Andora Te'tee by Kiet Thai The holidays are no time to get Grinchy–unless of course, you are Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee and there is a green wig and a party involved–so below, from Andora herself, is a list of 10 gifts sure to get your favorite drag queen screaming. To see more photos of Andora Te'tee–clearly one queen who knows her way around a paintbox–check out her Instagram@andora_official
December 14, 2018 (New York, NY) – Continuing the long tradition of good works by the Miss Gay America pageant system, comes this announcement by the current Miss Gay America 2018 Andora Te'tee of New York City:
"On behalf of the Miss America System, I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season. This is the season of giving and so I think it’s appropriate to announce that the Excellence Foundation will be teaming up with Cheer New York to raise money for the Anti Violence Project.
"Cheer New York is a diverse group of LGBTQ+ and ally cheerleaders who use their athletic and philanthropic abilities to inspire and encourage audiences wherever they perform and raise money for a charity they choose yearly.
"I have two drag daughters in Cheer New York and have many friends in the team. I know that together as a team we will be able to make a change and benefit the Anti Violence Project, an amazing organization that supports and empowers LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected survivors of violence through counseling and advocacy, combined with their proactive response to the crisis of violence through community education and outreach.
"During my entire reign Cheer New York and the Excellence Foundation will be collecting, raising and cheering for money for the Anti Violence Project. I would like to encourage everyone reading this blog to support our efforts and help us make a difference in the lives of the survivors of violence that the Anti Violence Project serves.
Those interested in making a donation to the Miss Gay America Excellence Foundation can do so at www.mgaexcellencefoundation.org. Click the "Donate" button. If you wish your donation to go to the associated charity of a particular Miss Gay America title-holder, please include their name in the donation page notes. (We are currently putting together a list of MGA title-holders and their associated charities.)
"I wish you all the best this holiday season and may it be full of love and glitter." •
Miss Gay America 2018 First Alternate Brooke Lynn Hytes
All photos by Erika Wagner "The Drag Photographer"
Orlando-based photographer Erika Wagner, aka The Drag Photographer, is the magician behind some of the most unstoppably glamorous photos of drag entertainers out there, including of the Miss Gay America & Mr. Gay America 2018 royal family.
Miss Gay America 2018 Deva Station
This past year she photographed Miss Gay America 2018 Deva Station, Miss Gay America 2018 First Alternate Brooke Lynn Hytes (top), and Mr. Gay America 2018 Judas Elliot. "Love shooting with her!," says Judas, "If u can’t tell! Working with Erika is indescribable. Her creativity and attention to detail is beyond comparison!"
Mr. Gay America 2018 Judas Elliot
Erika also photographed local girl, Miss Gay Florida America 2018 Alexis Mateo, to fierce effect (below). So fierce, the photos ran in local weekly newspaper, Creative Loafing Tampa. "Shooting with Erika is like seing your best friend after a long time," says Alexis. "She always make me feel amazing and we love to sing Disney songs together. She understand my vision. My favorite photographer!" See those photos and more of Alexis by Erika here.
Miss Gay Florida America 2018 Alexis Mateo
Below, a random selection of fabulous photos and answers to our little Q&A from Erika Wagner. For more of Erika's work follow her on Instagram @thedragphotographer. Book your own shoot with Erika at www.erika-wagner.com.
Roxxxy Andrews
Melony VonKruz
1 Why and when did you pick up the camera?
When I was a baby my dad always had the camera on my face. As a teen I always had the camera on people’s faces, they hated me for it. I went into makeup, graduated from a school in Hollywood CA. and was working on set and was asked to snap a few shots. The photographer liked how I took initiative and I began assisting him. My grandfather traveled all over the world and was an amateur photographer, he would always sit me down in front of his 20-40 slide carousels, I credit grandpa for a lot of my current interests, including my love of making pictures. Professionally ( getting payed ) it has been 10 years since I incorporated my business.
Above: Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee and Barbra Seville's Wonderful 100, which this year raised $40,000--and over the last 10 years nearly $250,000 for AIDS Walk Arizona.
