Miss Continental
| Formation | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | Drag beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Baton Show Lounge |
| Location | |
Key people | Jim Flint (founder and CEO) |
| Website | Official Instagram |
For over 40 years the Continental Pageantry System, through the direction, dedication and leadership of founder and owner Jim Flint has set the standards in pageant excellence and professionalism in the art of female impersonation pageantry. And since its inception in 2003 the MR Continental Pageant has become the premiere male entertainment competition in the business. Continental Pageantry is dedicated to presenting pageants of the highest quality exemplifying excellence, honesty, character, and integrity in the entertainment competition industry.
Continental Pageantry has always been based on the quality of the contestants rather than the quantity. Continental Pageantry strives to attract the most professional, talented, and intelligent entertainers from across the continent and the globe with preliminary qualifying pageants held in the Continental United States, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. The Pageant is a high-paced and exciting competition and its glamour and international prestige have made it the most coveted title in the industry.
The Continental Pageantry System is comprised of four divisions, the Miss Continental Pageant, the MR Continental Pageant, the Miss Continental Plus Pageant and the Miss Continental Elite Pageant. The national pageants for each division are held annually in Chicago. The Mr and Miss Continental Pageants are held over Labor Day Weekend and the Miss Continental Plus and Elite Pageants are held over Easter Weekend.
History
Jim Flint organized the first Miss Continental Pageant in 1980.[1] He started the competition as an inclusive pageant for all female impersonators, including those who have taken hormones or had surgical enhancements.[2][3]
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.
- Miss Continental Plus debuted in 1991, a pageant for competitors weighing 225 lb (102 kg) or more.
- Miss Continental Elite was created in 2004 for entertainers who are over the age of 40.
- Mr. Continental was formed in 2003 for male entertainers.[3][5]
- Mr. and Miss Continental Newcomer was added in 2023.[6]
The Continental Pageantry System is comprised of four divisions, the Miss Continental Pageant, the MR Continental Pageant, the Miss Continental Plus Pageant and the Miss Continental Elite Pageant. The national pageants for each division are held annually in Chicago. The Mr and Miss Continental Pageants are held over Labor Day Weekend and the Miss Continental Plus and Elite Pageants are held over Easter Weekend.
Contestants compete in Interview, Swim Wear, Talent, Evening Gown and Final Question & Answer.
More than 40 preliminary competitions occur around the world, with finalists arriving in Chicago for the event.[7]
Winners
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][1]
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023-03-30). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Collo-Julin, Salem (2023-04-06). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Knight Jr, Richard (1990-01-17). "GLAMAZONS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Noyce, Eleanor (2023-09-06). "Black trans woman Zhané Dawlingz Wiley crowned Miss Continental". PinkNews. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Continental Pageantry". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Miss Continental – Our Community Roots". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years". www.out.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years". Yahoo Life. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bringing Home the Gold - OutSmart Magazine". www.outsmartmagazine.com. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "The Queens". The Reporters Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ 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
