THE 11TH MISS GAY USA NEWCOMER CROWNS A NEW QUEEN
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We waited with bated breath for the past 3 years for Miss Gay USofA Newcomer to return, on the 5th of August, 2022, it came back with a bang and it did not disappoint!
The coveted 11th annual competition was held in the Rose Room located upstairs in a popular gay club in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA.
Due to the highly contagious spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and the various lockdowns, the owner and Promoter, Darryl Neumann, made the executive decision to pause the production of the show until August this year. He brought the sort after spectacle after taking the corrective measures to ensure the safety of his contestants and the patrons 3 years later.
Picture by Madame'Brazíl NoreagaThe Gay USofA pageantry system is divided into nine divisions with Newcomer being the space for individuals who have not yet held a state or regional title or having been a national finalist in a pageantry. But, don’t underestimate the talented group of entertainers, although the division was designed to offer a space for newcomers to compete against one another away from competitive drag veterans, it’s fair to respectfully say, many Newcomers could pull out a seat for most veterans to have.
Due to the name of the pageant, many people makes the assumption that the USofA pageants are for ‘gay drag queens only’, it is actually home for countless transgender individuals.
Recipient of the 2022’s Miss Gay USofA Newcomer ‘Businessman of the Year' award, and Mr. Neumann’s business partner, Promoter, Demetrius Thomas, explains the system as,
‘A nonprofit that offers help to individuals with personal growth, teaching them public-speaking, interview command, along with other life skills.’
When asked, ‘Does the system predict growth with preliminaries in the next few years?’, Mr. Thomas confidently replied, “Of course. Miss Gay USofA Newcomer is the largest newcomer system in the country along with having the most contestants in any system this year."
Stacie Alexis Davenport, Picture by Madame'Brazíl Noreaga
LARGEST NEWCOMER SYSTEM IN AMERICA
With the number of 59 qualified representatives being so great in number, its was certain that a few individuals would drop out from competing.[1] During the grand final events, 35 successfully registered to fulfil their obligation and requirements driven by their hunger and availability to participate.
All three preliminary nights was a complete success, leading to the selection of the Top 12 finalists who continued into the final event with the hopes of returning home with the crown. After the top 12 performed, it was clear that their determination were fueled by the legacy they are about to make.
THE GOWN SECTION SYMBOLIZED REBIRTH
One traditional practice in the Miss Gay USofA system is the comparative gown section at the end of the gown category, this allows finalists a moment to stand alongside one another, it gives them the opportunity to showcase their complete look in comparison to their competitors.
Although the twelve modeled as graceful as swans when given permission from the evening’s Emcees, Kelexis Davenport and Chevelle ‘Boom Boom' Brooks, to ‘sell their gowns to the judges’.
The incredible serene swans quickly turned vulturous as they diverge from traditional pageant gown modeling into a Ballroom battle. While vultures may be known as flesh eating birds, we must not forget that the determined bird symbolises rebirth and renewal; which couldn’t have happened at a better time for this pageant's history.
During the battling comparative period, the audience went up cheering in a loud and thunderous roar. However, gasps and silence came about when some contestants made physical contact with one another causing others to possibly fall off the stage’s runway.
While some pageant veterans may frown upon the act of ‘selling their look’ as instructed, it's important to get with modern times and trends inspired by the Ballroom scene which encourages self-expression and progression, in order to keep our community’s pageantry alive in this era of RuPaul’s Drag Race which has overshadowed its popularity.
Then it got this Editor asking herself, is pageantry really dying out?.. Or are individuals making the conscious decision to join a contest that’ll offer them more opportunities globally?
Stacie Alexis Davenport, Picture by Madame'Brazíl NoreagaDuring season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, episode 4, Queen India Ferrah was picked up without permission by fellow contestant, Mimi Imfurst, during their lip sync to Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way", the inappropriate incident has been described as "infamous", and prompted RuPaul to enforce a new rule: "Drag is not a contact sport". It is important for all contestants to note this rule in all pageant stages.
