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December 2008 Edition Of
"The Excellence"
Victoria's Voice
Well it’s hard to believe
I'm writing my second letter as Miss Gay
America 2009. This has been a busy month already and to think that the holiday
season has arrived so quickly… it is just crazy! This is my favorite time of
year. I put the Christmas music on and "deck the halls ". It’s a
time for me to be thankful for my family and friends, and also the time for the
kid in me to come out… after all I do still believe in Santa Claus...
My first trip as Miss Gay
America 2009 was back in D.C. where I won my title as Miss Gay D.C. America
2008. I stayed with my fabulous promoters Robert York and Blake Macon. They are
the best, I feel right at home whenever I'm with them. We had a busy weekend
ahead; first was the show at TOWN- what a blessing to be with such great people
including Blair Michael's, Sasha René, Akasha Cassadine, Shi-queeta Lee, Ba*Naka
and Lena Lett. We had a blast together! Let’s not forget the outstanding dance
troop, X-Faction- also home to TOWN. We had a great time. A special thank you to
Ed Bailey for letting me be a guest of TOWN. Next off was the premiere of
PAGEANT in D.C. It was so special to see friends and family come out to support
the movie. Roger Dimick, Ricky, Jason and Jonathan (Tatiyanna Voche’) were
just to name a few… After the movie, it was off to Freddie’s- how fun its
was to walk into a place where people are eating and being merry enjoying a show
of female impersonators… and then walks in Miss Gay America 2009. The feeling
was overwhelmingly and titillating! I did a crown song there and was so excited
to meet Freddie himself. Thanks for making me feel so special!
The next weekend I was off to my sister, Catia's (Miss Gay America 2000) house
in Tulsa. Dinner was just before show time! I had a salad- lol. My girls Tabitha
Taylor and Samantha West joined us and we were quite the group. I always have
the best time when I'm with them. I will never forget the moment when I came out
on stage and all of my friends from OKC were there to see me perform. Can we say
goose bumps? James, both Todd's, Rob (Bridgette Lee), Steven (Pure Chocolate),
Andrew, Sean, Kendal, Seagar, Lou and of course Micky. Thank you all for being
there!
So it now brings us to the third week of being MGA. It’s off to California for
Halloween. My best friend Eddie and I had a blast. I got to relax a bit but only
for a moment! We were in three
different cities in four days. It was fast paced but it’s always nice to spend
time with your best friend (even if I had to eat organic food…)!
When I returned home it was off to my victory party thrown by my mom and closest
friends. It sometimes feels like I'm dreaming… To think that eight years ago I
was just starting my first journey to MGA and now I'm starting my second is very
rewarding… I can only hope that anyone who has the dream of becoming Miss Gay
America may experience the same feeling one day. Thanks to Missie B's, Melinda,
Kirk, L’Oreal and Channing. A special thanks to my Mom, Aunts and friends for
making me feel so loved! The party was a hit and everyone had a great time!
So pack it up and keep going, because now you have official photos to take, a
house to decorate and a trip across the state to St. Louis, my home away from
home. What a treat to spend the weekend with my sista’ Joie, brother-n-law
David and Momma Fran. Talk about laughing! Star Bucks, White Castle (yum) and of
course, the fabulous shopping! We do it all full force. Show time at the Grey
Fox with Michelle McCausland, Jade Sinclair, Miss Candy and Tumara is a favorite
past time of mine! The weekend was an eventful ending with the St. Louis
International Film Festival where PAGEANT was playing.
Victoria (Pork Chop) Parker and Miss Gay America 1989 Vicki Vincent were
in attendance and looked stunning!
In closing, the holidays are a time to reflect on the past year. Memories are
always made. They are the one thing that helps us grow whether they are good or
bad- you always can take one thing from them. With every memory is a moment and
they go quick. Be thankful for everyday and live each day as if it is your last.
Find the good in life; it will lead you in the direction you want to go. You
have control of the choices you make and though we are not perfect we must try
to be a "Symbol of Excellence".
Behind every success is effort... Behind every effort is passion... Behind every
passion is someone with the courage to try.
