Miss'd America
{{Short description|Drag pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey}}
{{distinguish|Miss America|Miss Americana|Miss USA}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Miss'd America
| logo = File:Missd america logo.jpg
| logo_size =
| caption =
| motto =
| type = Drag pageant
| headquarters = Atlantic City, New Jersey
| location = United States
| formation = Early 1990s
| language =
| key_people =
| affiliations =
| parent_organization =
| founder = John Schultz
Gary Hill
| budget =
|leader_title = Producer
|leader_name = Rich Helfant
|leader_title2 = Director
|leader_name2 = Mark Dahl
|leader_title3 = Host
|leader_name3 = Carson Kressley
|leader_title4 = Current titleholder
|leader_name4 = Aria B. Cassadine
| website = {{URL|missdamerica.org}}
}}
Miss'd America is an annual drag pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. It was founded in the early 1990s as a spoof of the Miss America pageant. It ran through 2005, took a five-year hiatus, and resumed operation in 2010. Contestants compete in four categories: swimsuit, evening gown, interview and talent, with the winner receiving $5,000.{{cite news |url=http://www.epgn.com/news/local/12505-miss-d-america-returns-with-added-incentive-for-contestants |title=Miss'D America returns, with added incentive for contestants |last=Colletta |first=Jen |date=September 14, 2017 |magazine=Philadelphia Gay News |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923185403/http://www.epgn.com/news/local/12505-miss-d-america-returns-with-added-incentive-for-contestants |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |url-status=live}} Part of the proceeds from each edition of the pageant are donated to local LGBTQ charities and initiatives. The event is produced by Rich Helfant, directed by Mark Dahl, and hosted by Carson Kressley.{{cite web |url=https://outinjersey.net/missd-america-brings-broadway-to-atlantic-city-in-drag-pageant/ |title=Miss'd America brings Broadway to Atlantic City in drag pageant |author=Out In Jersey |website=Out In Jersey |date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924013036/https://outinjersey.net/missd-america-brings-broadway-to-atlantic-city-in-drag-pageant/ |url-status=live}} The current reigning Miss'd America is Aria B. Cassadine, who was crowned on September 14, 2024.{{Cite news |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/missd-america-pageant-atlantic-city-caesars/article_7c3d9142-72fa-11ef-aae8-5fde0fefec95.html |title='Aria B. Cassadine' wins Miss'd America Pageant in Atlantic City |last=Vazquez |first=Selena |date=September 15, 2024 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=September 22, 2024 |archive-date=September 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915224551/https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/missd-america-pageant-atlantic-city-caesars/article_7c3d9142-72fa-11ef-aae8-5fde0fefec95.html |url-status=live}}
History and overview
= Early years: formation to hiatus =
John Schultz and Gary Hill founded Miss'd America as a themed party at their nightclub, Studio Six, in Atlantic City in the early 1990s. Sources conflict on the exact year the pageant began, with many placing the inaugural event in 1993{{cite web |url=http://www.newnownext.com/missd-america-2016-mimi-imfurst-drag-queen-new-jersey/09/2016/ |title='Drag Race' Star Mimi Imfurst Crowned Miss'd America 2016 |last=Rudolph |first=Christopher |date=September 25, 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |website=NewNowNext |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304165406/http://www.newnownext.com/missd-america-2016-mimi-imfurst-drag-queen-new-jersey/09/2016/ |archive-date=March 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} or 1994.{{cite news |url=https://www.metro.us/news/atlantic-city-again-becoming-drag |title=Atlantic city is again becoming 'a drag' |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=September 23, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |newspaper=Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924112558/https://www.metro.us/news/atlantic-city-again-becoming-drag |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |url-status=live}} Atlantic City Weekly, Gay City News and The New York Times report 1991 as the first year of the competition.{{cite news |url=https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2019/21/missd-america-2019-09-26-gcn.html |title=Hard Rock Hosts Miss'd America Pageant |last=Chauvin |first=Kelsey |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |newspaper=Gay City News |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926201539/https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2019/21/missd-america-2019-09-26-gcn.html}}{{cite news |url=https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/arts_and_entertainment/drag-competition-miss-d-america-struts-in-on-the-heels/article_c9542bc6-7f65-11e6-b6fb-8bb8ffff27dc.html |title=Drag competition Miss'd America struts in on the heels of A.C.'s most famous pageant |last=King |first=Rebecca |date=September 20, 2016 |newspaper=Atlantic City Weekly |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922191146/https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/arts_and_entertainment/drag-competition-miss-d-america-struts-in-on-the-heels/article_c9542bc6-7f65-11e6-b6fb-8bb8ffff27dc.html |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} Records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office list {{nowrap|July 15, 1992}}, as the date of the first known use of the term "Miss'd America".{{cite web |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:qg4izm.2.1 |title=MISS'D AMERICA |work=Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803185703/http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808%3Aqg4izm.2.1}} Hill stated to the Courier-Post that he could not recall the start date with certainty, estimating that it was "[s]ometime during the early to mid '90s{{nbsp}}... I dunno, I think maybe '91 or '92."
