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September 2008 Edition Of
"The Excellence"
Mikaila's
Mirror
 This
last month has had me running across the
United States
and then some. My most jam packed and “thrill-full” exciting month had been
all laid out in front of me. With the end of the pageant season fast approaching
and my time of regiment nearing to an end, I’m sure the airport security has
grown tired of having to check my suitcase full of heels and makeup… LOL
As
I left off last I was traveling to Miss Mid West with the loveable Joe Bradley.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the Complex and the staff for all their
help in making the evening a great success. I was so excited to see a famous
legend in many people’s eyes return and capture the title that evening.
Congrats to Alana Steele our new Miss Mid West and her first alternate Melody
Michaels who had placed in top ten her first year at the nationals, last year. I
wish them both the best of luck… knock their socks off gals! After
getting about 2 hours of sleep and jumping on the next plane I headed off to
Miss Gay Arkansas America.
I
must say the formers there are one big bunch of loveable gals. They made me feel
so welcome and at home even if it was only for two days. A big Thank you to
Spencer and Dennis what a great turnout and pageant, that you both had for your
first year holding Miss Gay Arkansas. You did an outstanding job and we are
happy to have you backing the
America
system in
Arkansas
. Thank you to Norman Kristie and Discovery for hosting the event. It was such
an honor and thrill to be where it all started so many years ago… the crowd
was amazing and I had such a great time. Congrats to Stephanie Richards our new
Miss
Arkansas
and Miss Zia D’yor her first alternate, both
on their way to Miss Gay America for their first time, Congrats!
I
was so happy to head to my next destination Miss Gay Arizona… not only because
it is my home town but because I’d be able to be home for more than 2 days.
I came home from Miss
Arkansas
and got moved out of my old place and into my new condo with my best friend and
promoter for
Miss
Western
States
and Miss Arizona America Daniel Eckstrom. I must say, we had a full house the
day after we moved in… literally, with some former sisters Miss Nicole Dubois
and Miss Patti Le Plae Safe and the funny and crazy Roger Dimick from
Maryland
. The contest was so much fun not only to be there as Miss Gay America but as a
former Miss
Arizona
as well. The contestants did a great job and in the end we crowned a winner, Sache
Van Cartier- Miss Gay Arizona and her first alternate who had to pass along her
position to the second alternate, as work wouldn’t let her attend a full week.
It’s sad when this happens but we move forward and rise above it. So congrats
to Dottie who is also on her way to Miss Gay America. Congrats again to Daniel
on a great pageant and for all the hard work the formers put in to make it one
for the books.
I
had a bit of rest after Miss
Arizona
and then was right back off to traveling. Miss Gay Louisiana was next on the
stop for my southwest flight, so I jumped aboard and took off. Arriving and
carted off to Miss Raquel Chevalier manor LOL along with some friends and family
that were there… Also there were Lucinda and my best friend Daniel… we had a
lovely dinner it was the first time I tried Gumbo…..a lovely thick soup it was
AMAZING…… while Lucinda made sure I had my vegetables. We took off full
speed ahead for Miss
Louisiana
and had an amazing time. The staff at Splash was very friendly and
accommodating and made sure we had sandwiches and gumbo every day so we would
not pass out in the heat on stage. Chris did an amazing job and I must give
props to my little sister Raquel for helping as much as she was allowed to... I
know it was hard sis, but you were beside Chris and he was more than happy to
have any help you could give. I had such an amazing time getting to work with my
former sis and getting to know her more. Big congrats to our new Miss Gay
Louisiana America Anastacia Davenport and her first alternate, (both on their
way to Miss Gay America) Brittney O’Bryan. After filling up on gumbo it was
time to head to Miss
Tennessee
back to where my first prelim was held at Cross Roads in
Memphis
. Congrats to William the promoter for a job well done for his first hand at
Miss
Tennessee
this year… you did and amazing job and I was very proud of how you handled
the pageant. It was great to see some other promoters as well Mike and Rodney
from Miss Gay Heart of
America
in the house. We always love when a
promoter steps up the plate and reaches for the crown so we’d like to say
congrats and best of luck to Anita Cocktail on her way as the first alternate to
Miss Tennessee and the winner of Miss Tennessee, Ivy White. Both will do a great
job and represent
Tennessee
very well.
