MGAZINE: 47th Annual Miss Gay America Pageant Pauses for Community Outreach in St. Louis; Dozens of Contestants Visit Three Organizations

Miss Gay America pageant co-owner Michael Dutzer (right) and Miss Gay America contestants on the bus to Food Outreach in St. Louis.

October 10, 2018 (New York, NY) – Last week, from October 3 - 6, the 47th annual Miss Gay America female impersonator pageant took place in St. Louis. The week culminated with the crowning of New York City entertainer Andora Te'tee as our new Miss Gay America. Established in 1972, the Miss Gay America pageant is the longest running and most prestigious female impersonator competition in the world.

Carrying on the longstanding Miss Gay America tradition of community service, on the morning of the third day of the four-day pageant, three chartered buses delivered over two dozen Miss Gay America contestants to three St. Louis organizations.

One group helped prepare meals for families of seriously ill children at Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis, while another group helped stock and box up canned goods to people living with HIV/AIDS at Food Outreach.

Not wearing t-shirts, but in full regalia, the outgoing Miss Gay America 2018 Deva Station, Mr. Gay America 2018 Judas Elliot and Miss Gay America 2015 Blair Williams visited the St. Louis Children’s hospital. For all, it was deeply moving experience.

“This morning I met Oliver who loves glitter, pink, and dresses,” said Deva Station moved to tears afterward. “He was fascinated with my Miss Gay America ring–so it is now his. Later, we met Janet who is working on her second bachelor’s in photography, and has had a liver transplant. When I think of what these young people face with such courage, I am made aware of how blessed I am in my life. I am so proud of the Miss Gay America organization.”

This coming weekend, on Saturday October 13, the Miss Gay America pageant will be well represented at the Food Network’s Drag Brunch, during the NYC Wine and Food Festival, benefiting No Kid Hungry. The brunch is presented by ABSOLUT GRAPEFRUIT® and hosted by Countess Luann de Lesseps and will feature food by celebrity chef Arnold Myint–aka Miss Gay America 2016 Suzy Wong–and appearances by local drag stars, including our new Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee and fellow New Yorker, Miss Gay Western States America 2018 Fifi DuBois. •

Related: The Big Heart of Miss Gay America: Pageant owners crown Lady Gaga (photo) the first ever Honorary Miss Gay America, donate $5000 to her Born This Way Foundation, and launch the Miss Gay America Foundation to mentor, benefit LGBTQ youth

15 Photos from the day are below. Credit for all: Courtesy of the Miss Gay America pageant.

Miss Gay America 2018 Deva Station on the bus to the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Below, Deva Station at the St. Louis Children's Hospital. with her new friend, Oliver, who admired and was promptly given her official Miss Gay America ring.