I hope
that this newsletter finds you all healthy and well. It has been a fairly quiet
August as I prepare for Miss Gay America coming up Oct. 9-13 at the Millennium
Hotel in downtown St. Louis. I am
so excited and strangely nervous as I get ready for the pageant, but I
know that all of the hard work will pay off.
I’m also
looking forward to meeting all of my other America sisters. A week of learning,
watching, performing and competing will be good for me. I’m looking forward to
seeing and sharing time with my Missouri sisters: Adria Andrews, Trixie LaRue, Vicki
Valentino, and the newly crowned Miss Gay Kansas 2013 Miss. Jade Sinclair, Miss
Gay Illinois 2013 Diva Coppafeel and First Alternate Nadia M. Louis. I feel
very blessed to work in a state that has such a rich history of female
impersonation: Sandy Kay, Brenda Leigh, Melinda Ryder, Vanessa Vincent (and the
famous Vincent Sisters) and many others who don't perform or are no longer with
us.
The
History of the Miss Gay Missouri America pageant (being one of the oldest
prelims in the system) is just incredible. I know that as I go on to represent
Missouri at America, that I stand on the shoulders of all of these fabulous
people and entertainers who came before me. The Board of Directors for
which I work is just amazing and so supportive. I am a very lucky and blessed
man. I hope that I will do justice to all of the of the people who support me.
I know I have said this before, but I
want all of the people who feel like they want to be a part of this amazing
community to contact me. I want everyone to have the feeling of legacy,
sisterhood and support that I feel by being associated with this system.
There are
two open pageants coming up: Miss Gay Kansas City to be held in Kansas City on
September 27th and 28th (a Friday and Saturday night.) It will be held in three
different venues: Missie B's, Sidekicks and Hamburger Mary's. For further
information, contact Lore'al, Kansas City's Queen of Comedy on FaceBook. There
is also Miss Gay Springfield to be held in Springfield Mo. On Sunday, October
20. If you have any questions about any of these prelims and future
prelims do not hesitate to contact me at ChristaCollinsMGMA2013@gmail.com.
As the
Labor Day holiday approaches and summer winds down, please take care of
yourselves and look out for each other. A community can only move forward if we
are all doing so together—and if someone falls behind, reach back and
give them a hand.
Miss Gay Missouri America 2013,
Christa Collins
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER MGMA BOARD NEWSLETTER
Hello from the Board
of Miss Gay Missouri. While our annual pageant seems far in the distant
future, it will surely arrive much faster than we imagine, and planning for the
event is already underway. In addition, our preliminary season is
underway and Christa has already demonstrated her "excellence" as she
administered over her first pageant, Miss Gay Metropolitan America.
Because we understand the pressure and hard work of both of administrating
over and entertaining at a pageant, our Board makes every effort to be on hand
to assist with any needs of the reigning MGM. We want our Miss Gay
Missouri to know that we are here to support you in every way. We are
very proud of Christa, and encourage all of you to join us in wishing her the
best as she puts the finishing touches on her Miss Gay America 2014 competition
package.
Speaking of Miss Gay America, we would like to remind you this year Missouri has again been selected as the location for the national contest. Miss Gay America 2014 is being held October 9-13 at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, MO. Approximately 52 contestants from across the country will join our two MGM representatives (Christa Collins and Adria Andrews) in the preliminary round of competition Wednesday, Oct 9 through Friday, Oct 11; Saturday, October 12 features the Miss Gay America Review show and presentation of preliminary awards; Final Night is held Sunday, October 12, where the top 10 will be compete a second time in Evening Gown and Talent, as well as On Stage Question. Missouri has seen three of its entertainers find their way to the coveted title of Miss Gay America (Vicki Vincent, Charity Case and Victoria DePaula). Please visit the Miss Gay America web site (www.missgayamerica.com) for additional information.
While ultimately the franchise of Miss Gay Missouri exists to select two representatives from our state to participate in the national contest, being Miss Gay Missouri is much more than a ticket to the national contest. Being Miss Gay Missouri is a doorway to travel our state to entertain and work with a variety of individuals; it is the chance to learn and grow from not only those you meet but also the legacy of sisters who walked the path before; it is a chance to reach out to our youth and share your knowledge and passion – and hopefully inspire them to a path of success. Unknown until experienced, it is also what you make it. If you invest energy and time, you will be rewarded in the end. If your reign touches others you will see them on your final night reaching back ... you on stage in your final moments, and those you have touched lined up in front of the stage ready to share the final moment with you.
Speaking of Miss Gay America, we would like to remind you this year Missouri has again been selected as the location for the national contest. Miss Gay America 2014 is being held October 9-13 at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, MO. Approximately 52 contestants from across the country will join our two MGM representatives (Christa Collins and Adria Andrews) in the preliminary round of competition Wednesday, Oct 9 through Friday, Oct 11; Saturday, October 12 features the Miss Gay America Review show and presentation of preliminary awards; Final Night is held Sunday, October 12, where the top 10 will be compete a second time in Evening Gown and Talent, as well as On Stage Question. Missouri has seen three of its entertainers find their way to the coveted title of Miss Gay America (Vicki Vincent, Charity Case and Victoria DePaula). Please visit the Miss Gay America web site (www.missgayamerica.com) for additional information.
While ultimately the franchise of Miss Gay Missouri exists to select two representatives from our state to participate in the national contest, being Miss Gay Missouri is much more than a ticket to the national contest. Being Miss Gay Missouri is a doorway to travel our state to entertain and work with a variety of individuals; it is the chance to learn and grow from not only those you meet but also the legacy of sisters who walked the path before; it is a chance to reach out to our youth and share your knowledge and passion – and hopefully inspire them to a path of success. Unknown until experienced, it is also what you make it. If you invest energy and time, you will be rewarded in the end. If your reign touches others you will see them on your final night reaching back ... you on stage in your final moments, and those you have touched lined up in front of the stage ready to share the final moment with you.
This experience is
one worth not only the work required to prove to the five judges you have what
it takes, but also worth the wait if the journey takes a little longer than you
would like.
Michael Klataske/Jade Sinclair, MGM 2007