This is not a title for everyone. If you have bad habits you’ve picked up along your drag career like diva attitudes, public drunkenness, being perpetually late and unprepared, trash talking and flaking out this is not the title for you. Being Mister or Miss Gay Pride is a working title. You are expected to represent at all times, whether you are in face or not. People have had their titles taken away for crap they pull after winning this title. This is, or at least it should be (if you’re doing it right), the hardest working title in town. But it can also be the most fulfilling. I have never worked so hard or been so busy in my drag career. But it’s worth it. Since winning in March I’ve already been involved in raising several thousand dollars for various organizations. But again, I knew what this meant when I won Mister Phoenix Pride. A lot of it is politics. You have to be a good schmoozer and people person, as well as a good entertainer. When you are out and about, whether it’s in town or out of town, you are representing all of us, and everything you do reflects back on the Pride organization and the Phoenix LGBTQ community as a whole. Which is why this is not a good title for you if you have the above mentioned bad habits.
So for all of you who are planning on running for Mister and Miss Gay Pride in ANY city, but especially in Phoenix, know what you’re getting into. Understand that if you win, it’s a year of being worked to the bone, of having to double and triple check your calendar so you don’t double book yourself, of having very few weekends to yourself and of having the added pressure of being essentially a politician as well as an entertainer. It’s hard work, if done right. It kicks your ass, if done right. It makes your family wonder if they’ll ever get their dining room table back from all the bling, if done right. It makes you look forward to passing off the crown, if done right. Not because you’re sick of it, not because you hate the job, but because you have pushed yourself to your limits and need that break. But at the end of it, you should feel good about everything you’ve accomplished, if done right. If no one sees you for that year you have your crown, you’re doing something wrong. If you only do a handful of shows and only a couple fundraisers, you’re doing something wrong. So expect to work. Having this title is essentially like having a second job. A job that pays pretty much diddly squat monetarily, but makes you rich in other ways. I know, cheese alert! But it’s true.
Just know that with this crown comes immense scrutiny. Even more than usual, people will be watching everything you do and everything you say.
But I wish everyone competing in the Phoenix Pride prelims the best of luck! I’m excited to see who’s going to make it to the finals.