Continuing the longstanding tradition and commitment to good works by the Miss Gay America system, Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee recently joined Barbra Seville's Wonderful 100 for AIDS Walk Arizona Sunday October 28th in Phoenix. The walk benefits the Aunt Rita's Foundation, a Phoenix based organization dedicated to the elimination of, and suffering from, HIV and AIDS.
Above: Dusty Brindsmade, Richard Stevens (Barbra Seville), Jeffrey Perales, George Herrera and Anneliz Ahumada (All BSW110 committee members). Photo from Echo Magazine.
The Wonderful 100 started 10 years ago when Seville – the beloved drag persona of Richard Stevens – decided to form a group to walk for AIDS Walk Arizona. The original mission was simple: 100 people would participate in the walk and raise $100 each. The funds would then be dispersed by Aunt Rita’s to different Valley HIV/AIDS organizations. Not only was the team a success that year, they also laid down the foundation for a wildly successful decade of supporting this event. Since their inception, the amount of money this group has raised is near the $250,000 mark, utilizing a variety of promotional outlets, from social media to fun in-person events. Read the full story here.
Above: Dusty Brindsmade with (in crowns) Miss Gay Arizona/Miss Gay Western States promoter Daniel Eckstrom, Miss Gay Arizona America 2018 Adriana Galliano, Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee and Geo Johnson (Mr Gay Arizona America).
Andora recounts participating in this revered annual event:
Composite photos of Miss Gay America Andora Te’tee by Kiet Thai. See more photos of Andora Te’tee’s fantastic costumes on her Instagram
In anticipation of Halloween costume contests everywhere, here are 10 tricks for a prizewinning look from the queen of costumes herself, Miss Gay America 2019, Andora Te’tee.
1. Pick a simple concept and then be the best at it. Example: the devil. Be the best devil! You don't want people wondering who you are supposed to be.
2. Make sure you don't have anything blocking you mouth. That way nothing gets between you and your cocktail!
3. I you can't glue it, don't do it! Glue is the fastest way to make costumes. Yes that's right girl, you don't need a sewing machine to look good in Halloween drag!
4. If you make your shoulders bigger, your waist will look smaller. Say yaass! to shoulder pads and shoulder decorations.
5. Add lights. Tuck battery packs away into wigs hats or pockets. This extra element will make you the center of attention at the party.
Miss Gay Western States America 2018 First Alternate Dextaci tore it up in Talent, singing live. Her rendition of "This is the Moment," from the musical Jekyll & Hyde and earned her a standing ovation. Go Dextaci!
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.
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.
While the country may be convulsing under conservative posturing, it was great to see two major newspapers in the American Heartland make the Miss Gay America pageant their featured cover story–in the same week!
Not only were we the cover story for the St. Louis Dispatch's Go Magazine and the hip St. Louis weekly, the Riverfront Times, but we were featured on the local Fox News channel the night before AND on the day after the pageant.
Furthermore, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch featured a great post-pageant slideshow by photographer Cristina Fletes, who we can than enough for covering the pageant for over six hours!
"Being embraced by St. Louis sends a great message to the rest of America," says Miss Gay America pageant co-owner Michael Dutzer. "Regardless of what you see in the media, the public is still rooting for the LGBTQ community. And now we have a Miss Gay America, Andora Te’tee—and our publicist–in the bullseye of the American media universe, New York City. 2019 is going to be a great year for the Miss Gay America pageant.”
The crowning of Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee with Miss Gay America 2017 Deva Station (left) and Miss Gay America 2000 Catia Lee Love (right). Photo by BjKj Illusions.
October 8, 2018 (New York, NY) – This past Saturday night, New York City drag queen and entertainer Andora Te’Tee was crowned Miss Gay America 2019 at the Ferrara Theatre At America's Center in St. Louis.
Established in 1972, the Miss Gay America pageant is now in its 48th year and is the longest running and most prestigious female impersonator competition in the world. Andora entered representing the state of New York after winning the Miss Gay New York 2018 America preliminary back in March.
Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee. Photo by BjKj Illusions.