Happy Holidays!
Until next time,
Victoria DePaula, MGA 2009
 From the desk of Larry & Terry
What
We Are Looking For In A Promoter...
It
is that time of year when we begin to renew the Franchise pageants and we look
back on last year and cannot help but think of how thankful we are for the
Promoters in this pageant system. While we continue to say that without the
support of the Promoters, this contest could not exist, we mean that, more so
now that ever before. In an economic environment, where there are many
negatives, we are fortunate to have nearly all of the Promoters (from the most
recent pageant season), with whom we are choosing to renew, wanting to return as
a promoter of this pageant system. The
promoters of this system are second to none, in terms of professionalism and
others notice their dedication and pride in the continuation of making this
system, the best it can be. We have published many “self-help” articles that
are designed to provide guidance about our goals for this system, including what
we are looking for in terms of contestants and judges, so we thought, there is
no better time, than at “franchise renewal time” to reiterate what we are
looking for in terms of a promoter.
While
we admit, this it takes tens of thousands of dollars to operate this national
contest, we are not willing to accept monies from just “anyone” who wants to
promote a state or regional contest in this pageant system. Yes, revenue is
important to the success of this operation but more important is integrity. We
value our promoters and the contribution that they make to the continuation of
incomparable legacy of this pageant system. Promoters must be willing to invest
thousands of dollars and seemingly, a similar amount of hours of hard work in
order to make their contest successful.
The following are to name a few of the qualities that we expect a promoter to
possess, in order to enjoy success…
- A promoter must be
selfless, in terms of expecting to be the focus of attention. A promoter
should be willing to set aside personal agendas and work for what this
pageant system is known to be. A promoter must realize that the “center”
of attention for the particular contest for which he chooses to promote,
should be others… including, the legacy of former titleholders of the
particular contest and the contestants who want to become a titleholder of
that particular contest.
- A promoter must be
passionate about the art form of female impersonation and the Miss Gay
America pageant system. In order to see others “buy into” a particular
product, the “seller” must be a believer of his own product, therefore
the promoter should possess strong support for the values that the Miss Gay
America pageant system exemplifies.
- A promoter should
have thick skin, thus being able to accept criticism and know that there
will forever be naysayers that will attempt to destroy the time and money
invested into such a great organization. It is much easier for some to serve
as “Monday night quarterback” rather than to attempt to actually invest
the dedication needed to have a successful contest. ..
- A promoter should
possess a willingness to follow regulation. As each person who chooses to
invest in this system can attest, the rules and regulation are clear. This
system was created and has grown as a result of its “stipulations” and
the promoters must be able to adapt to the countless hours of trial and
error that has been instrumental in the creation of the many pages of
regulation that govern this pageant system.
- A promoter must
possess organization skills to follow the regulations which are in place to
allow the promoter to realize a smooth pageant experience. Many hours of
planning and preparation are crucial to a successful operation. Attention to
detail is a primary ingredient to success when promoting a pageant and
promoters must be able to be thorough in every area, otherwise their pageant
experience will seem by many to be unorganized and all of the expense and
preparation will be for naught.
- A promoter must be
financially capable of funding the undertaking of such an expensive project.
The start-up cost for this contest is not an inexpensive thing but when
promoters are able to expense the dollars needed to have a great contest,
they will likely invest far more energy and time into their contest than
they normally would, if they had much less of an investment.
- A promoter must hold
in highest regard, the values and legacy that the Miss Gay America pageant
system represents. If a promoter respects the title, they will likely
respect the person who currently holds the title and as a result, will work
hard to make the partnership of the Miss Gay America system, continue to be
an incredible and successful experience.