Then
I was whisked off to
North Carolina
to celebrate a brand new day. I was so blown away with how many formers were in
attendance for Miss North
Carolina
. They had a total of 20+ formers return to celebrate their 30th
anniversary. The stage was a yellow brick road set with Coti Collins in pigtails
and glittery red pumps. It was fun and a great celebration. Congrats to Tiffany
Storm for rounding up so much history and celebrating a wonderful turn over to
our new Miss North Carolina Victoria Parker and the first alternate Shana
Nicole. The staff and management of Scorpio were so helpful and made sure
everyone was set and taken care of. I must also say it was nice to work with
some of my former sisters Tiffany Bonet, Lauren Colby, Kerri Nichols, and
Luscious to name a few... I had such a great time and Tiffany again did an
amazing job this year and I was so proud of her… and I can’t wait to work
with her again in two weeks when I’m in town again for Miss Mid East.
We
finally rounded out the busy, busy, busy month with the most prelims with Miss
Gay Heartland
America
. The pageant might have been small but all three of the girls brought their
“A” game and we really had a great time. I also got to work with Miss
Arkansas
again Stephanie Richards, she did an amazing job on the microphone and showed
that she is ready to take the crown to the next level. Congrats to Maya
Alexander the new Miss Heartland and her first alternate Lady Jade Rockell both
first timers and on their way to Miss Gay America… best of luck girls. My very
good friend Alexis was running the show with her husband Ken. Everyone who
helped put the event together did a great job. Thank you to Connie Jo the owner
of Jester’s for allowing us to come in and take over and hold Miss Heartland
America
. And also for letting me sit on your raft on the lake it was so relaxing..
Nana’s
Lake
… yay! I got to hang out in Arkansas a lot this past week and really get to
hang out with some of the former Miss Arkansas titleholders, so
it was nice to work with them at Xanadu’s and also to see the sisterhood
between the formers and their sisters who took
hold of Miss Heartland America.
There
are only three prelims left until I start preparing for our next coronation of
Miss Gay America 2009. Miss Gay Texas America which is our last state pageant
this Thursday and Friday in Dallas Texas at The Rose Room, then on to our last
two regional pageants Miss Tri-States Sept 12th in Kansas City at Tootsies
Contact Reba Lamkey @ 816-459-9613, or 816-560-5974 for any information or a
contestant packet. Also Miss Mid East which is our last regional prelim of the
year and last prelim of the year period. To be held in
Gastonia
,
North Carolina
on Sept 13th at Night Owls Contact Mike Rhinehart for any
information @ 704-674-6623.
With
Miss Gay America right around the corner keep in mind that focus and time
management is the key factor in preparing for the nationals. Get your last
minute fundraisers in and collect as many dollars as you can from family,
friends, bars and organizations. Each penny, nickel and dime counts and it all
adds up. Keep in mind, your rules for the opening production outfits and masks.
Please check the website for any other information and please contact me if you
have any questions at all Misskaymga2008@hotmail.com.
I have learned a lot through my journey and although you may not think
there is anything to learn, there is always time to learn and grow more and be
better with each day. I have been where each of you are at as you are now
preparing and getting ready to chase a dream… We will always chase until we
achieve it. It’s a magical journey filled with tons of new people and memories
you’ll cherish for a life time. Only one more letter will follow this and then
we will be crowning our next Miss Gay America and my journey will come to an end
and another one will begin. Until next time….
Much Love
Mikaila
Kay
Miss Gay America 2008
 From the desk of Larry & Terry
Life After Being The Reigning
Symbol of Excellence
As a Miss Gay America titleholder, one is highly respected, most definitely on a
pedal-stool, the center of attention, the chief on-site administrator at
preliminary pageants, the country’s icon in the art of female impersonation
and on and on… The transition of relinquishing the title of Miss Gay America
and immediately becoming a former is most likely a difficult adjustment.
