VIDEO: The Crowning of Miss Gay Maryland 2017 Eva Couture

5 Questions with MISS GAY MARYLAND AMERICA 2016 REBECCA BLAQUEOUT in Anticipation of the Annual Miss Gay Maryland America 2017 Pageant April 22 in Baltimore

On April 22, 2017, the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore will be the setting for Miss Gay Maryland America, a state preliminary competition for the 45th Miss Gay America Pageant.  

Established in Nashville in 1972–37 years before "RuPaul's Drag Race"–The Miss Gay America Pageant is the world’s first, longest running and most prestigious female impersonator competition. The Miss Gay Maryland America began in 1985 and is now in its 32nd year. (See the Baltimore Sun slideshow from Miss Gay Baltimore 2016 here.)

The pageant will honor the current Miss Gay Maryland America 2016 Rebecca Blaqueout, from Baltimore, and feature Miss Gay America 2017 Suzy Wong, of Nashville. 

The evening's theme will be the "Alice in Wonderland" Tea Party scene, as seen in the 1951 “Alice in Wonderland” movie by Walt Disney. The catch: costumes are not to be a main character from the movie or story, but a Tea Party guest! See the rules at www.missgaymarylandamerica.com. 

Nearly a dozen contestants from across the state will compete in five categories: Male Interview, Presentation (theme based costume), Evening Gown, Talent (fully produced stage production; sets, dancers, permitted), On Stage Interview. 

The Miss Maryland America pageant will set the 2017 state winner and alternate on a path to compete for the title of Miss Gay America 2018 in New Orleans this October. 

Meet your reigning Miss Gay Maryland America 2016, Rebecca Blaqeout, as she answers five questions in anticipation of her step-down and the passing on of the crown to Miss Gay Maryland 2017 on April 22: 

1 How did you get started, when did you first do in female impersonation?

I got started as a backup dancer for a contestant for Miss Gay Maryland, who then went on to Miss Gay America. I loved backup dancing, but I had an inkling that I wanted to be in the spotlight, and not in the chorus line. Well, one night (actually, it was the Black Party on Black Friday in November of 2013) I had two friends, Lola Mein and Kelly Kox, who were getting ready to go out in drag. I had always wanted to see what it was like to be in drag (and wondered if I was even pretty), so my friends did my hair, makeup, and borrowed some outfits.