My given name is Andrew but everyone calls me Dex. I am thirty-three years old and live in West Monroe, LA right across the bridge from Monroe, LA which is the original home of Delta airlines. Professionally, I work as a Quality Assurance Manager for a private collections company and by night I bring to life the illusion of Dextaci. Growing up I was heavily involved in choir, vocal and theater competitions. I was selected many times to be a member of district, state and national honor choirs from the years of 2002-2008. In the spring of 2008 I was a featured soloist for the American Choral Directors Association during their national convention. The highlight of my singing career was singing in Carnegie Hall in 2008. My love of music and performance is what really got me started in female impersonation. In this spring of 2009, Dextaci was born and started competing in local pageants. Miss Drag Idol and Miss Corner Bar really ignited my passion for professional pageantry. In 2010,I met a performer named Stephanie Stephens who told me what Miss Gay Louisiana America was as well as Miss Gay America. After becoming obsessed with the Pageant documentary, learning each one of these pages verbatim along with the history of both Miss Gay Louisiana America and Miss Gay America I was ready. I started competing under the reign of Miss Gay America 2010 Coco Montrose and have competed at some level of Miss Gay America pageantry each year since then for 12 years. It took me three attempts to win Miss Gay Louisiana America. That dream became a reality in 2012 and at Miss Gay America 2013 ,the America bug bit me hard. I am a former Miss Gay Southern Elegance America 2013, Miss Gay Gulf States America 2014, Miss Gay Southern States America 2015, Miss Gay Mid-America 2016 and Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2019. On January 20, my dream came true. I was crowned Miss Gay America 2022 as the reigning Miss Gay Diamond America 2021. There are so many people to thank that got me here over these crazy ride : Deb Hart, my entire biological family, Trent Rogers, John Gilland, Marty Utter, Tori Taylor,Daron Ables, Karl Black,Jerry Laing, Tina Anzalone, Jimmy Gray, Micharles Gray, Ben Evans, Jim Hendrixson, Katie Anzalone, Dave Maxwell, The Corner Bar family, Delanie Valentine, Victoria Valentine, Dominque Delorean, Bambi Bextor, Clarence Denenea, Jordan Williams, Chance Dupree ,Terry Ford,David Green ,The Ladi Phat Kat, Hunta Downe, Vea Teasely, Robbie Patrick,Spencer Smith,Ed Spillmon, Ronda Spillmon, John Spillmon, Michelle Sullivan, Zoe Valentine,Dottie Grice,John Booth,Blake Hagan ,Alisa Nelson,Sasha Black,Michael Freeman,Charlie Bass,Maxie Lonadier ,Athena Campbell, StormiRayne, Maybelline Maskara, Paul Davis ,Tami Tarmac,Charity Case ,Jimmy Bogle ,MGLA SISTERHOOD,Sally Sparkles,Hollie Day,Wesley Winnon ,Renee Roberts ,Santana Savage, Kenli Andrew ,Ben Boudreaux, Lakari Fontenot,Roxie Black ,Jade Summers,Cassidy St. James, Roy LeCompte, Jack Nielson ,Athena Sinclaire, Mary Hern,Taylor Michaels ,Gerard Babin, Daniel Eckstrom ,Nick Ray,Thomas John,Heath Barnes,Betty Thomas,Sarina Styles,Brad McCollum, Aubrey Sinclaire, Reba Douglas,Patrice Turner, Treyvin Aucoin ,Lake Area Independent Winterguard, Mallory Thornton , Joli Neal ,Kelsey East, Rodney Smetak, Jualea Hayes, Clayton McCarty Judy McCarty, Eric Gabbard, Nick Amsbaugh, David Robins…..and if my mind forgot anyone I truly apologize !!! ****NOW LETS GO DOWN TO BUSINESS**** As we all know, the reigning Miss Gay America is allowed to select the theme for the year that she relinquishes and crowns a new Miss Gay America. Presentation scared me for a long time for many reasons. The first being that I was a great competitor in the solo talent category so the thought of something going away “talent” based and something being added “fashion” wise did not sit well with me. 2nd being that the reigning Miss Gay America can select any theme and we are just stuck with it. No way around it and it is what it is. Some themes were much easier than others and then others were difficult for me to conceive an idea on. With this I wanted to have a meaningful theme that is true to me BUT also allow the contestant to have a much more broad way to express themselves. My theme is Dream in Color……yes the famous old drag classic ballad by Regina Belle. Very similar to Pattaya this will work on a first qualify basis in order of the preliminary. For example the ticket holders for Oklahoma America will have first dibs before Missouri tickets holders. Each qualified contestant will choose a color from the following for their presentation: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Now you are probably thinking with only 6 colors and 40 girls how will this work or be creative ? Well here’s how it is mapped out….. If there are 60 contestants…..we will have 10 red slots, 10 orange slots, 10 yellow etc……. If there are 36 contestant we will have 6 red,6 orange, 6 yellow…. You will provide me with your color during your critique session at your prelim, this way you have complete control over your time management over you color of choice and can hit the ground running creatively for the national completion. I will keep tabs and post publicly on how many of each color have been taken….this way…..if you are getting close to your prelim and you see all the reds are taken then you know what colors you are left with. When you get/select your color you have complete creative control…..you portray to us how YOU dream in that color. For example if you are red you can range from anything being a coke can to a HIV/AIDs awareness ribbon….purple could even be a Prince purple rain costume. The possibilities are truly endless. You can go all out for this. Your costume should be 90% of the color you chose. However, accent colors can be used to get point across…….like if you are red and doing a stop sign…..red is the primary color and the white letters are accenting. You must stick to the primary version of the color……no light/neons of that color or variations. If you are purple you cannot do fuchsia. If you are blue you can not be baby blue . Well friends, I think that sums it up for now. I am so excited to come to your states and cities throughout my year. I am so humbled and appreciative of this opportunity. As Miss Gay America I will work than in hand with Michael and Rob to ensure that this pageant season is on for the books. Next month will be a busy one as we kick off preliminary season with Miss Gay Oklahoma America. I will be traveling to Oklahoma, Indiana, New Orleans and Missouri. Until next time…. Keep singing!! Dextaci Miss Gay America 2022
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AuthorFrom the Desk of Dextaci, Miss Gay America 2022 Archives
January 2023
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