The video clip above shows the infamous episode of Rupaul Drag Race....'Drag is not a contact sport'!
As it was told to the contestants, ‘Here’s your chance to impress the judges’-to do as our Good-Judy, Marsha P Johnson said, “Pay it no mind!” simply because, by this point in the competition, the gown scores are already in the tabulator’s possession. Instead of ‘impressing the judges’, impress yourselves for making it this far in the competition, along with countless others who are watching at home.
There are better ways to blend the practice of comparative gown and ballroom culture in pageantry, in this case, it was sadly missed. Being a newcomer system, this is a great opportunity for the organizers to address and teach the proper way to do so.
Stacie Alexis Davenport, Picture by Madame'Brazíl NoreagaTHE CREATIVE TALENTS
The evening’s presentation theme was ‘Winter Wasteland', but the black finalists used the opportunity to include meaningful messages in their talent section which proudly stated, BLACK LIVES MATTER! This Editor and the audience were particularly impressed by the closing category in the talent section where an outstanding performance by Stacie Alexis Davenport which included live drumming, intense multiple dance routines, rigorous dance groups changes, and revolving set pieces to an energetic music kept the audience on their feet as we saw the rising of new star who's abundant creativity would have made the audiences of the Historically Black College and University live band, and Super Bowl halftime show gasp in excitement. Stacie Alexis Davenport won the talent hands down with her indomitable vibrant artistry.
Sapphire Keaton Davenport, Picture by Madame'Brazíl Noreaga
THE DAVENPORTS REIGNED SUPREME
Miss Gay USofA has a reputation as one of the few systems that is truly anyone’s game, it saw 4 ‘Davenports' placed in the Top 12, and 3 davenports placed as the top 5 winners. The remarkable feat saw Angelique Davenport winning 4th Alternate, Giscelle winning 3rd Alternate, and the highest placing Davenport, Sapphire Keaton Davenport, who was contestant number 5, winning 1st Alternate. She graciously commented on the publicly shared score sheets, stating;
“The scores are the scores and the scores are correct. I’m gratefully thankful for this wonderful week of pageantry and you (Mr. Neumann) for giving us this platform to shine on.”The beautiful trans woman of color stated. This type of sportsmanship is an example that should be emulated by many pageant contestants.
As Miss Keaton continues to build her legacy in pageantry, TransBeauty Magazine looks forward to seeing what she achieves in the future as she graduates from the Newcomer to the Big Leagues.
Stacie Alexis Davenport is Miss Gay USofA Newcomer 2022, Picture by Madame'Brazíl NoreagaStarting off as contestant number 25 during the preliminaries but pulling for contestant number 12 during the finals; the winner of talent, Stacie Alexis Davenport takes the Miss Gay USofA Newcomer crown back to Kansas City, where she lives her life as an openly gay black male, as Ricky Morris, with the pronouns he/him and while in the drag art form goes by she/her pronoun.
Morris was Newcomer debutant, he has been expressing himself through the art of drag for only 1½ years. He states,
“When I decided to compete, I wanted to showcase a talent worthy enough for a 1990’s pageant win. Because ‘THATS’ the drag that made me fall in love with it.” He continues to pay homage to the ‘old school' by saying, “I want to help get USofA back to how they used to be. Back to when USofA set the standard for talents; when the talents were really good.”
After witnessing Stacie Alexis Davenport's final night talent, its certain to say, She has set the bar high in the USofA’s entire pageantry history.
The evening had numerous community icons and legends in attendance, such as, LaWanda Jackson, Tommie Ross, Aurora Sexton; Maddy Morphosis and Brooke Lynn Hytes (aka Trinity-the-Tuck) both of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Thanks to the Newcomer division, USofA’s legacy will surely continue to thrive over the years to come.
Cheers to the Divas of Tomorrow for keeping drag pageantry alive. While many may consider you all as 'the babies of pageantry’, I disagree by saying, “You’re the future of pageantry.”
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