Over four days, 44 contestants competed in five categories: Male Interview, Presentation, Talent, Evening Gown and On-Stage Question. Andora slayed the audience and judges with her stunning interpretation of the pageant’s “Fantastical Creatures” theme and her Broadway-worthy performance of “I Enjoy Being a Girl,” which included eight dancers and a record-breaking 9 costume changes.
Video: Miss Gay New York America shops to transform into a 'fashion icon' before competition
Out of drag, Andora is Michael Collins, an event decorator who moved to New York City from Baltimore eleven years ago, where he lives in Hell’s Kitchen with his husband of four years.
Collins uses his drag work to benefit The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual And Transgender Community Center Of Baltimore And Central Maryland (GLCCB) and works hand-to-hand with Cheer New York, an adult cheerleading team and certified 501(c)(3)non-profit organization which raises money for charities, including Immigration Equality, as this year's Cheer For Life Fund recipient. All of Andora’s dancers are Cheer New York volunteers.
Team Andora. Andora Te’tee aka Michael Collins (center) with dancers, Mike Vandermause (Cheer New York Athletic Director) and Miss Gay New York promoter, Thomas John (front). Photo by BjKj Illusions.
Andora’s first appearance in New York City as Miss Gay America will be this Saturday, October 13 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 fellow Miss Gay America 2018 contestant, Fifi DuBois. •
Andora Te'tee on Instagram (a must view!)
Andora Te'tee Q&A on MGAZINE, the Miss Gay America blog (just after winning Miss Gay New York America 2018)
The 3 following photos of Andora Te'tee are by Kiet Thai:
Meet Laura Dark, the second of our women drag queen photographers to be profiled on the Miss Gay America blog, MGAZINE. We previously featured Carrie Strong. Another we hope to feature is Erika Wagner “The Drag Photographer," who shot the fab photos you've seen of Miss Gay Florida America Alexis Mateo.
Laura is best known for her dark portrait and beauty work which has been described as, “beautiful and creative to the max….the images are so realistic and haunting…it’s insane.” She is well known for her many publications, magazine covers, and her two years as Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor with the avant-garde fashion magazine, Dark Beauty. Among others, she has been published in Gothic Beauty Magazine, Bizarre Magazine, and Auxiliary Magazine.
"Laura is an incredible artist with a unique eye for finding the most interesting shot!" say our reigning Miss Gay America Deva Station. "She does a lot of work in gothic photography which makes her the perfect person to capture drag make up and creativity. Laura Dark Studios has so many props and costumes to make the experience one of a kind."
So, herewith, photographer Laura Dark answers 5 quick questions and shares her 10 favorite photographs.
amNY.com just posted a great video feature on Miss Gay New York America 2018 Andora Tetee as she prepares to compete in the Miss Gay America pageant coming up in St. Louis, October 3-6. Read the story and watch the video here.
Recently crowned Miss Gay Florida America 2018 Alexis Mateo is the first to take that title since 2013. Many are already familiar with–and fierce fans of–Alexis, due to his appearance on "RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 3)," and his presence on the catwalks numerous pageants as well as Hamburger Mary's in Brandon, Florida (Tampa Bay area).
Get to know Alexis as he prepares to compete at Miss Gay America 2019 this October 3-6 in St Louis, but first. we wanted to ask, as we do of most of the queens we talk to here, how did he chose his drag name?
"Alexis Mateo is my real name," he says. "My mom named me
Alexis because I was born the day that Puerto Rican Boxer Alexis Arguayo
won the national championship in 1979, and Mateo is my Mom's last name.
So is easy for me to respond by Alexis cause is my real name."
Below Alexis answers 5 quick questions, but for more, check out the recent feature in hip weekly paper, Creative Loafing Tampa and visit his YouTube channel for tutorials, behind the scenes, and this great little video (above), live from DragCon, encouraging everyone to get out and vote, "Don't let other bitches choose for you!"
1 How did you get started, when did you first do in female impersonation?
I first did drag in 2001 at the Parliament House in Orlando, when I was a dancer at Disney World. I heard Darcel Stevens was having a talent search night search with a $100 cash prize. So, me and some friends decided that we were going to enter. To my surprise, I won, and that was the moment when I started to do drag.
