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The
Miss Gay America 2010
Pageant
Press
Release
(as of
February 01, 2009)
Miss Gay America Pageant Returns
to St. Louis, Missouri
It has been thirty (30) years since the national competition for female
illusion was in St. Louis, Missouri and now, this year will be the second
consecutive year, that the “best of the best” in female impersonation from
across the country have assembled in the “Gateway To The Arch”, each hoping
to be titled the next Miss Gay America. Nearly 60 contestants are already
preparing for their journey to St. Louis in order to compete in the Miss Gay
America 2010 pageant.
Beginning Oct. 28, 2009 through October 30, 2009 at 8 p.m., all contestants
who have qualified through direct state and regional preliminaries
throughout the country will compete in categories consisting of male
interview, solo talent, evening gown and talent.
On November 01, 2009 at approximately 6 p.m. the top ten finalists will
compete in the categories of evening gown, talent and on-stage interview to
determine who will receive the distinct recognition of being called Miss Gay
America 2010.
And if all of this pageant competition is not enough of a “treat,” six
former Miss Gay America titleholders and Victoria DePaula, Miss Gay America
2009, will perform during the Miss Gay America Revue Show on Saturday,
October 31, 2009 at 7 p.m.
All events will be held in the grand ballroom of the beautiful Millennium
Hotel, located at 200 S. 4th Street, in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
According to L & T Entertainment, owners of the Miss Gay America pageant
system, “this years competition, just as prior years, will prove to be one
of the strongest group of top 10 finalist ever to compete in any pageant
system. We pride ourselves in being able to bring such quality entertainment
through pageantry to St. Louis. Ticket sales are projected to be stronger
than prior years and we anticipate approximately 800 persons in attendance
for the final night competition,” stated Larry Tyger and Terry Eason, owner
of L & T Entertainment. “The ticket admission for the five-day event is
expected to exceed 5,000. “This pageant system is known to be the best of
the best and anyone who has attended this event leaves thoroughly
entertained. People constantly thank us for bringing female impersonation of
this caliber to the St. Louis area. Our audience base extends far beyond the
gay community and it is our goal to provide our audience, both in and out of
the gay community, with a positive, well put together, entertaining and
class-act pageant that will leave them with a new found respect for the gay
community and the art form of female impersonation,” they continued.
Most audience members are usually amazed at the quality of entertainment,
primarily because these beauties are allowed no body augmentation or
chemical enhancement below the neck. Audience members truly see female
illusion at its finest.
“I enjoy the amazement I see on the faces of the audience, when they see my
illusions. I know I bring the total competition package to the stage and I
hope that this year’s panel of judges will see me as the best of the best,
and select me as Miss Gay America 2010. I am not coming to play this year…”
says China Collins (now from Tucson, Arizona), fourth alternate at the Miss
Gay America 2009 pageant.
When first alternate to the Miss Gay America 2006 and 2007 pageant, Coti
Collins from North Carolina was asked if she would again attempt to qualify
and compete, she responded passionately. “Just because one does not win does
not mean the lifelong dream of becoming Miss Gay America dies. I have done
more than most in my 20 plus years as a professional female impersonator,
but my career will not be complete and completely satisfied until I reach my
dream of hearing my name called as a Miss Gay America. I have spent my
entire career being what others expect a Miss Gay America titleholder to be.
Now I want my turn to be called a Symbol of Excellence.” In 2008, Collins,
who is known for his many illusions including Judy Garland, Dolly Parton and
Reba McIntyre, again narrowly missed winning the national competition.
The contestant chosen to be Miss Gay America 2010 will receive an estimated
$60,000 in cash, prizes and appearance income during her reign. This,
combined with the prestige of being called the “Symbol of Excellence” is the
pinnacle to most, in terms of female illusion pageantry.
“We want the world to see this form of entertainment, and know that it’s
serious and that these contestants are very focused on winning. It is
emotionally difficult for us after the pageant, as there can only be one
winner, and we know that there are many that would make a great Miss Gay
America titleholder,” says L & T Entertainment. At the conclusion of the
preliminary pageant season, which will conclude in early October 2009, there
will be approximately 500 men who have attempted to qualify for the
opportunity to compete on the national level.
Miss Gay America is one of the few national events that caters to a
primarily GLBT crowd however, in recent years, the audience has experienced
growth in most other areas. . “People simply want to see quality and classy
entertainment. They find it, when they attend an officially sanctions Miss
Gay America pageant. While future plans might include moving the location of
the pageant to another city, L & T Entertainment indicates that St. Louis,
Missouri is a great location for this contest and they are much appreciative
of the support given to this event.
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