DRAG QUEENS IN SPACE! Nation's Ultimate Drag Competition Returns to St. Louis October 2-5 for Miss Gay America Pageant

Above: Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee by Kiet Thai

DRAG QUEENS IN SPACE! Nation's Ultimate Drag Competition Returns to St. Louis October 2-5 for Miss Gay America Pageant  

Nearly 50 contestants from across the country to compete in spectacular "Beyond the Stars" themed 48th annual Miss Gay America pageant.    

Above: Promo video for Miss Gay America 2020  

Thanks to "RuPaul’s Drag Race," drag, the art of female impersonation, is huge. Whether you are an entertainment reporter or drag fanatic, you won't want to miss the 48th annual Miss Gay America pageant taking place October 2-5 in St. Louis.  

Established in Nashville in 1972, The Miss Gay America Pageant is the world’s first, longest running and most prestigious nationwide female impersonator (aka drag) competition.  

Nearly 50 contestants from over one hundred city, state and regional preliminaries currently happening across the country will compete for the Miss Gay America 2020 crown.  

Contestants will compete in five judged categories: Presentation (themed costume), Male Interview (in suit and tie), Talent (big production number with costumes, sets and dancers), Evening Gown, and On Stage Interview.       

Above: The crowning of Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee of New York City.  

The pageant will honor the reigning Miss Gay America 2019, Andora Te'tee of New York City, and feature performances by a dozen former Miss Gay Americas, known as "Forevers."  

The pageant's theme, chosen by the Andora Te'tee, is “Beyond the Stars.” "We are taking Miss Gay America into the future," she says about the theme. "Miss Gay America 2020 contestants will dress in futuristic space couture, creative costumes for the Presentation category on the final night. Former MGAs will dress as space goddesses. I chose a space theme because the future is unknown, so the contestants can be extremely creative. I can’t wait to see the future of drag come to life right before our eyes!"  

Meet Miss Gay America Photographer Duo BjKj Illusions, a.k.a. Barb & Kathy Wilt-McCrickerd

Above: Asia O' Hara MGA 2016 opening for 2017. "Asia was the first queen when Mike [Dutzer] And Rob [Mansman] became the new owners of MGA."

Anyone who's been to the Miss Gay America pageant has seen two of the system's most ardent fans busily photographing every second, sequin and sashay.

Shooting under the collective name of BjKj Illusions, Barb and Kathy Wilt-McCrickerd have been meticulously documenting the nation's longest running and most prestigious drag pageant for over ten years. We thought it was time to meet the this devoted couple, surely to be counted as two of the Miss Gay America's system's biggest cheerleaders.

So, herewith, the MGAZINE interview with BjKj Illusions along with ten of their favorite photos, which they've captioned.

1 How long have you been going to Miss Gay America pageants?    

Barb: Ten years. Our first year was 2009, when I sponsored my first queen, Elektra Fearce St. James, Miss Pennsylvania America 2009.

2 In addition to Miss Gay America, you also attend and photograph other pageants. Which ones and why?

Kathy: Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America, Miss Gay Pennsylvania America, as well as Miss and Mr. Lehigh Valley Pride, just to list a few. There are way more. We go where are friends are performing. We like to capture their special moments on stage.

Barb: We have also been to Miss All American Goddess, Miss USofA and  Miss Wessland. I want to go to Miss Continental, but it is over Labor Day weekend, and with working in retail that is always hard to get off.

Above: Andora TeTee MGA 2019.  "When a contestant uses one of our pictures as their profile picture or cover picture, that lets us know they liked our picture, and we did a good job capturing their special moment."

3 How many days out of the year are you traveling to and from drag pageants?  

Kathy: Too many, lol, but if it was up to Barb, it would be every day out of the year.

Barb: This is funny you ask this. If I had it my way, it would be all the time!  Lol. Kathy always says that I plan our vacations around drag, and she might be right!

4 What’s behind your photographer credit name BjKj Illusions?  

Barb: BjKj stands for  Barbara Jean and Kathy Jean. The “Illusions” part comes from the art of female "illusion."

Above: Kathy (left) and Barb (right) Wilt-McCrickerd.

Meet Your New Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2019: Dextaci

Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2019 Dextaci is a familiar face to MGA fans who've been following the career of one of the system's most beloved queens. Who can forget her live, show-stopping performance of "This is the Moment" as 1st Alternate to Miss Gay Western States America 2018 at Miss Gay America 2019? (Can't wait to see what Dextaci wow's us with at MGA2020!)

MGAZINE caught up with the West Monroe, Louisiana entertainer for a quick 5 question Q&A, but first we asked...