Miss Gay America 2019 Deva Station. Photo by Laura Dark Photography. Contact: Andy Reynolds at Popular Publicity. andy@popularpublicity.com (New York, NY) September 13, 2018–From October 3 - 6, the 47th annual Miss Gay America pageant will take place in St. Louis Missouri. Preliminary nights will take place at the city's enormous new Hamburger Mary's St. Louis, with the final night and crowning being held at The Ferrara Theater. It will be four days of glamour, Las Vegas style entertainment, high emotions, higher hair, and really, really big earrings. The Miss Gay America pageant is an all-ages, classy, PG, family-friendly event. Many contestants show up with spouses, relatives and children in tow–some even in matching bowling jackets emblazoned with their queen's name across the back. 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.
Miss Gay America 2019 Deva Station. Photo by Laura Dark Photography. The pageant will honor Miss Gay America 2019 Deva Station (above) of Columbus, Ohio and feature performances by former Miss Gay Americas." Contestants will compete in five categories: Male Interview (in suit and tie), Presentation (theme based costume), Evening Gown, On Stage Interview and Talent (big production number with costumes, sets and dancers). The Miss Gay America theme, chosen by Deva Station, is "Fantastical Creatures." For the Presentation category, contestants will be asked to interpret the theme, in their gown, costume and look. Deva's mandate, "Take inspiration from fantasy, Greek mythology, Sci-Fi. Be creative and take us to a world of total fantasy!" Miss Gay America pageant owners Michael Dutzer and Rob Mansman are pleased to announce that the next “Symbol of Excellence,” Miss Gay America 2019, will receive a prize package valued at more than $50,000. For a detailed list of gifts included, click here.
Hamburger Mary's St. Louis was opened in February 2017 by Miss Gay America pageant owners Michael Dutzer and Rob Mansman and partner David Pardue. It is one of the largest of in the drag-themed 19-restaurant franchise.
Below is the list of Miss Gay America 2019 Qualified Contestants, including the hometown for each. Bear in mind that a majority of the preliminaries won by these contestants were "standard regional preliminaries," meaning that the competitions were open to contestants from across the U.S. Click on the name for the Facebook page for each.
Miss Gay America 2019 Deva Station in the Miss Gay America crown. Photo by Erika Wagner "The Drag Photographer"
Media Contact: Andy Reynolds at Popular Publicity andy@popularpublicity.com Miss Gay America pageant owners Michael Dutzer and Rob Mansman are pleased to announce that the next “Symbol of Excellence,” Miss Gay America 2019, will receive a prize package valued at more than $50,000. The unique package, which has grown exponentially since last year, includes prizes donated by some of the best in their respective fields and is unlike any other in the business. Miss Gay America fans are encouraged to support the following list of businesses donating gifts to the prize package. Gifts from additional individuals and businesses will be announced closer to the 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.
From October 3-6, nearly 50 contestants from across the U.S. will travel to St. Louis to compete for the Miss Gay America 2019 crown.
On August 2, at Club One in Savannah, Georgia, Moltyn Decadence of Kansas City, MO, became the first Miss Gay Georgia America to be crowned since 2006.
An "open regional pageant," the night, drawing contestants from across the U.S., was a smashing success due the hard work of promoter, Miss Gay America 2015 and Club One Show Director, Blair Williams. (Check out preview stories she scored in Do Savannah and Connect Savannah.)
Moltyn Decadence performs her Talent number at Miss Gay Georgia America 2018
Before we introduce you to Moltyn by way of our little 5 question Q&A, here's what she had to say about how she chose her drag name.
"I chose my drag name after landing my first
gig. My original drag name, Lavonna Turcell, wasn’t received well, so
before they announced me joining the cast I was asked to change my name.
A friend and I were studying at Chilis over margaritas when the
descriptor for one of the desserts caught my eye. It was a simple bunt
cake with hot fudge in the middle, but it sounded so chocolatey and
delicious that I decided that's what I wanted my drag to be like. We
spent a little time playing with the spelling and before the dessert had cooled, I had adopted the name Moltyn Decadence.
Now, meet Moltyn. Take it away girl.
