15 stunning photos from the 52nd annual Miss Gay Rochester drag beauty pageant

Reported by Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière, Community Editor

The nation’s oldest-running regional drag beauty pageant, Miss Gay Rochester (MGR) hosted its 52nd annual event on Sunday, November 10th, at Harro East Ballroom in Rochester, New York. Previous titleholders have gone on to win at national competitions, like Miss Continental ‘85 Maya Douglas (MGR ‘81, recently named co-owner of the pageant), and RuPaul’s Drag Race(Pandora Boxx, MGR ‘95 & ‘96, Darienne Lake, MGR ‘99, and Mrs. Kasha Davis, MGR ‘08).

“This pageant with its longevity of over 50 years has really created not just an amazing experience for everyone who comes to the pageant, but has created a city that supports drag,” said Aggy Dune, MGR ‘91 and co-owner of the pageant. “It’s all about the girls sparkling in their moment on stage. And it’s about the audience who comes out and supports them. These are their champions.”

“We are so blessed and lucky to have such an amazing support system right in Rochester.”