Column 3- Dextra! Dextra! Read All About It!!!

March was an incredible month . I started it off in true Miss Gay America fashion. I packed my
bags and was enroute to my first preliminary as Miss Gay America !

I arrived in Oklahoma City and was picked up by Jon Sanchez AKA Miss Gay Oklahoma
America 2004 Adrianna. We had always known each other but I can definitely say that our 17
minute drive from the airport to the bar was one of the funniest conversations of my life! #wall
LOL(inside joke) We arrived at the Living Room that was hosting the Miss Gay Oklahoma
America review show. Headlining the show was Miss Gay Oklahoma America 2021 Azunique
who was looking absolutely stunning. I got to meet some of the contestants that night and to see
a handful of my Okalhoma sisters along with Miss Gay America 2020-2021 Patayya Hart. What I
love is that they allowed contestants that had qualified for Oklahoma America the chance to be
in the show. I got to hang out with David Pardue, Rob Morrison and Kelly Howell. One of my
favorite parts of the night was getting to have a long conversation with MGOA 1983 Tillie Laine
about Miss Gay America. This lady truly loves this system and has always been one of the
people I am so grateful that the MGA pageant brought into my life.
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The next morning started bright and early and it was time for Miss Gay Oklahoma America! I was
getting my clothes ready and just began to cry. I could not believe in just a few hours from that
moment that I would be having my first contestants orientation. We arrived at Angels which is
the venue that MGOA is always held at. There stood nine very eager and hungry contestants
applying for the job to become the next Miss Gay Oklahoma America. The judges selected
where Jon Sanchez/Adrianna MGOA 2004, Lil Nugg Mr. Gay USofA at Large, Pattaya Hart
Miss Gay America 2020-2021, Paul Hall Mr. Gay Oklahoma United States and David Haygood. I
loved seeing so many of my MGOA sisters: Shantel MGOA 2018, Alysha MGOA 2017,Carmen
MGOA 2015, Roxie MGOA 2011, Londenn MGOA 2010,Lindsay MGOA 2007, Shantel MGOA
2009, Pure Chocolate MGOA 2005 and Adrienne MGOA 2008. At the end of the night the 1st
alternate was Ariel Monroe, a first time competitor in the system and our new Miss Gay Oklahoma
America 2022 is Gizele Monae. These two ladies really did set the bar high for Miss Gay
America 2023. I was completely blown away. Thank you to the Oklahoma family for an
incredible experience and perfect way to start off the preliminary season.

I had an early flight the next morning so literally after critique I had to repack, shower and get a
nap in before heading to the airport. They do not joke when they state that it is an exhausting
job to be Miss Gay America. When I got home I had to repack and head back to the airport four
hours later to head to Evansville, IN for a benefit show.

When I won back in January I was approached by Kurt with Esther Styles to see if I was
interested in assisting with a benefit. This benefit was for Pastor Craig who is someone who lost
his job as a pastor when he was part of an HBO television show that was deeply rooted in
LGBTQ+ culture and it did not sit well with the church. I got to meet all of the entertainers
throughout the day and it was an absolute blast! I got to meet up with our MGA videographer
Versage and spend some time with her as well. I can not thank Kurt enough for an incredible weekend !!

Thank you Mike and Rob for making this possible! I got to hang out once again with
David Parude who brought his son along for the show as well as Forever Miss Gay Missouri
America 2019 Vega and her husband Ryan. We had the best conversations about our journeys
in drag and most especially what sparked our interest in the MGA system. These are the
moments I cherish the most is that we get to make these intimate connections we all make
together in this system. Thanks for the endless glasses of orange juice, Ryan LOL

The next morning I headed back home to real life. That following weekend I made my way down
to New Orleans for my round of shows. My mother and I stopped by Tami Tarmac and Paul
Davis’ house and had a fabulous gumbo lunch. I had the best night out that Saturday and ate
the best seafood I have ever put in my mouth. Then, Sunday it was time for one of my favorite
shows: “The Reba Douglas Jubilee” at Betty’s Bistro. If you have never been to this show, I
encourage you to put it on your bucket list of things to do when you go to New Orleans. I
rounded out the weekend with my show at the Bourbon Pub and Parade and got to see so
many familiar faces in the audience. And you guessed it…..tears again when I did my ballad.
Most especially getting introduced by Tiffany MGLA Emeritus and then seeing Gia Giavanni in
the audience really struck home for me. Gia was a competitor the first year I did MGLA and just
to see her there made my heart happy. To be on that legendary stage finally as Miss Gay
America was a full circle moment. The Bourbon Pub to me is still THE stage to be on in our
great state of Louisiana. It was a phenomenal weekend full of laughs and tears. I got to
reconnect with my Miss Gay Louisiana USofA At Large sister Maraj and Amber Douglas who
always keeps me in stiches. Thank you Aubrey and Reba for an amazing weekend!