Photograph by Vixen Photography
1 How did you get started, when did you first do in female impersonation?
I got started by pure coincidence in 2005 while I was in college at Michigan State University. I was involved in a LGBTQIA student group for people of color during my undergrad studies. Following the tsunamis of 2004, a group of drag king performers organized a drag show to assist queer communities that needed assistance, and they enlisted as many student group leaders as possible. I was recently out, but eager to help. So, with no prior drag experience, three friends and I embarked on three weeks of exploration and rehearsals for our debut group performance of Destiny’s Child’s “Lose My Breath.” Needless to say we were not very put together, but the drag bug had bitten me, and I decided to continue this new hobby of mine, never imagining that it would eventually lead me to competing at Miss Gay America.
Get to know Miss Gay America pageant owner Michael Dutzer a bit better in this thoughtful article by Jéssica Alvarado Gámez for Cronkite News/PBS Arizona. A big thank you to Jéssica for the hard work!
In the article Michael talks about the first time he performed in drag:
One of his best friends encouraged him to try drag and showed him the ins and outs of painting his face and making costumes. As soon as Dutzer had his look together, he was asked to perform at a friend’s local shows in a bar in downtown Baltimore. “Everybody from work came to see me,” he said, “and it was kind of one of those nerve-wracking moments.” But the evening was empowering. “The first time you walk out and you’re like 7½ feet tall in a dress, all of a sudden you’re the big blond girl who’s bigger than life.” It was a surreal moment for Dutzer. He liked the idea that whether people were laughing at him or with him, he was able to take people away from their problems for a bit. As time went on, a friend asked Dutzer to sponsor them in Miss Gay America, which eventually led to Dutzer buying the whole pageant. Dutzer considers the pageant an opportunity to provide a sense of hope for people. It was never about gaining money for himself but to help people and become community driven.
And on giving back:
“I think it is important to have a network of people to support kids because it (coming out to their family) is a scary thing,” he said. “We are trying to make sure that people know that their lives are valuable, to make a difference in their eyes.”
Miss Gay North Carolina America by After Six Photography Studios, DJ Bonet and Monte C.
Last month we introduced to you the work of photographer Carrie Strong. Now, we're back to introduce yet another favorite photographer of girls in the Miss Gay America system. DJ Bonet, together with his brother Monte C., are After Six Photography and based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Not only did they take the absolutely gorgeous photos of our reigning Miss Gay North Carolina America Eden Pardue-Divine (above), but they've been the photographer of choice for numerous queens in the Miss Gay America and other drag pageant systems.
Without further ado, here's our Q&A with DJ along with his top 10 (OK, 11), photos, in no particular order.
Established to aspiring MGA queens looking to up their photo game will appreciate the great advice in DJ's answer to question number 5. Enjoy!
Above: Miss Gay Oklahoma America 2018 Alysha Brooks Davenport as photographed by Carrie Strong
Credit for all photos in this post: Carrie Strong.
In anticipation of Miss Gay Oklahoma America 2018, we wanted to feature one of the Miss Gay America pageant's favorite photographers, Oklahoma City based Carrie Strong.
"I'm a self-taught photographer and retoucher based in Oklahoma City. I began photographing drag queens and female impersonators in 2009 and since that time I have worked with local, state, national and international LGBT entertainers. Recently, I have expanded my work into the fashion, beauty, and advertising worlds, while continuing my business in traditional personal photography."
Carrie's stunning and creative photos of female impersonators and drag queens are arguably some of the best in the business and well worth a professional queen's time and dime for a trip to OKC for a proper professional shoot. (A girl should never underestimate the importance of your photos!)
First, here are photos of the reigning Miss Gay Oklahoma America Alysha Brooks Davenport–solo, and with Mr. Gay Oklahoma America 2018 O'Dey Brooks Davenport (of the legendary Davenport drag family)–followed by Carrie's portraits of Miss Gay Oklahoma 2017 Carmen Devereaux.
Above: Miss Gay Oklahoma America 2018 Alysha Brooks Davenport and Mr. Gay Oklahoma America 2018 O'Dey Brooks Davenport