Miss'd America took its name from a longstanding joke that drag performers always "missed" the chance to participate in Miss America and that most of that pageant's gay behind-the-scenes staff "missed" out on what happened on stage.{{cite news |url=https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/entertainment/2018/09/18/atlantic-city-and-missd-america-still-perfect-together/1346727002/ |title=Here she still is: Atlantic City, 'Miss'd America' are still perfect together |date=September 18, 2018 |last=Spatz |first=David J. |access-date=September 25, 2019 |newspaper=Courier-Post }}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/mc-miss-america-lesbian-miss-missouri-20160906-story.html |title=There she is: Out of the closet, and ready for Miss America |last=Parry |first=Wayne |date=September 6, 2016 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924033233/https://www.chicagotribune.com/mc-miss-america-lesbian-miss-missouri-20160906-story.html |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}} Initially, the event was always held the day after Miss America "to offer the people who'd spent two weeks working day and night on the actual Miss America event a place to party, let down their hair and kick up their heels".{{cite news |url=https://www.nj.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/09/ac4ad7fd7c3699/there-she-is-missd-america-2020-photos.html |title=Drag queens take pageant spotlight at Miss'd America contest in N.J. |last=Nichols |first=Lori M. |date=September 21, 2019 |website=NJ.com |publisher=Advance Publications |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924232226/https://www.nj.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/09/ac4ad7fd7c3699/there-she-is-missd-america-2020-photos.html |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}} Miss'd America was originally satirical in nature, with the first-ever winner, Alexia Love, awarded a paper Burger King crown and a bouquet of dead roses. The second edition of the pageant took the form of a fundraiser for the AIDS Alliance of South Jersey, which brought it to wider public notice. The competition began to grow in scope in 1996, when it introduced the evening gown category.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/15/nyregion/no-not-that-pageant.html |title=No, Not That Pageant |last=Kent |first=Bill |date=September 15, 1996 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128181729/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/15/nyregion/no-not-that-pageant.html}} Among the earliest crowned Miss'd America titleholders were Mortimer Spreng (1995), Chunky Marinara (1997) and Chlamydia Liverpool (2001).{{cite news |url=https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/miss-d-america-glams-it-up-spoofs-the-red-cup/article_df3b340f-e1ac-51d2-81b1-9ab6bcfb52c7.html |title=Miss'd America glams it up, spoofs the red cup in Atlantic City |last=Kramer |first=Reuben |date=September 29, 2014 |newspaper=Atlantic City Weekly |access-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108062829/https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/miss-d-america-glams-it-up-spoofs-the-red-cup/article_df3b340f-e1ac-51d2-81b1-9ab6bcfb52c7.html |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/316781645814/posts/missd-america-pageant-winners-through-the-years1994-alexia-love-1995-her-royal-h/10154649189575815/ |author=Miss'd America Pageant Official Page |title=Miss'd America Pageant Winners through the years |via=Facebook |date=September 20, 2016 |type=Facebook post |access-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109021931/https://www.facebook.com/316781645814/posts/missd-america-pageant-winners-through-the-years1994-alexia-love-1995-her-royal-h/10154649189575815/ |archive-date=November 9, 2019}} The pageant ran annually until 2005, when it took a five-year hiatus after the Miss America headquarters relocated to Las Vegas. Studio Six went out of business the same year.
