Spotlight on ...
| Missouri Excellence |
| by Jade Sinclair |
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One would think that only having one Preliminary to oversee in May would have led to a carefree month for Miss
Gay Missouri. This was in fact, not the case! I took the time in May to prepare myself for a Miss Gay America
regional preliminary: Miss Gay Heart of America 2008. After hearing that Miss Gay America was being held in St.
Louis this year, I decided I wanted to return this year. Having represented the state of Missouri last year, I would
have to select a regional competition this year. I selected Miss Heart of America after witnessing the support
given to last year's representative at Miss Gay America (MGM '05 Sasha Nicole). My first regional preliminary, I
was not sure what to expect. There were six contestants, and the scores were very close (mere points between
the winner and first alternate). I am honored to now represent Miss Gay Heart of America at Miss Gay America in
October. This means I will compete against the Miss Gay Missouri I will be crowning in July. I would like each of
our contestants to know I fully intend to share all of the knowledge I have obtained since my crowning.
Furthermore, I will be hosting Miss St. Louis Newcomer within weeks from the crowning of Miss Gay Missouri
2008, with the intention of assisting the winner in fully understanding what is expected as 'she' travels the state
and oversees our city preliminaries.
One week after my trek to Omaha, several MGM formers and myself made the trip to St. Joseph for a Miss Gay
Missouri review show / fund-raiser. The show was held at Shaft Nightclub, and featured Melinda Ryder,
Tumarah Mahorning, Atheena Voce, Victoria DePaula and myself. We have a great time backstage, and on
stage with the audience. We raised an estimated 900.00 to assist in the production of Miss Gay Missouri 2008.
I would like to extend a special 'thank you' to Shaft owners, Dustin and Mike, and Victoria DePaula for organizing
the event.
The next morning, Jay (my husband) and I headed back to St. Louis for Miss Shining Star. This pageant
changed hands this year, and the new promoter did a fantastic job. In fact, I am going to have a very difficult time
this year selecting a Preliminary of the Year. Shining Star featured 5 contestants in Evening Gown, On Stage
Question, and Talent. Melissa Marnier, Alternate to Miss St Louis 2008, did a wonderful job as the backstage
manager. It is great to see our qualified contestant helping each other out! This is real sisterhood. Miss Shining
Star 2007 Veronica Leigh Taylor arrived bearing gifts for all contestants (and me!). The evening was hosted by
Miss Gay Missouri 1992 Tumara Mahorning. In the end, Jessica Liegh Foster was crowned our new Miss
Shining Star, and the First Alternate was Musica Malone.
To date, 44 contestants have attempted to qualify for Miss Gay Missouri, and 24 have accomplished that goal.
We have two more preliminaries scheduled: Miss Midtown (St. Louis) on July 11th, and Miss Western Missouri
(St. Joseph) on July 19th. I encourage any Missouri entertainers who are interested in the America system to
look into these preliminaries. Miss Gay Missouri has been a great experience for me, and it is one I would like
each of you to experience.
Atheena Voce (MGM 2004) and myself have set a date for the Miss Gay Missouri retreat, which will be held in
Columbia on Saturday July 12. The retreat is open to all qualified contestants of Miss Gay Missouri, as well as
those who may be interested in learning more about the system. Additional details will be announced. That
night, a Miss Gay Missouri in Review show will be held at the SoCo Club, and everyone will have the chance to
see several Miss Gay Missouri's on stage! Tips made that night will be donated back to the Miss Gay Missouri
pageant - because it is even more expensive to put on the event than it is to compete!
