: Drop me a line, OK? . TheTeaMissD@yahoo.com