= Recent years: 2010 to present =
File:CarsonKressley.jpg has hosted Miss'd America since 2010.]]
When Rich Helfant, Miss'd America's current executive producer, founded the Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance in 2010, he approached Schultz and Hill with a proposal to revive the pageant as a fundraising event for the charity.{{cite web |url=https://outinjersey.net/missd-america-pageant-moves-to-the-hard-rock-casino-for-2019/ |title=Miss'd America Pageant moves to the Hard Rock Casino for 2019 |author=Out In Jersey |website=Out In Jersey |date=July 13, 2019 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714052917/https://outinjersey.net/missd-america-pageant-moves-to-the-hard-rock-casino-for-2019/ |url-status=live}} Schultz and Hill agreed, and Miss'd America resumed operation on January 31, 2010. Atlantic City tourism outlets, casinos and hotels embraced the pageant's return, nodding to the city's "historically vibrant gay culture" and hoping to draw in revenue from new sources.{{cite news |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20100131_Return_of_a_pageant_wildly_Miss_d.html |title=Return of a pageant wildly Miss'd |date=January 31, 2010 |last=Rosenberg |first=Amy S. |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109000717/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20100131_Return_of_a_pageant_wildly_Miss_d.html |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}} Some billed it as "Atlantic City's main event" that year. Harrah's Atlantic City, Trump Entertainment Resorts and Grey Goose all sponsored the 2010 pageant, which was held in Boardwalk Hall. The year's judging panel included Village Voice journalist Michael Musto, Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal and horseback rider Annika Bruggeworth.
In its present form, Miss'd America is professionally staged, directed and choreographed; takes place in a popular Atlantic City hotel or entertainment venue; and structurally resembles its mainstream counterpart, requiring contestants to compete in four categories, issuing a cash prize, and featuring a celebrity guest performer each year. It is currently written and directed by Mark Dahl. Bob Hitchen, the show's original writer, served as director until 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20130912_After_turn_in_spotlight__back_to_second_place_for_Miss_d_A.html |title=After turn in spotlight, back to second place for Miss'd A |date=September 12, 2013 |last=Rosenberg |first=Amy S. |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109104018/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20130912_After_turn_in_spotlight__back_to_second_place_for_Miss_d_A.html |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live}} Carson Kressley has hosted the pageant since 2010. In 2013, Michelle Visage served as host in Kressley's place.{{cite news |url=https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/archive/here-he-she-is-miss-d-america-returns-to-atlantic/article_a5a89f4a-4b66-521a-aaa1-f1bc796f9a1d.html |title=Here He/She Is...Miss'd America Returns to Atlantic City! |last=Spatz |first=David J. |date=September 18, 2013 |newspaper=Atlantic City Weekly |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922213747/https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/archive/here-he-she-is-miss-d-america-returns-to-atlantic/article_a5a89f4a-4b66-521a-aaa1-f1bc796f9a1d.html |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}
File:Victoria Porkchop Parker DSC04233 (33534503681) (cropped).jpg]]
The Miss'd America 2012 pageant was held in January of that year, but the next edition of the contest was not held until September 2013. There, Victoria "Porkchop" Parker was named Miss'd America 2013. However, the title year was then redefined to be the coming rather than the concluding year, and the September 2014 pageant winner, Honey Davenport, was crowned Miss'd America 2015.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/miss-d-america-to-crown-fiercest-of-them-all-tonight/article_fc5b6ed6-3e87-5d50-a9ae-a47e3780da66.html |title=Miss'd America to crown fiercest of them all tonight |last=Reil |first=Maxwell |date=October 7, 2017 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211153858/https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/miss-d-america-to-crown-fiercest-of-them-all-tonight/article_fc5b6ed6-3e87-5d50-a9ae-a47e3780da66.html |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.queerty.com/missd-america-contestants-high-cost-pageantry-age-drag-race-20180929 |title=Miss'd America contestants on the high cost of pageantry in the age of 'Drag Race' |date=September 29, 2018 |last=Russell |first=John |access-date=September 25, 2019 |magazine=Queerty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322162314/https://www.queerty.com/missd-america-contestants-high-cost-pageantry-age-drag-race-20180929 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} Consequently, the title of Miss'd America 2014 was never issued. Prior to the 2014 contest, Logo TV founder Matt Farber created a YouTube video series profiling several of that year's contestants as well as former winners. Comedian Randy Rainbow hosted the series.{{cite news |url=https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/entertainment/culture//149591 |title=Miss'd America Pageant |author=HotSpots! Magazine |date=September 23, 2013 |work=EDGE Media Network |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922214023/https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/entertainment/culture//149591 |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}
