Miss Continental
Formation1980
TypeDrag beauty pageant
HeadquartersBaton Show Lounge
Location
Key people
Jim Flint (founder and CEO)
WebsiteOfficial Facebook

Miss Continental is an annual drag queen pageantry system founded in 1980 by Jim Flint. The pageant itself takes place at the Baton Show Lounge in Chicago, Illinois, and is usually held over Labor Day weekends.[1]

History

Jim Flint organized the first Miss Continental Pageant in 1980.[2] He started the competition as an inclusive pageant for all female impersonators, including those who have taken hormones or had surgical enhancements.[3][1]

The first competition had 14 contestants.[4] Ten years later in 1990, there were 44 contestants and 25 preliminaries in the United States.[4]

Competitions

Also known as the Continental Pageantry System, the pageant features different competitions.

Formerly, both Miss Continental Plus and Miss Continental Elite had been held each year over the Easter weekend, in Chicago; now all are held during the Labor Day weekend.

Contestants show five looks and a talent.[7] More than 40 preliminary competitions occur around the world, with finalists arriving in Chicago for the event.[7]

Winners

Sources[8][9][10]

Legend:
† indicates that the contestant is deceased.

Year Miss Continental Miss Continental Plus Miss Continental Elite Mister Continental Miss Continental Newcomer Mr. Continental Newcomer
1980 Chilli Pepper
1981 Heather Fontaine
1982 Tiffany Arieagus
1983 Chena Black
1984 Cherine Alexander †
1985 Maya Douglas
1986 Tandi Andrews †
1987 Dana Douglas
1988 Kelly Lauren
1989 Lakesha Lucky
1990 Chanel Dupree
1991 Amber Richards † Ginger Grant †
1992 Mimi Marks Denise Russell
1993 Monica Munro Lady Catiria †
1994 Cézanne Erica Christian
1995 Lady Catiria † Carmella Marcella Garcia †
1996 Paris Frantz Victoria Le Paige
1997 Tasha Long Dena Cass
1998 Michelle Dupree Santana T. Summers †
1999 Tommie Ross Terri Williams
2000 Danielle Hunter Tumara Mahorning
2001 Candis Cayne Angel Sheridan
2002 Yoshiko Oshiro Chevelle Brooks
2003 Erika Norell Victoria Parker Carl Harris (Dethroned)
Ray Matthews
2004 Erica Andrews † Anjelica Sanchez Nikki Adams Antonio Edwards
2005 Domanique Shappelle Amaya Barbara Herr Tony Desario
2006 Victoria Le Paige Desiree DeMornay † Maya Douglas Simba Hall
2007 Necole Luv Dupree Tajma Hall † Danielle Hunter Rasean Montrese
2008 Tulsi Mercedes Tyler Angel Sheridan David "Freklz" Hunter
2009 Armani Coco Van Cartier Michelle Fighter Christopher Iman
2010 Mokha Montrese Roxxxy Andrews Electra Nick Gray
2011 Alexis Gabrielle Sherrington Chelsea Pearl † Daesha Richards Phillip Alexander
2012 Sasha Colby Tanisha Cassadine † Dana Douglas Angel Saez
2013 Naysha Lopez Whitney Paige †
Farra N. Hyte 		Kourtney Paige Van Wales Kalil Valentino
2014 Brooke Lynn Hytes Tahjee Iman Lady Charisse Estrada † Joey Taylor
2015 Tiffany T. Hunter Kofi Chantal Reshae Mykul J. Valentine
2016 Jazell Barbie Royale Natasha Douglas Teryl Lynn Foxx Antwuan Steele
2017 Shantell D’Marco Keke Velazquez-Lord Fontasia L'Amour Ramon Ventura
2018 Stasha Sanchez Chy'enne Valentino Lorna Vando
Misty Knight (Honorary) † 		Sir Valentino
2019 Vanessa Van Cartier[11] Darcel Stevens A'zsia Dupree Desi M. Andrews[12]
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Juliana Rivera Britney Taylor Yosmein C. Starr Travis Stancil
2022 Sunny Dee-Lite Rachel Meredith Layla LaRue Syvon Sinatra Sanchez
2023 Zhané Dawlingz[5] Lindsay Paige Taylor St. James Noel Anaya
2024 Dominink[13] Dioscar Montesino[13]

Popular media

The Queens, a documentary directed by Mark Saxenmeyer, premiered in 2020 and focused on the 2011 competition.[14][15][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Collo-Julin, Salem (2023-04-06). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. ^ a b Ballew, Jonathan (2019-03-01). "Legendary Drag Club The Baton Opens In Uptown Friday After Decades In River North: 'It's A New Chapter'". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023-03-30). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ^ a b Knight Jr, Richard (1990-01-17). "GLAMAZONS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  5. ^ a b Noyce, Eleanor (2023-09-06). "Black trans woman Zhané Dawlingz Wiley crowned Miss Continental". PinkNews. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. ^ "Continental Pageantry". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. ^ a b Hunter, Ross (2023-04-12). "Drag queen to represent Scotland for first time at world's most prestigious pageant". The National. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  8. ^ "Miss Continental – Our Community Roots". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. ^ "Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years". www.out.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  10. ^ "Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years". Yahoo Life. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  11. ^ Souza, Guilherme (2019-09-13). "Meet the queen who broke stereotypes and became the first European to win Miss Continental". GCN. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  12. ^ "Bringing Home the Gold - OutSmart Magazine". www.outsmartmagazine.com. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  13. ^ a b "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  14. ^ "The Queens". The Reporters Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  15. ^ Corrall, Cody (2020-09-04). "The Queens takes you behind the scenes of a Chicago drag pageant". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  • Richard Knight Jr. (January 17, 1990). Glamazons: Here she comes, with a few hundred pounds of sequins and a massive will to win. Chicago Tribune
  • Barbara Brotman (August 2, 1992). Gender gap: Lines blur as drag contestants give it all they've got-and more. Chicago Tribune

External links

Drag
Categories