We have one category left to dissect: Talent. Talent is the most heavily weighted category in the Miss Gay
America pageantry system - 300 points per judge, or 40% of your total score. Before proceeding, I must advise
that even though this is a large part of your score, 60% of your score is the remaining categories, and success
is dependent on being consistent in all categories. Talent includes four sub categories: Showmanship and Set
Design, Choreography, Quality, and Presentation (Entertainment Value). Showmanship and Set Design
includes costuming, props (free standing or hand held), and their relation to the mood you are setting with your
song selection. As in other categories, the condition of the elements in your production will be examined. Watch
for loose threads in your clothing; ensure your props (if you have them) look professionally made. Are you using
everything on the stage? Do not bring materials to the stage that do not relate to your performance, or that are
not used by you. If you do not have props, this score is based solely on your costuming. Choreography
examines your movements in relation to the song. Are your dance movements on the beats? Are your dancers
in synch at times when they should be? Take time to rehearse well in advance, and make sure each person
knows his or her part. I also suggest you videotape both a standard rehearsal and dress rehearsal and watch
with your scrutinizing eye. If you are not comfortable with judging yourself, ask a person you trust will give you the
honest answer. Quality includes your lip synch. As entertainers, we all undergo a period of learning (make up,
hair, costumes), but a learning curve is no excuse for not knowing your words. Ensure you know each word of
the song, and listen for the breaths of the artist - if you hear it, you should be imitating it. You should look like you
ARE singing the song. The final sub category is Entertainment Value. You can again tape your rehearsal and
examine it for the entertainment value. Does your production stir any emotion? I encourage you to present a
number you enjoy. Chances are your performance will reflect this, and will influence the judges' score. Finally,
take heed of your energy level. Your energy level should always build, or at least remain level. If this begins to
dwindle, the attention of the audience and judges will dwindle as well. Finally, make sure you adhere to all time
limits (you are permitted 7 minutes to perform, 3 to set up, and 1 and a half to take down). Anyone exceeding the
7 minute limit will receive a score of zero, and administrative points will be assessed for anyone exceeding set
up / take down times.
This month we as a community celebrate 'Pride'. As Miss Gay Missouri, I will be in St. Louis' Gay Pride Parade
(Sunday June 29); and as Miss Heart of America I will be in Mid South's Pride Parade in Memphis, TN (Saturday
June 14). Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Kansas City pride due to scheduling conflicts. Also, St. Louis is
proud to host the Miss Gay America Review show on Saturday June 28 at the Grey Fox.
As my year comes to an end, I begin to finish my final task for the community - ensuring each of the qualified
contestants have all the tools at hand to be well prepared for Miss Gay Missouri 2008. We have many new
contestants, and I have seen each of them at the city level. I will enjoy watching each of them complete for Miss
Gay Missouri, where I am sure to experience all their emotions. Tumara, myself (and a host of others) are now
busy building Miss Gay Missouri 2008 - posters have been designed, our theme "A Night at the Masquerade
Ball" announced, the date and venue reserved (preliminaries at the Grey Fox, finals at the Millennium Hotel), and
the program underway. I hope each of you reading this will be able to participate (contestant, entertainer, stage
hand, audience member) in the Miss Gay Missouri 2008 experience.
Gay Missouri. This was in fact, not the case! I took the time in May to prepare myself for a Miss Gay America
regional preliminary: Miss Gay Heart of America 2008. After hearing that Miss Gay America was being held in St.
Louis this year, I decided I wanted to return this year. Having represented the state of Missouri last year, I would
have to select a regional competition this year. I selected Miss Heart of America after witnessing the support
given to last year's representative at Miss Gay America (MGM '05 Sasha Nicole). My first regional preliminary, I
was not sure what to expect. There were six contestants, and the scores were very close (mere points between
the winner and first alternate). I am honored to now represent Miss Gay Heart of America at Miss Gay America in
October. This means I will compete against the Miss Gay Missouri I will be crowning in July. I would like each of
our contestants to know I fully intend to share all of the knowledge I have obtained since my crowning.
Furthermore, I will be hosting Miss St. Louis Newcomer within weeks from the crowning of Miss Gay Missouri
2008, with the intention of assisting the winner in fully understanding what is expected as 'she' travels the state
and oversees our city preliminaries.
One week after my trek to Omaha, several MGM formers and myself made the trip to St. Joseph for a Miss Gay
Missouri review show / fund-raiser. The show was held at Shaft Nightclub, and featured Melinda Ryder,
Tumarah Mahorning, Atheena Voce, Victoria DePaula and myself. We have a great time backstage, and on
stage with the audience. We raised an estimated 900.00 to assist in the production of Miss Gay Missouri 2008.
I would like to extend a special 'thank you' to Shaft owners, Dustin and Mike, and Victoria DePaula for organizing
the event.
The next morning, Jay (my husband) and I headed back to St. Louis for Miss Shining Star. This pageant
changed hands this year, and the new promoter did a fantastic job. In fact, I am going to have a very difficult time
this year selecting a Preliminary of the Year. Shining Star featured 5 contestants in Evening Gown, On Stage
Question, and Talent. Melissa Marnier, Alternate to Miss St Louis 2008, did a wonderful job as the backstage
manager. It is great to see our qualified contestant helping each other out! This is real sisterhood. Miss Shining
Star 2007 Veronica Leigh Taylor arrived bearing gifts for all contestants (and me!). The evening was hosted by
Miss Gay Missouri 1992 Tumara Mahorning. In the end, Jessica Liegh Foster was crowned our new Miss
Shining Star, and the First Alternate was Musica Malone.
