Cloe Cabrera

Cloe Cabrera is the fashion and beauty reporter for the Tampa Tribune, News Channel 8 and TBO.com. Watch her style segments Thursday mornings on News Channel 8 Today and follow her on Twitter at Hot Pursuits @CloeCabrera.

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There HE is…Miss Gay Florida USofA

Posted Jan 28, 2010 by Cloe Cabrera

Updated Jan 28, 2010 at 03:55 PM

It was an evening of fun, faux and fabulousness at the Miss Gay Florida USofA pageant.

The crowd was thick last weekend at Ybor City’s Honey Pot as 10 contestants vied to wear the crown of Miss Gay Florida USofA and Gay Florida USofA Classic (over 40). I was a judge.

Female impersonators (or drag queens; take your pick), these ladies walked in like they owned the place, full-on entourages toting suitcases stuffed with enough bling to make Liberace sit up and take notice. They competed in interview, evening gown and talent where they brought the illusion, as they say, of fabulous chicks. They sang and danced as a captivated audience cheered in appreciation—and handed out lots of dollar bills to prove it (myself included).

Some contestants were buxom. Others big-bootied. One looked a little ghoulish. But most were drop-dead gorgeous and made me wimper with envy. At the end, only one queen would rule. Actually, two queens. Amy Demilo of Tampa, while Danielle Hunter won Miss Gay Florida USofA Classic.

But in the world of female impersonation, there are no losers. They’ll tell you that developing talent, stage presence, hair and makeup artistry, and the subtle nuances of the craft—as well as winning the respect of peers and the public makes them all winners.

And on this evening, they all did just that.

In the photo from left to right: Lawanda Jackson of Houston, reigning Miss Gay USofA Classic; Sharde’ Ross of Ft Lauderdale, outgoing Miss FL USofA Classic; Danielle Hunter of Orlando, new Miss FL USofA Classic; Pageant Promoter/Producer, Bob Taylor; Amy Demilo of Tampa, Miss FL USofA; Natasha Braxton of Atlanta, outgoing Miss FL USofA; Stasha Sanchez of Atlanta, Miss Gay USofA; Angelica Sanchez of Orlando, Miss Florida USofA at Large; Jay R. Taylor, Mr Florida USofA 2009.