Each year, the pageant gives a portion of its profits to the Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance and to other local LGBT charities and causes, such as the Schultz–Hill Foundation.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.queerty.com/mimi-imfurst-totally-owned-years-missd-america-pageant-20160926 |title=Mimi Imfurst Totally Owned This Year's Miss'd America Pageant |date=September 26, 2016 |last=Russell |first=John |access-date=September 24, 2019 |magazine=Queerty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218171340/https://www.queerty.com/mimi-imfurst-totally-owned-years-missd-america-pageant-20160926 |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |url-status=live}} In 2010, Miss'd America's comeback year, proceeds went to AIDS charities such as the William Way Center and the South Jersey AIDS Alliance. {{As of|September 2022}}, the pageant's charitable donations totaled more than $500,000.{{cite news |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2022/09/missd-america-crowns-a-new-queen-in-atlantic-city.html |title=Miss'd America crowns a new queen in Atlantic City |last=Nichols |first=Lori M. |date=September 26, 2022 |website=NJ.com |publisher=Advance Publications |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928003548/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2022/09/missd-america-crowns-a-new-queen-in-atlantic-city.html |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |url-status=live}}
The 2021 edition of Miss'd America, originally scheduled to take place in September 2020, was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/amanda-p-rq-wins-2021-missd-america-pageant-in-atlantic-city/article_a4947dee-34f6-11ec-a4c2-8ffd99b902d3.html |title=Amanda Pörq wins 2021 Miss'd America pageant in Atlantic City |last=Russo |first=John |date=October 24, 2021 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024190908/https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/amanda-p-rq-wins-2021-missd-america-pageant-in-atlantic-city/article_a4947dee-34f6-11ec-a4c2-8ffd99b902d3.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/live-covid-19-updates-missd-america-2020-drag-show-canceled/article_d0e2243b-80ad-5ddf-802f-d66f9c8b851e.html |title=LIVE COVID-19 UPDATES: Miss'd America 2020 drag show canceled |last=Bilinski |first=Molly |date=July 10, 2020 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713070801/https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/live-covid-19-updates-missd-america-2020-drag-show-canceled/article_d0e2243b-80ad-5ddf-802f-d66f9c8b851e.html |url-status=live}} In August 2021, the pageant announced it would return on October 23 of that year. The evening featured a guest performance by Thelma Houston.{{Cite news |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/missd-america-to-celebrate-30th-drag-queen-pageant-in-october/article_46f248d4-0048-11ec-be04-3352b06c08d5.html |title=Miss'd America to celebrate 30th drag queen pageant in October |last=Russo |first=John |date=August 18, 2021 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914022159/https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/missd-america-to-celebrate-30th-drag-queen-pageant-in-october/article_46f248d4-0048-11ec-be04-3352b06c08d5.html |url-status=live}}
== Controversy over the ban of transgender participants ==
The Miss'd America 2020 competition was surrounded by controversy over the fact that the eligibility requirements were updated to ban transgender participants in early 2019. Though some of the pageant's past winners were trans women, Helfant stated to Instinct magazine, {{Blockquote|The bottom line is, the Miss'd American {{sic}} pageant is a male drag pageant. That is how its {{sic}} incorporated, that is how it's registered, its licensing, its trademark, all of those things with the US Patent office are listed as a male drag pageant, To {{sic}} allow anyone other than a man to compete in the pageant violates it's {{sic}} trademark."{{cite news |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/missd-america-2019-hits-atlantic-city-this-weekend-bringing-a-current-and-controversial-issue-with-it/ |title=Miss'd America 2019 Hits Atlantic City This Weekend, Bringing A Current (And Controversial) Issue With It |last=Cook |first=Michael |date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |magazine=Instinct |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925070258/https://instinctmagazine.com/missd-america-2019-hits-atlantic-city-this-weekend-bringing-a-current-and-controversial-issue-with-it/}}}}