To date, 44 contestants have attempted to qualify for Miss Gay Missouri, and 24 have accomplished that goal.
We have two more preliminaries scheduled: Miss Midtown (St. Louis) on July 11th, and Miss Western Missouri
(St. Joseph) on July 19th. I encourage any Missouri entertainers who are interested in the America system to
look into these preliminaries. Miss Gay Missouri has been a great experience for me, and it is one I would like
each of you to experience.
Atheena Voce (MGM 2004) and myself have set a date for the Miss Gay Missouri retreat, which will be held in
Columbia on Saturday July 12. The retreat is open to all qualified contestants of Miss Gay Missouri, as well as
those who may be interested in learning more about the system. Additional details will be announced. That
night, a Miss Gay Missouri in Review show will be held at the SoCo Club, and everyone will have the chance to
see several Miss Gay Missouri's on stage! Tips made that night will be donated back to the Miss Gay Missouri
pageant - because it is even more expensive to put on the event than it is to compete!
We have one category left to dissect: Talent. Talent is the most heavily weighted category in the Miss Gay
America pageantry system - 300 points per judge, or 40% of your total score. Before proceeding, I must advise
that even though this is a large part of your score, 60% of your score is the remaining categories, and success
is dependent on being consistent in all categories. Talent includes four sub categories: Showmanship and Set
Design, Choreography, Quality, and Presentation (Entertainment Value). Showmanship and Set Design
includes costuming, props (free standing or hand held), and their relation to the mood you are setting with your
song selection. As in other categories, the condition of the elements in your production will be examined. Watch
for loose threads in your clothing; ensure your props (if you have them) look professionally made. Are you using
everything on the stage? Do not bring materials to the stage that do not relate to your performance, or that are
not used by you. If you do not have props, this score is based solely on your costuming. Choreography
examines your movements in relation to the song. Are your dance movements on the beats? Are your dancers
in synch at times when they should be? Take time to rehearse well in advance, and make sure each person
knows his or her part. I also suggest you videotape both a standard rehearsal and dress rehearsal and watch
with your scrutinizing eye. If you are not comfortable with judging yourself, ask a person you trust will give you the
honest answer. Quality includes your lip synch. As entertainers, we all undergo a period of learning (make up,
hair, costumes), but a learning curve is no excuse for not knowing your words. Ensure you know each word of
the song, and listen for the breaths of the artist - if you hear it, you should be imitating it. You should look like you
ARE singing the song. The final sub category is Entertainment Value. You can again tape your rehearsal and
examine it for the entertainment value. Does your production stir any emotion? I encourage you to present a
number you enjoy. Chances are your performance will reflect this, and will influence the judges' score. Finally,
take heed of your energy level. Your energy level should always build, or at least remain level. If this begins to
dwindle, the attention of the audience and judges will dwindle as well. Finally, make sure you adhere to all time
limits (you are permitted 7 minutes to perform, 3 to set up, and 1 and a half to take down). Anyone exceeding the
7 minute limit will receive a score of zero, and administrative points will be assessed for anyone exceeding set
up / take down times.
This month we as a community celebrate 'Pride'. As Miss Gay Missouri, I will be in St. Louis' Gay Pride Parade
(Sunday June 29); and as Miss Heart of America I will be in Mid South's Pride Parade in Memphis, TN (Saturday
June 14). Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Kansas City pride due to scheduling conflicts. Also, St. Louis is
proud to host the Miss Gay America Review show on Saturday June 28 at the Grey Fox.
As my year comes to an end, I begin to finish my final task for the community - ensuring each of the qualified
contestants have all the tools at hand to be well prepared for Miss Gay Missouri 2008. We have many new
contestants, and I have seen each of them at the city level. I will enjoy watching each of them complete for Miss
Gay Missouri, where I am sure to experience all their emotions. Tumara, myself (and a host of others) are now
busy building Miss Gay Missouri 2008 - posters have been designed, our theme "A Night at the Masquerade
Ball" announced, the date and venue reserved (preliminaries at the Grey Fox, finals at the Millennium Hotel), and
the program underway. I hope each of you reading this will be able to participate (contestant, entertainer, stage
hand, audience member) in the Miss Gay Missouri 2008 experience.
May Excellence