MISS GAY AMERICA Photographer Erika Wagner "The Drag Photographer" Shares 10 Fab Photos and Chats with MGAZINE

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.

Miss Gay America 2019 Andora Te'tee joins Longtime MGA Veteran Barbra Seville's Wonderful 100 in raising $40,000 for AIDS Walk Arizona

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.

For the past 10 years, Richard Stevens–who as Barbra Seville has participated in the Miss Gay America system for over 20 years–has motivated and organized Barbra Seville's Wonderful 100.  From the Echo Magazine feature, "Echo inducts Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 Echo inducts Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100":

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: