Meet Miss Gay America Photographer Daniel Rinehart

For nearly six years, photographer Daniel Rinehart has been photographing Miss and Mr. Gay America preliminary and national pageants. We thought it was time to get to know the man, so herewith is an interview with Mr. Rinehart. Throughout the Q&A Daniel shares ten of his favorite photos in a countdown from 10 to 1, captioned by Daniel.

1. How long have you been photographing Miss Gay America pageants?

I began following MGA pageants in 2013 in northwest Missouri. I watched a friend get crowned and 4 years later found myself snapping images for Michael & Rob at Asia (O’Hara)’s step down in Memphis and then at the return of Mr. Gay America in Dallas, TX.

Above: 10.  Deva in Reflection - MGA 2018 is left alone for a moment backstage.  Her dresser, partner and backstage team have left.  She wasn't aware that this moment was captured at the time

 2. How many days out of the year are you traveling to or from drag pageants? And to which pageants?

I don’t really keep track, I support all the promoters as a visual designer behind the scenes and then contestants leading up to the national contest. I try to get to most of the local city contests and support local talent and also serve as a city promoter. I recently was offered an opportunity to judge in St Louis. I can always be found at Missouri, Show-Me State and I try to get to at least one more during the season.

Above: 9: It's Andora - Andora completes her quick change talent on final night of MGA 2019

3. How did you get started photographing pageants?

Manhattan's Andora Te'tee Steps Down as Nations #1 Drag Pageant Queen

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

On the evening of October 5 at the forthcoming 48th annual Miss Gay America pageant in St. Louis, New York City drag queen Adora Te'tee will relinquish her crown as she steps down from her 2019 reign as Miss Gay America, considered the most coveted national title in drag pageantry.

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. From October 2-5, nearly 50 contestants from over one hundred city, state and regional preliminaries across the country will compete for the Miss Gay America 2020 crown.

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

Andora Te'tee is Michael Collins, an event designer and resident of Hell's Kitchen.  In March of 2018 he won the Miss Gay New York America preliminary, which took him to the nationals in St. Louis where he was crowned Miss Gay America in October.

Andora Te'tee is the first ever Miss Gay America from New York City and known for her glitzy, choreographed, cast-of-thousands, Broadway-style production numbers.

Though the Miss Gay America pageant dates back nearly 50 years, the state of New York has only been represented since 2017.  This year New York state is being represented at nationals by Miss Gay New York America 2019 Truly Fabu (below, left) currently of Baltimore (the state pageant is open to anyone in the U.S.) and First Alternate to Miss Gay New York America2019, fellow Manhattan entertainer Pattaya Hart currently of New York City (below, right).

Pattaya Hart is a Manhattan girl and can be seen teaching dance at "Steps on Broadway," and performing at Lucky Cheng's at Stage 48 and Voss Events Drag Brunch at The Iridium.

Truly Fabu can be seen performing at the Horseshow Casino in Baltimore, at Freedom Bar and Scarlet Green in London, Hamburger Mary's Las Vegas and various cities across the U.S. representing Miss Gay New York America. •

Meet Your New Miss Gay Mississippi America 2019: Brooklyn Alexander

June 22 marked the return of the Miss Gay Mississippi America pageant to Jackson, the first since 2014. The pageant’s theme, chosen by the Miss Gay Mississippi America 2014 Gia Giavanni, was, appropriately, “Return to Royalty.”

Brooklyn Alexander, of Sandersville, who brough the house down with her sassy mix of "Mississippi Girl" and "Redneck Woman," was crowned Miss Gay Mississippi America 2019, and Fancy Rae,of Biloxi, won Miss Gay Mississippi America 2019 First Alternate.

Before dipping into our interview with Miss Alexander, we asked her how she chose her drag name.

Brooklyn explains, "Well, being I am a bigger gal, I wanted a bigger name. LOL! I’ve always loved the name 'Brooklyn.' My mother said If I had been born a girl, that would have been it. 'Alexander' was chosen after a good close friend who supports me in everything I choose. Her last name is Alexander. We were brainstorming ideas for a last name and she jokingly said, 'Alexander.' I smiled, and the rest is history. My name was chosen and hasn’t changed. :)" 

Above: Miss Gay Mississippi America 2019 Brooklyn Alexander

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

It was a dare. My good friend wanted to do a show so bad and dared me to do it with them at an amateur show in Meridian Mississippi at a bar named Different Seasons. I was 18 when I started female impersonation. I did not know one simple dare would lead me to where I am at today.

Above: (L-R) Miss Gay Mississippi America 2014 Gia GiaVanni, Miss Gay Mississippi America 2019 Brooklyn Alexander and Miss Gay America 2019 Andora TeTee.

2 What has being in the Miss Gay America system mean to you personally? 

Miss Gay North Carolina 2019 Shelita Bonet Hoyle featured in Charlotte's Creative Loafing

“Anyone can be crowned, but what you do as queen is what speaks,” states our Miss Gay North Carolina America 2019 Shelita Boney Hoyle in her interview with Charlotte, NC's Creative Loafing weekly city guide, Charlotte Five.

Read the the full story at "Meet Matt Ramsey, the reigning Miss Gay NC America"

Thank you to DeAnna Taylor, Esq. at Creative Loafing for talking to our girl! Good luck at MGA2020 Miss Shelita!

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Check out "Fifi's Playhouse," the new podcast by Miss Gay Mid-West America 2019 Fifi DuBois

Check out the latest edition of Fifi’s Funhouse podcast hosted by Miss Gay Mid-West America 2019 Fifi DuBois. On the latest, she interviews fellow New York City girl and the reigning Miss Gay America 2019, Andora Tetee.  

Fifi DuBois welcomes the current running Miss Gay America to her Funhouse. Andora TeTee is a character illusionist, costume designer, decorator, and event planner who FiFi sits down with and discusses all things pageants, costumes, and beyond.    

Tap this link to listen.  

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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.