How did you choose your drag name? 
I wanted to have some way to incorporate my big name Dex into my girl name. Nothing female had Dex in it so I had to creative. So Dextaci was born!

Above: The newly crowned Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2019 Dextaci at Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America. L-R: Promoter Heath Barnes, First Alternate to Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2019 Patti Lovelace, Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee, Dextaci, Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2015 Monica Moore, and Promoter J.R. Delauter. Photo by BjKj Illusions.

Now to the Q&A:

1 How did you get started, when did you first do in female impersonation?
The way I got started was very different. In 2007 when I was in high school I was dared to participate in a gag version of homecoming for our school. Dextaci was born when I was a senior in high school.

Dallas Morning News Photos: Miss Gay Texas America 2019 Top 10 contestants compete in the Talent portion of the pageant

Just in, The Dallas Morning News has posted a gallery of terrific photos from the Talent portion of the final night of Miss Gay Texas America 2019, which happened last Saturday, July 19 at the Rose Room in Dallas.

Above is just one of the great photos of the Top 10 contestants during Talent, by photographer Brian Elledge. That's Hu'Nee B of Houston. See the entire gallery on the Dallas Morning News Guid Live page.

Thanks to Brian Elledge and Shannon Sutlief for the coverage!

Congratulation to our new Miss Gay Texas America 2019 Edna Anderson of Brownsville and First Alternate Chloe Knox of Houston!

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Watch "Transformation" Documentary featuring MGA Stars

Now available to view online!

TRANSFORMATIONS Documentary (Fluid Film)

Every year in Lawrence, Kansas, Brandon Eisman, aka “Deja Brooks”, teams up with other area drag queens to turn local women into divas for a night as part of “Transformations”, a pageant-style charity gala.

But this year, Deja is only accepting local men who are not only “man enough” to go full drag for charity, but also learn a thing or two about their drag mentors.

The competition includes real pageant components such as evening gown, talent and on-stage question as well as performances by the "consultant" female impersonators.

The film was shown at five independent film festivals, debuting in Lawrence, KS at the Free State Festival, then off to New York City for DOC NYC, before traveling to California for the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and the Irvine International Film Festival. Last stop was the Kansas City LGBT Film Festival, where "Transformations" won for Best Short Documentary.

Watch "Transformations" on Vimeo and YouTube.

From the filmmakers, "We are still trying to reach a greater on-line presence, so if you enjoy the short documentary, please consider sharing it with your family and friends. You just never know who might see it or share it (Ellen Degeneres)!"

Read: 386: Transformation – Building Acceptance One Community At A Time – Brandon Eismand

The next Transformations Charity Gala happens on January 25, 2020.
www.transformationslawrence.com

Follow Transformations on social media for the latest info.
Facebook @TransformationsCharityGala
Twitter @LawTrans
Instagram @transformationscharitygala 

Directed, Shot & Edited by Alonso Mayo of Fluid.tv
Produced by Nina Leidersdorff of Fluid.tv

Featuring:
Brandon Eisman aka "Deja Brooks"
Gabby Bucuti aka "Mulan"
John Koop aka "Flo"
Ryan Webster aka "Moltyn Decadence"
Corey Fugitt aka "Raven Waye"
Reid Bork
Tyson Combs
Bill Gollier
Matt Llewellyn

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Miss Gay Maryland America Throws First Pitch at Frederick Keys Game, June 2

Female impersonator/drag queen Miss Gay Maryland America 2019 Chasity Vain threw out the first pitch at the Frederick Keys vs Wilmington, DE game this past Thursday, June 27 at NYMEO Field At Harry Grove Stadium.

Chasity Vain was crowned Miss Gay Maryland America on April 13 at the Horseshoe Casino. She will go on to compete with nearly 50 contestants from across the country for the coveted Miss Gay America crown in St. Louis this October.

Established in Nashville in 1972, The Miss Gay America Pageant is the world’s first, longest running and most prestigious female impersonator (aka drag) competition.

Below are photos from the game. Pictured are Miss Gay Maryland America 2019 Chasity Vain, Miss Gay America pageant co-owner Michael Dutzer, Frederick Keys mascot Keyote, pitcher Matthias Dietz #31, Skye and Christopher Hashemzadeh representing GLSEN Maryland (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) and Jason.

Stunning photos from Miss Gay Arizona America 2019

From photographer McCloud Bastidas, a few more stunning photos from Miss Gay Arizona America 2019. How GORGEOUS are our girls? Click any image to view as a slideshow.

Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Tetee

Miss Gay Tucson America 2019 Venus Moon Starr

Miss Gay America 2017 Suzy Wong