File:Honey Davenport Leopard Print-107 1 cr.jpg]]
Hill reinforced Helfant's stance and said he did not remember whether any past winners were transgender. Because of the exclusionary change to the entrance criteria, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, where Miss'd America had been housed since 2014, withdrew its offer to host the contest again. As a result, the pageant relocated to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Several former Miss'd America titleholders spoke out against the policy change. Honey Davenport said: {{Blockquote|While I will forever be moved and appreciative of the work done by the Greater Atlantic City LGBT Alliance {{sic}}, I no longer agree with some of the policies of the Miss'd America Pageant.... [S]ince I was crowned, I have repeatedly watched my fellow former winners fight against the Board of Directors of the pageant for inclusivity. The board refuses to allow anyone identifying as female, whether by birth or transition, to compete in their pageant. It has taken me some time, but have {{sic}} decided I can no longer support them while that policy is in place.}} Miss'd America 2017, Mimi Imfurst, stated to Philadelphia Gay News: {{Blockquote|The contributions to the drag community by trans, genderqueer and nonconforming people have been undeniably at the core of what drag is. By writing this statement I am aware that I am jeopardizing my relationship with the pageant organizers, however when I won, I spoke during my Q&A portion of the pageant about creating change using your voice, and I feel like if I didn't speak up for trans drag performers, I would be doing a disservice to what the title of Miss'd America represents. Hopefully, the organizers can recognize that it is time to do the right thing and recognize that audience members will embrace inclusion, celebrate it, and I suspect [the pageant] will raise even more money for the community.{{cite news |url=http://www.epgn.com/arts-and-culture/15204-miss-d-america-executive-producer-says-we-re-an-all-male-drag-pageant |title=Miss'd America executive producer says, 'We're an all-male drag pageant.' |last=Nichols |first=Larry |date=September 19, 2019 |magazine=Philadelphia Gay News |access-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920090056/http://www.epgn.com/arts-and-culture/15204-miss-d-america-executive-producer-says-we-re-an-all-male-drag-pageant |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}}}
= Relationship with Miss America =
In the 1990s, the Miss America Organization frowned on Miss'd America and encouraged its contestants, employees and volunteers to keep their distance from the drag pageant. The organization went as far as threatening legal action to prevent Miss'd America from taking place, though charges were never brought to court. A number of high-profile people associated with Miss America defied the organization: Miss America 1993, Leanza Cornett, attended Miss'd America after crowning her successor. Mary Kay Marks, the widow of former Miss America pageant chief Albert A. Marks Jr., served as a Miss'd America guest judge in 1996. Miss America 1998, Kate Shindle, performed a song at Miss'd America following her victory.
Prior to Miss'd America's hiatus, it was tradition for its contestants to attend the Miss America pageant parade, where they called out to Miss America hopefuls, "Show us your shoes!" This was done under the joke premise that anyone found to have exceptionally large feet could be a drag queen infiltrating the mainstream pageant. Over time, the Miss America parade came to be formally known as the Show Us Your Shoes Parade, a name it retains to present day.{{cite news |url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/hard-rock-to-host-september-parade-featuring-some-miss-america/article_c4e9239e-478c-5f73-bb0d-476d07d56d13.html#2 |title=Hard Rock to host September parade featuring some Miss America contestants |last=Jackson |first=Vincent |date=August 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914123743/https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/hard-rock-to-host-september-parade-featuring-some-miss-america/article_c4e9239e-478c-5f73-bb0d-476d07d56d13.html |url-status=live}} When Miss'd America resumed in 2010, the Miss America Organization complained that the winner's crown bore too strong a resemblance to the one awarded at Miss America. As the drag pageant grew in size and influence, however, the relationship between it and its namesake improved. Before the 2013 editions of both pageants, executives of the Miss America Organization and that year's celebrity judges attended a dinner reception held by Schultz and Hill.