No one said that it is an easy thing, to be a promoter. Simply said, if we
sacrifice the integrity and quality of the promoters of this pageant system, we
will attract a substandard quality of contestants thereby always struggling to
realize excellence. Most all affiliated with this pageant system, are known to
be the “best of the best” In past, it seems as though the contestants have
alone been labeled the “best of the best” but in recent years, we have
watched as the country has noticed the amount of dedication invested by our
promoters, behind the scenes, that contribute to the continued success of this
system. And most now realize, that
the high performance quality is synonymous with being a member of the Miss Gay
America family of pageants. Contestants enter this pageant system, not only
because of the legacy and the fact that every female impersonator, at one time
or another, wanted to be the next Miss Gay America, but also because of the
integrity of those affiliated with this pageant system, mostly the promoters.
Yes, there have been a few promoters that have demonstrated a substandard
performance but those, we (L & T Entertainment), have worked hard to remove
from this pageant system. As we continue to strengthen the integrity of the
entertainers that are a product of this pageant system, we too work to
strengthen the integrity of those who represent this pageant system as
promoters. Excellence is not just a “label” placed on this pageant system,
it is an expectation. One does not simply discover excellence, it has to be
earned. Promoting in this pageant system is an opportunity that can be very
rewarding. Some promoters, do so, to realize a positive return on an investment,
while others seek to be apart of and do something worthwhile that makes a
difference… No matter the reasoning, the promoters of this pageant system
share a “family” bond that goes far beyond the almighty dollar. It is, to
some, about being part of “history in the making” while helping to mold
entertainers into a positive character that we all, as a gay community, can be
proud of…
We, L & T Entertainment, are truly proud of the promoters in this pageant
system and are extremely humbled that so many people choose to invest their hard
earned dollars into this standard of Excellence, that we call Miss Gay
America…
Until next time…
Larry and
Terry
From
A Promoter......
an article from the Miss Gay
America 2009 Pageant Season Regional Preliminary Pageant of the Year- Promoters
of Miss Gay D.C. America- Cocker Productions
It
has been another AMAZING year with the Miss Gay America family.
Miss
Gay America 2009 was an exciting time for the DC family in the new venue and
city in
St. Louis
. Our two contestants, Jessica
Jade, 1st alternate to Miss Gay DC America 2008 and Victoria DePaula,
Miss Gay DC America 2008 were a dream come true for any promoter.
They both worked very hard and were diligent about being prepared and
staying focused and strong throughout the week of competition.
We
were very excited to hear them both called as top ten finalists on final night.
Working with each of them was an honor and privilege - "Team DePaula
and Jade". We were also
very honored and surprised to hear Miss Gay America 2008, Mikaila Kay announce
that we were the Regional Preliminary Pageant of the Year.
We have been able to work side by side with some of the finest promoters
in the pageantry world. To
be nominated with friends is always an honor in its own right.
It was also a great year to see Mikaila Kay grow as an entertainer, as a
person and as an administrator. We
know we will continue to see her grow and prosper in her career.
Final
night was a busy one as we helped both Jessica and Victoria through each phase
of competition. Imagine
our joy and excitement as the the awards were announced and the crowning moment
of Miss Gay America 2009 was announced as Victoria DePaula.
It was a dream come true for the entire DC family.
It was inspirational and heart touching to see someone who has given a
lifetime of dedication to the MGA family and crown achieve an 8 year dream.
The crowning reaction from
Victoria
is priceless! It was also awesome
and a heartfelt moment to see his
mother and other family members witness the crowning.
Miss Gay DC America 2008, Victoria DePaula crowned as Miss Gay America
2009 is a moment in time that will we will always cherish and hold close as much
as the emotional memory of a wonderful week.
All
of the contestants are to be applauded for making it to
St. Louis
and for the incredible work and talent that makes Miss Gay America truly the
best system in the art of female impersonation.
The caliber of talent and pageantry that graced the stage was again
excellence in motion. Congrats
to the top ten finalists for one of the best final nights ever in MGA.
On
behalf of myself and Blake, we look forward to seeing you and we thank you for
your amazing friendships along the way.
It has been an inspiring and incredible year for Miss Gay DC America.
It truly is an honor to be a proud member of the MGA family with everyone
- the contestants, the promoters, the friends and family of each contestant and
with L&T Entertainment leading the way. The art form of female
impersonation is alive and well and growing strong in the sisterhood of Miss Gay
America.
