Cheer for your favorite queens at the Miss Gay Arizona America pageant. Here's how
Through their makeup, costumes, hair and movements, drag performers spotlight many styles of female illusion. The Miss Gay Arizona America Pageant celebrates this art form.
The “Drag of Ages” themed pageant, a preliminary for the Miss Gay America national pageant, will take place Saturday, June 25, at the Tempe Center for the Arts.
Ten contestants will compete in personal interview, presentation, evening gown, talent and onstage interview categories. They qualified by winning or placing first alternative at city prelims.
For the onstage question category, each contestant will be asked the same question. Promoter Daniel Eckstrom says this lets the audience get to know the performers a little more.
“It allows them to share their story, which I like. They can connect with people on a different level,” Eckstrom says.
Reigning Miss Gay Arizona America Sicarya Seville will step down as a new titleholder is crowned.
The pageant will also celebrate the 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year anniversaries of former titleholders Olivia Gardens, Diva, Mya McKenzie, Angela Dodd and Pussy LeHoot, respectively.
Eckstrom says Arizona’s state pageant is special because of the diverse pool of contestants who compete.
“In my opinion, and I’ve said this time and time again, there is no cookie cutter person, especially here in Arizona, that I want as Miss Arizona. There’s always a seat at the table,” Eckstrom says.
Eckstrom, who was recently honored with promoter and humanitarian of the year awards at the national pageant, says the pageant system has evolved with the times. The popularity of TV shows such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the emergence of new performers has contributed to this progression.
What's next for the Miss Gay Arizona pageant?
In the near future, there are plans to add more preliminary events leading up to the state pageant. Eckstrom strives to make sure that each prelim is competitive and attracts top performers.
“I always want it to be the best of the best competing, and you have to fight for your ticket,” Eckstrom says.
State titleholders become the faces of the pageant system and administrators for preliminary pageants. They also spread the word about the pageants and bring in new contestants.
Titleholders often have issues or messages that they are passionate about and want to bring attention to during their reign. Eckstrom says he tries to give titleholders the freedom to make their year what they want it to be.
For Sicarya Seville, police violence, immigration and voter restriction laws have been important issues within her platform.
Miss Gay Western States America is the same weekend
During the same weekend as the state pageant, the regional pageant Miss Gay Western States America will be held on Sunday, June 26, at the Kobalt bar in Phoenix. It's a preliminary for the national pageant.
Miss Gay Western States America recently won the regional preliminary of the year award, and a number of national titleholders have started out in this system. This includes former Miss Gay Americas Suzy Wong, Luscious and Jessica Jade.
The pageant will honor reigning titleholder Tatiyanna Voche’, who will step down at the end of the night. The drag queen won second alternate at the national pageant in 2022.
The regional pageant, which features a “What a Feeling” theme, will be hosted by Suzy Wong and former Miss Gay Arizona America Barbra Seville.
Miss Gay Arizona America State Pageant
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25.
Where: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway.
Admission: $25 plus fees.
Details: https://www.missgayarizonaamerica.com.
Miss Gay Western States America Regional Pageant
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, June 26.
Where: Kobalt, 3110 N. Central Ave., Suite 175, Phoenix.
Admission: $20.
Details: http://www.mgwsa.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Miss Gay Arizona America Pageant 2022: All about the drag