The next pit stop was my official Miss Gay America orientation in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with the
bossmen. Me and Miss Gay America 2000 Catia Lee Love were met by Michael and Rob at the
airport and it was such a long day/late night we crashed. The next day was all business. David
Pardue also joined in on the reindeer games and the official Miss Gay America orientation was
underway! This was another surreal moment. By the end of my year you all may get tired of
hearing that word. The day was filled with going over the rules and regulations of the contest as
well as different things that may come up during your year as Miss Gay America. For any
contestant that is interested in competing I promise you if you read all of your rules and
regulations they all have a reason as to why they are in the rules. We got to spend lots of time
together all chatting about not only our involvement in drag but about life in general. It was a
wonderful weekend of food, swimming and bonding. Michael and Rob are two of the most open
minded and genuine people I know. I can not thank them enough for allowing us to have this
incredible platform. The Miss Gay America pageant system is so proud to have you both as the
owners and for continuing the legacy not only as the reigning but also as one of your
contestants for many years.

The next week I was off to Kansas City, MO for my 2nd preliminary: Miss Gay Missouri America.
Throughout my years of competing, I have always admired this pageant because of the rich
history. Missouri is one of the oldest preliminaries in the country and everyone involved takes
this pageant very seriously. I consider them as “MGA Stomping Ground” for consistently
producing many successful entertainers in the art form of female impersonation. I can not even
begin to explain to you how many tapes/videos I have watched and the time I have dedicated to
watching forever MGMAs like Charity, Dieta, Tumara and Kathy. We had 21 fantastic contestants
applying for the job to become the next Miss Gay Missouri America. Our judges selected were
Korey Childs, Reba Lampkey, Madison Elise MGMA 2011, Marty Newman and Ryan James.
The review show was so much fun sharing laughs with all of the forevers. Just wow! I cannot
say enough how proud of Trixie LaRue I am. She completely changed the game and was a
contestants’ titleholder. She selflessly gave her all this year and not only did Missouri celebrate
her but the entire country did as well. A special shout out to all of the contestants for helping
each other through the year at benefits and showing support. At the end of the week Tajma
Stetson was crowned Miss Gay Missouri America 2022 and her 1st alternate was Misty Meanor.
These two ladies will have a wonderful showing at MGA 2023 ! Yall are in for a real treat. Just
you wait ! Thank you Jade, Lexxus, Sparkle, Tabbi, Regina and Adria for running an amazing
preliminary. I had the best time that next morning on the way to the airport with Melinda and her
husband Kirk. Both have been involved with this pageant for a long time. I always love listening
to the stories of those that paved the way for us and how much drag has changed over the
years. Missouri America was a success !!

That wraps up March ! Four contestants have now qualified for Miss Gay America 2023 !
Some of my stops for the month of April will be Little Rock, Houma, New Orleans, Monroe and
Shreveport. Prelims will resume hot and heavy come June !!

****Each column I want to bring up discussions or topics I feel need addressing. This can be
anything from category questions/uncertainty to things that may not necessarily be in a
handbook but a “good to know”****

Some people have been questioning how in the world did you do a prelim before having your
official orientation. I was crowned on January 20th and Oklahoma America was March 3rd. If
you have read the job duties for which you are applying for it is not as hard as you think. It also
helps if you have experience and I will explain.

Back in August of 2012, I was fortunate enough to win Miss Gay Louisiana America. During my
reign I oversaw 9 city preliminaries that included contestant orientations, judges orientations,
score auditing and making sure that critiques ran smooth. The job duties of Miss Gay America
are consistent with those of being a state title holder in the system. That is the beauty about the
consistency and structure that the America system has. I feel that being a former Miss Gay
Louisiana America really did assist me on making sure my first prelim as Miss Gay America ran
smoothly! This by no means indicates that you have to or need to do a state pageant or win it.
But if there are girls out there that are wanting to become Miss Gay America I wholeheartedly
encourage you to make your 1st pit stop at a state pageant. This will teach you the majority of
fundamentals you will need to be an effective Miss Gay America the moment the crown is
placed on your head.