Miss Continental Explained

Miss Continental
Type:Drag beauty pageant
Headquarters:Baton Show Lounge
Location:Chicago, Illinois
Formation:1980
Key People:Jim Flint (founder and CEO)

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.

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.

Winners

Sources[8] [9] [10]

Legend:
indicates that the contestant is deceased.

YearMiss ContinentalMiss Continental PlusMiss Continental EliteMister ContinentalMiss Continental NewcomerMr. Continental Newcomer
1980Chilli Pepper
1981Heather Fontaine
1982Tiffany Arieagus
1983Chena Black
1984Cherine Alexander †
1985Maya Douglas
1986Tandi Andrews †
1987Dana Douglas
1988Kelly Lauren
1989Lakesha Lucky
1990Chanel Dupree
1991Amber RichardsGinger Grant †
1992Mimi MarksDenise Russell
1993Monica MunroLady Catiria
1994CézanneErica Christian
1995Lady CatiriaCarmella Marcella Garcia †
1996Paris FrantzVictoria Le Paige
1997Tasha LongDena Cass
1998Michelle DupreeSantana T. Summers †
1999Tommie RossTerri Williams
2000Danielle HunterTumara Mahorning
2001Candis CayneAngel Sheridan
2002Yoshiko OshiroChevelle Brooks
2003Erika NorellVictoria ParkerCarl Harris (Dethroned)
Ray Matthews
2004Erica AndrewsAnjelica SanchezNikki AdamsAntonio Edwards
2005Domanique ShappelleAmayaBarbara HerrTony Desario
2006Victoria Le PaigeDesiree DeMornay †Maya DouglasSimba Hall
2007Necole Luv DupreeTajma Hall †Danielle HunterRasean Montrese
2008TulsiMercedes TylerAngel SheridanDavid "Freklz" Hunter
2009ArmaniCoco Van CartierMichelle FighterChristopher Iman
2010Mokha MontreseRoxxxy AndrewsElectraNick Gray
2011Alexis Gabrielle SherringtonChelsea Pearl †Daesha RichardsPhillip Alexander
2012Sasha ColbyTanisha Cassadine †Dana DouglasAngel Saez
2013Naysha LopezWhitney Paige †
Farra N. Hyte
Kourtney Paige Van WalesKalil Valentino
2014Brooke Lynn HytesTahjee ImanLady Charisse Estrada †Joey Taylor
2015Tiffany T. HunterKofiChantal ReshaeMykul J. Valentine
2016Jazell Barbie RoyaleNatasha DouglasTeryl Lynn FoxxAntwuan Steele
2017Shantell D’MarcoKeke Velazquez-LordFontasia L'AmourRamon Ventura
2018Stasha SanchezChy'enne ValentinoLorna Vando
Misty Knight (Honorary) †
Sir Valentino
2019Vanessa Van Cartier[11] Darcel StevensA'zsia DupreeDesi M. Andrews[12]
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Britney TaylorYosmein C. Starr
2022Juliana RiveraRachel MeredithLayla LaRueTravis Stancil
2023Sunny Dee-LiteLindsay PaigeTaylor St. JamesSyvon Sinatra
2024Zhané DawlingzAlvion Arnell DavenportLee Ann Feathers / Honorary Fantasia DiorNoel AnayaDominink[13] Dioscar Montesino
2025

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Collo-Julin . Salem . 2023-04-06 . Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago . 2023-10-16 . Chicago Reader . en-US . 2023-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016051917/https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago/best-arts-culture/best-internationally-known-drag-pageant-system-based-in-chicago/ . live .
  2. Web site: Ballew . Jonathan . 2019-03-01 . Legendary Drag Club The Baton Opens In Uptown Friday After Decades In River North: 'It's A New Chapter' . 2023-10-16 . Block Club Chicago . en . 2023-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016041823/https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/03/01/legendary-drag-club-the-baton-opens-in-uptown-friday-after-decades-in-river-north-its-a-new-chapter/ . live .
  3. Web site: Swenson . JP . Mendoza . Marie . 2023-03-30 . What's the history of drag performance in Chicago? . 2023-10-16 . WBEZ Chicago . en . 2023-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016041823/https://www.wbez.org/stories/whats-the-history-of-drag-performance-in-chicago/c1dd70f9-3e85-4a72-b1fa-6c67298f7776 . live .
  4. Web site: Knight Jr . Richard . 1990-01-17 . GLAMAZONS . 2023-10-16 . Chicago Tribune . 2024-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527085810/https://playlist.stnvideo.com/player/data/index.php?cmd=loadInitial&session=UN5Ueri9SRpOyEXx&instance=198797270&version=7.32.17&age=240527&ESG_key=wQoDAMss&type=FULL&EXTREF=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/01/17/glamazons/&REF=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/01/17/glamazons/&ogSet=1 . live .
  5. Web site: Noyce . Eleanor . 2023-09-06 . Black trans woman Zhané Dawlingz Wiley crowned Miss Continental . 2023-10-16 . PinkNews . en-US . 2023-10-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004145138/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/06/miss-continental-winner-zhane-dawlingz-wiley/ . live .
  6. Web site: Continental Pageantry . 2023-10-16 . www.thebatonshowlounge.com . 2024-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527090016/https://www.thebatonshowlounge.com/continental-pageantry . live .
  7. Web site: Hunter . Ross . 2023-04-12 . Drag queen to represent Scotland for first time at world's most prestigious pageant . 2023-10-16 . The National . en . 2024-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114155026/https://www.thenational.scot/news/23451654.scottish-drag-queen-sets-eyes-miss-continental-pageant-crown/ . live .
  8. Web site: Miss Continental – Our Community Roots . 2023-10-16 . en-US . 2023-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331160611/https://ourcommunityroots.com/?p=15708 . live .
  9. Web site: Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years . 2023-10-16 . www.out.com . en . 2023-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231014045214/https://www.out.com/drag/miss-continental . live .
  10. Web site: 2023-09-08 . Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years . 2023-10-16 . Yahoo Life . en-US . 2024-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527085806/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/every-miss-continental-pageant-winner-165316190.html . live .
  11. Web site: Souza . Guilherme . 2019-09-13 . Meet the queen who broke stereotypes and became the first European to win Miss Continental . 2023-10-16 . GCN . en . 2020-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201204104929/https://gcn.ie/meet-the-queen-who-broke-stereotypes-miss-continental/ . live .
  12. Web site: 2019-12-26 . Bringing Home the Gold - OutSmart Magazine . 2023-10-16 . www.outsmartmagazine.com . en-US . 2023-12-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201105905/https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2019/12/bringing-home-the-gold/ . live .
  13. Web site: Facebook . 2023-10-16 . www.facebook.com . 2024-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527090038/https://www.facebook.com/thecontinentalpageantrysystem/posts/pfbid027erigzTHrWEV54DEwToZv5ZagbcPG3YLEsLGgt2ZU9uTLY5PqJxBA4P6ciockUuAl . live .
  14. Web site: The Queens . 2023-10-16 . The Reporters Inc . 2023-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016041823/https://thereporters.org/project/the-queens/ . live .
  15. Web site: Corrall . Cody . 2020-09-04 . The Queens takes you behind the scenes of a Chicago drag pageant . 2023-10-16 . Chicago Reader . en-US . 2023-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605032323/https://chicagoreader.com/film/the-queens-takes-you-behind-the-scenes-of-a-chicago-drag-pageant/ . live .