MGA Returns to St. Louis' Millennium Hotel, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2009
BY: COLIN MURPHY – SENIOR WRITER
Miss Gay America (MGA), the oldest and one of the most celebrated female impersonation pageants in the world returns to St. Louis as Kansas City native Carl Glorioso, better known as Victoria DePaula, prepares to give up the coveted scepter and crown.
The 38-Annual MGA Pageant will again be held at the spacious Millennium Hotel Grand Ballroom downtown. Preliminary competition is Oct. 28 – 30 at 8 p.m., followed by the Miss Gay America in Review Show on Halloween at 7 p.m. and culminating with the Pageant’s final night on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.
The Gateway City earned high marks from many promoters, contestants and fans after playing host to the Pageant last year due to its strong support of the art of female impersonation, central location and good ole’ Midwestern hospitality.
“St. Louis has been (and will continue to be) good for the Miss Gay America pageant system,” said MGA owners Larry Tyger and Terry Eason of Memphis-based L&T Entertainment. “We certainly do not have any issues with coming back to St. Louis, as the support has been great, but our goal is to keep moving the pageant system, when possible. We consider St. Louis to be our home away from home and we are humbled and very grateful to the city, for its support and efforts to keep this contest being the best.”
This year 52 contestants are expected to compete at MGA. Contestants qualify for the national pageant by winning or placing first alternate at one of the many state or regional preliminaries held throughout the country and will be judged in categories of male interview, onstage question, solo talent, evening gown and long talent. The latter often includes elaborate sets, costumes and complex choreography with back up dancers.
Sometimes called “the boys pageant,” MGA requires all of its contestants remain male in every sense. Hence, no hormones or surgical augmentation is allowed below the neck. It was a system that Glorioso discovered early on would allow his illusion of Victoria DePaula to shine.
“What drew me to Miss Gay America is that Kansas City was definitely an “America” city and the fact that they are looking for men who can completely transform themselves into a female,” Glorioso said of the title he would love to retain forever. “It’s definitely about the true art form of female impersonation and what that brings. Not only do they want a successful entertainer but they also want an educated individual who can take charge and lead the system and be an administrator across the country. Miss Gay America is definitely a job.”
As MGA, Glorioso has spent the past year traveling the country presiding and administrating over the pageant’s numerous regional and state preliminaries. Over the past months he has spent countless hours in airports and although he is well-known to the baggage inspectors in his home town of Kansas City, Glorioso admits that he's had some interesting encounters across the country when the shadowy images of his crown and jewels appear on the x-ray machine.
“It’s interesting to see their facial reactions,” he explained. “I normally always keep a head shot in the carry on bags they always open up that way they see a picture of me and what I do.”
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When at home Glorioso runs his salon and day spa in addition to the landscaping company he co-owns with his mother. As his biggest fan, she has stepped in to pick up the slack while her son is on the road. Their relationship and the lives of several other contestants were prominently featured in Pageant, which is now available on DVD and On Demand. The award winning documentary on MGA gives a behind the scenes look at the grit, the glitz and the glamour of the most storied pageant of its kind.
“We are deeply humbled and honored to be able to continue presentation of the world's oldest and most prestigious pageant system, for the true art of female impersonation,” offered Tyger and Eason. “We have sacrificed many things to keep this pageant system in operation and it is quite humbling to see so many, give of their time, talent and money, just to become part of it.”
From La Cage to MGA
Glorioso's start in female impersonation began in 1996 after his director in a stage production of La Cage aux Folles told him he was a natural. Given his background in dance and live theater, Glorioso decided to give it a try and quickly became friends with Kansas City drag legend and former Miss Gay Missouri America, Melinda Ryder (Bruce Winter) and his partner Kirk Nelson. The duo was instrumental in providing support and guidance to the fledgling entertainer who soon found himself performing regularly at nightclubs. But Glorioso realized early on that he didn't want to be just a local entertainer and subsequently entered the world of pageantry.
The illusion of Victoria DePaula debuted at the MGA pageant in 2000 thus igniting Glorioso's dre
am of winning the national pageant. Over the next several years he would become a perennial top-ten finalist as he honed his craft with each determined attempt. Indeed, it was a persistent journey that taught Glorioso a great deal and in the end, earned him the crown.
“I do think that persistency pays off,” Glorioso stated. “Only because you learn the ropes of the system and you grow into what the system is all about. In that matter, persistency does help you. Just because you are seasoned; you know exactly what the judges are looking for; you network over the years with different promoters, and you build a name for yourself nationally.”
“I think it’s easy for people to say that, oh yeah, this is their year, just because they [a contestant] have done it so much,” he continued. “It's only because they’ve been a face that people have seen. Persistency pays off on a personal level but its not how they [MGA] select their winners.”
This year the Show Me State will again be well-represented at the national pageant with several contestants, including the reigning and three former Miss Gay Missouri America’s who have qualified to compete. The state has a long history of producing some of the finest performers in their field, and proudly boasts three Miss Gay America’s (Vicki Vincent, MGA 1989; Charity Case, MGA 2001 and DePaula).
“I think the state of Missouri has been so successful because we’ve produced a lot of incredible people in the art form of female impersonation,” Glorioso concluded. “We are very lucky in Missouri to have icons such as Melinda Ryder, Tumara Mahorning, Vicki Vincent and Candy James. It’s very, very nice to have people who are older and have been successful to look to who have paved the way and keep the standard alive. We’re also a family. We help each other.”
Texas Native Captures MGA Crown (2009), MGA Glitz Comes to StL (2008), 2009 MGA Pageant (2008), Miss Gay America Dethroned (2010), Coco Montrese Crowned MGA (2010)
See Also: Veteran Female Illusionist Erica Foxx Wins Miss Gay Missouri
-For more information check out www.missgayamerica.com
-You can email Colin Murphy at colin_murphy@sbcglobal.net