Format
File:Dragcon-12 (47937189348).jpg (second from left)]]
Contestants of at least 21 years of age from anywhere in the United States can apply to compete in Miss'd America, though the majority of entrants are based in the Northeast.{{Cite news |url=https://getoutmag.com/fifi-dubois-missd-america-2015/ |title=Fifi DuBois-Miss'd America 2015! |last=Cook |first=Michael |date=October 2, 2015 |magazine=Get Out! Magazine |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=September 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906064338/http://getoutmag.com/fifi-dubois-missd-america-2015/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Miss'd America Pageant contestant packet |url=http://acglbt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ContestantPacket_2019-4.pdf |publisher=Miss'd America Pageant |date=2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925210401/http://acglbt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ContestantPacket_2019-4.pdf |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} In the first round of the process, each candidate submits a three-minute video of their talent together with an application form, and the judging panel selects the year's finalists from this pool. The finalists travel to Atlantic City to compete in a live show featuring swimsuit, evening gown, interview and talent categories.{{cite news |url=https://whyy.org/articles/a-pageant-in-drag-missd-america-upholds-traditions/ |title=A pageant in drag, Miss'd America upholds traditions |last=Smedile |first=Anthony |date=September 24, 2018 |work=whyy.org |publisher=WHYY |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925120313/https://whyy.org/articles/a-pageant-in-drag-missd-america-upholds-traditions/ |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |url-status=live}} The live final carries a different theme each year, such as the circus (2013), America (2018) or superheroes (2020).{{cite web |url=http://www.newnownext.com/drag-pageant-trump/09/2018/ |title=Miss'd America Drag Pageant Tells Contestants: Play Down the Politics! |last=Musto |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Musto |date=September 24, 2018 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |website=NewNowNext |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927003845/http://www.newnownext.com/drag-pageant-trump/09/2018/ |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |url-status=live}} The winner receives a $5,000 prize and is crowned Miss'd America for the coming year, during which she is to make appearances at events such as Pride celebrations and is to serve as an ambassador of the Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/missd-america-fifi-dubois_b_11627656 |title=Miss'd America Fifi DuBois — 'It Was Really Great And Humbling To Be Crowned Miss'd America' |last=Cook |first=Michael |date=December 6, 2017 |website=HuffPost |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925020230/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/missd-america-fifi-dubois_b_11627656 |url-status=live}} Some editions of the pageant have also crowned first and second runners-up, who receive $2,500 and $1,500, respectively. These cash prizes have increased steeply in recent years; the grand prize was $1,500 at the 2016 contest but rose to its present value of $5,000 two years later.
The 2020 pageant introduced the title of Miss'd Popularity, which is determined via public web vote. The first contestant to receive that honor was Nicole Onoscopi, who placed as first runner-up in the main competition. That year also marked the first time that Miss'd America was live streamed.{{cite news |url=https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/arts_and_entertainment/watch-live-the-miss-d-america-pageant-at-hard-rock/article_fca109e3-ca62-58b1-952e-104075c5090f.html |title=WATCH LIVE: The Miss'd America Pageant at Hard Rock at 8 p.m. |last=Spatz |first=David |date=September 21, 2019 |newspaper=Atlantic City Weekly |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922190932/https://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/arts_and_entertainment/watch-live-the-miss-d-america-pageant-at-hard-rock/article_fca109e3-ca62-58b1-952e-104075c5090f.html |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}
Recent titleholders
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References
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External links
- {{official website|missdamerica.org}}
{{Drag performance}}
{{LGBT culture in New Jersey}}
{{Portal bar|LGBTQ|New Jersey}}
Category:1990s establishments in the United States
Category:Annual events in New Jersey
Category:Beauty pageants in the United States
Category:Culture of Atlantic City, New Jersey
Category:Events in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LGBTQ community
Category:LGBTQ beauty pageants