But the awards that have nothing to do with pageants, awards that are voted on by the community; these are the ones that matter most. You can have every title out there, but if your name is mud within your own community how much do those titles really mean? Yes, I have my titles; bar titles, a state title and a Pride title, and while those mean a great deal to me, the ones that mean most are the awards I’ve won most recently.
I have been doing drag for about 7 years now. I’ve traveled because it, met incredible people because it, and have formed lasting bonds because of it. When I first started I never thought it would become such a huge part of my life. I did it because it was fun and because it was a way for me to show my artistic side. Then I realized it was a tool to help me give back. For 7 years I’ve been doing just that.
Earlier this year I was nominated for the Echo Readers Choice Award for Outstanding Drag King. I know a lot of people felt it was a given because I had just come off of a year as Mister Phoenix Gay Pride, but trust me, that’s not the case. It was my first year being nominated, and I was up against a nominee who had won two years in a row, and another nominee who was a community favourite. Nothing surprised me more than to hear my name announced as the winner. It blew my mind and was a completely humbling experience.
Then over the weekend, I managed to win another award that the community voted on, one that surprised the hell out of me. I had been nominated as MI of the Year in the Arizona Drag Diamond Crystal Awards, which was an amazing honor in itself. I was up against some of the best MIs in the state, title holders. Pretty much everyone nominated was very deserving, I never imagined I’d win, especially since one of the nominees was also up for Entertainer of the Year. And yet… I won.
When you get nominated for an award by the community you represent that in itself truly is a great thing. It means that someone, multiple someones, think that who you are and what you’ve done is good enough to be recognized. To win that award means even more. It’s the type of recognition that a pageant crown just can’t give you. It means that you’ve done more than have the best evening wear or the best talent, or that you can dazzle judges with bullshit. It means that the community that you love loves you right back. And that, dear readers, is the best feeling ever.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart, to those who nominated me and to those who voted. It means the world to me.