While serving as the reigning Symbol of Excellence, there is a very high
expectation from the country and from L & T Entertainment in regards to
talent, looks, persona, professionalism and reputation. And, when the crown is
no longer worn, as the reigning national Symbol of Excellence, the expectation
of excellence does not diminish. In fact, while maybe the “spotlight” is not
as bright upon the formers, when compared to the reigning, the “spotlight”
remains. Promoters look to the formers to set the example in every way and as an
“audience draw”. Contestants
look to the formers to see what they did to capture the title, what they
accomplished during their reign and certainly what they are doing after their
reign. The reigning Miss Gay America looks to the former Miss Gay America’s
for advice and guidance. So needless to say, the expectations of a Miss Gay
America titleholder, does not end, when the title is relinquished. No matter the
year that links one to the title of Miss
Gay America, we remain clear that our expectations of former titleholders is
very similar to the reigning Miss Gay America. We expect formers to abide by the
Regulations of this system and if there are any obstacles that might prevent
former titleholders from abiding by the regulations, then perhaps the formers
should reconsider serving in any official capacity of any Miss Gay America
sanctioned events (
i.e
City
Preliminaries, State Preliminaries, Regional Preliminaries and Revue Shows).
While we may not be able to immediately influence behavior during sanctioned
events, rest assured that those who cannot abide by the regulations and our
expectations, will not be affiliated in any way, with this pageant system. While
we have been disappointed on many occasions with actions of former Miss Gay
America titleholders, it deeply saddens us that sometimes obstacles interfere
with good judgment concerning behavior, that clearly harms the reputation. The
audience, who clearly expects the “best” are certainly disappointed and
reputations are clearly tarnished…in which case it takes years to repair. It
is difficult for us to comprehend how many years and thousands of dollars are
spent often times, for contestants to win the title of Miss Gay America. Then,
we are further confused to see negative “post Miss Gay America” behavior
negate the “positive” that was created during the reign. Eventually,
negative behavior that is to the contrary of what the country expects, will
result in no “life” after being a Miss Gay America. Many times, we may not
know about negative actions, but sadly, a negative reputation spreads much
faster than a positive one, and those who are in the position to hire
entertainers, make every consideration of reputation…
We are attempting to reinstate “class” into this art form, and the
expectations are high. When we deal with bar environments, we realize that the
“party” behavior is very tempting, but leading with example and actually
BEING a Symbol of Excellent goes much farther than being known as a “party
person”. We have spent four years cultivating an incredible nation of
promoters who expect professionalism from entertainers. Those who inject their
hard earned dollars, who at the end of the pageant season, usually invest more
time, energy and dollars, than they get in return are the persons who expect the
“best” from the “best”. And they are the reasons that we continue to
fight the uphill battle of maintaining an expectation of excellence. Sure, it
would be much easier to relax our standards, and let the “party” happen, but
at the end of our journey as owners of this pageant system, we want it to be
said, that we contributed to the continued success of this system, but more
importantly, we maintained the integrity and the standard of excellence that
this system started, and that every other system attempts to emulate. While we
recognize that it will always be a struggle to realize and maintain the
standard, we vow to you, the country, that we will hold individuals accountable,
for acting to the contrary of what this system is known for which, simply said,
is excellence.
With just less than 36 days away, we will begin the final stages of finding our
next Symbol of Excellence. We have much work to do, between now and then, but
even in the midst of all of the work, we look forward to visiting with the many
that unfortunately, we can only see once a year. The “family” atmosphere
that this system has, is very humbling to us and it is an incredible thing to
see the family coming together in October to witness the coronation of our new
Miss Gay America.
Until next time…
Larry and
Terry
A Note From The Editor
The Excellence strives to be an informative newsletter delivered to the promoters,
contestants, audience and other supporters of the Miss Gay America Pageant System throughout the year. Should there be any issue or topic of discussion a promoter would like to see addressed (or to write an article to be published) in a future newsletter, please contact the editor via
Email.
Please note, any article, comments, or opinions faxed, mailed, (postal or electronics),
or otherwise sent to any of our "addresses" become our property and carry an implied consent of publication should we choose to do so. No articles will be published in which one or more of the following occurs:
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