Thank you to everyone who helped and offered hands to helps, words of
wisdom and gifts of guidance to us and our girls. We appreciate you
all more than words can express here!
We
know that Miss Gay America 2009, Victoria DePaula is going to have a wonderful
reign as our national symbol of excellence.
You will love him as much as we do!
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and good luck to all during the 2010
MGA pageant season.
See
ya'll soon.
With
pride and love,
Robert York
Miss Gay DC America Regional
Cocker Productions, LLC
___________________________________________________
From A Former.........
an article from Mikaila Kay-Miss Gay America 2008
 A
small reflection from Mikaila's Mirror.....
Well
I have now officially not been Miss
America
for a full month. Not much has changed… I am still keeping myself busy and
active in
Phoenix
, and setting up my travels across the
United States
with my new sister Victoria DePaula as she starts an incredible journey that
she will cherish for a lifetime. I wish her the best of luck in her journeys and
travels and I hope to see her along the way. Also, I offer to help in any way I
can.
My
final week was everything I wanted it to be… I was surrounded by friends, old
and new, family and my new found love by my side. My week started off a little
hectic but with so much to plan for and get ready for, it was bound to be a bit
hectic. I would like to say that I am SO PROUD of everyone this past year, that
competed for Miss Gay America 2009. I became so close to many of you through out
the year and made new friends among all of you along the way. People stuck by
each other and were so helpful and made everyone feel welcomed. The hotel staff
and management was very helpful and did alot to make the week, a great one.
I’m so excited to hear that we will be back in the Millenium Hotel again next
year and on Halloween weekend as well… How EXCITING!!!
Being
Miss
America
has taught me so much... I will say that it definately taught me how to be a
better packer for traveling. I managed to fit many things in limited suitcases
for my journeys. I never realized how small you can fold a costume when trying
to fit six in one suitcase with shoes makeup and boy clothes in another
suitcase. I have become a well rounded entertainer not only in makeup but in
performance styles and costumes. I learned to network and become less nervous in
situations with meeting large groups of people. I learned that rules are set
forth for a reason and when you follow them, people will take notice and help
maintain those rules because they make the whole experience more pleasurable and
easy to manage.
I’d
like to thank all the promoters for all their help this past year as well. You
all did an amazing job and showed me so much… You took care of me in times of
need. I appreciate all of you very much. To all the new promoters that came on
board and the returning ones, I look forward to working with you for many years
to come. So many of you showed me why you love the America system and its so
true, that we are all here to help maintain a system that is known for The
Best of the Best in Female Impersonation. Please don’t hesitate to
call or email I would love to help in any way needed Misskaymga2008@hotmail.com,
(480)-244-7093. I would also like to extend another big thank you to all the
staff and managements from the many venues where I had the privilege of working
and will get to see year after year.
To
those of you who walked away having an incredible experience, you truly deserved
it. It is a learning and growing experience. Keep coming back and help your
friends if your not competing… Or keep plugging away and go from pageant to
pageant and pageant until you get what you want. Don't give up because you can
do anything… no matter what anyone tells you or tries to make you believe. Put
it out in the universe and the world will give back to you, and remember to stay
positive and remain focused. To those of you walking away upset and
unhappy....take a deep breath and come back next year twice as strong and even
more determined… You cant achieve anything if you don't try and put your best
foot forward. Some wise advice I received this year when I asked if a certain
person was coming back they said… "You can't win if you don't come
back." I was truly impressed with how connected I became with so many of
the contestants when I got to stay with them in their towns. They showed their
true personality and love for the system and that is what it is all about.
What does this next year have in store for me? I'm not sure but I hope that
through out all my travels, that everyone fell in love with me as much
as I fell in love with them. I would be honored to return along side my new baby
sister. With so much going on I know
Victoria
has a long road ahead so please support her in any way she may need… Show her
the love and support that so many of you did along my journey. Life holds many
surprises and no guarantees… its only what you make it and the mark you leave.
Until
next time and I shall see you all very soon.
xoxo
Much Love
Mikaila Kay
Miss Gay America 2008
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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