Lancaster Pride Association Crowns 2023 Lancaster Pride Royalty – Mr. & Miss. Lancaster Pride

Lancaster, PA – The Lancaster Pride Association crowned the 2023 Mr. & Miss. Lancaster Pride at the Imperial Ballrooms on Saturday, April 29. The 2023 Mr. Lancaster Pride title goes to Mr. Tee, and Miss. Lancaster Pride goes to Nahiara D’Quest. The title was previously held by Tamia Giselse Mykles.

The Lancaster Pride Pageant is a gender-inclusive drag pageant for contestants who believe in the power and importance of community service. Our pageant winner is more than a titleholder. They live and breathe the spirit of pride. They envision a world in which all LGBTQ+ people are affirmed, respected, and included — free from any discrimination, rejection, or prejudice.

This pageant is all-inclusive. Contestants competed against one another for the title of Lancaster Pride Royalty. This year’s theme is Extravagant Pride. Often as members of the LGBTQ+ society, we find ourselves reinventing ourselves when we come out.

Contestants were judged on several categories including Extravagant Pride Presentation, Eleganza, Talent, and Q&A. Contestants included, Icy Hottiee, Erisaka Blu, Nahiara D’Quest and Mr. Tee.

Mr. & Miss. Lancaster Pride will commit their volunteer work, time, and energy to the Lancaster Pride Association’s mission in a celebration of the progress that the local LGBTQ+ community has made toward achieving visibility, acceptance, and equality within Lancaster County as an organization, Lancaster Pride is committed to producing a vibrant festival and events year round that honors these achievements.

“Being a drag king has helped me stay clean and sober for 18 years; I love to impersonate a man!” A proud lesbian who performs in Drag, Mr. Tee is passionate about amplifying the work and history of the LGBTQIA+ community. With his title, he wants to be able to create a space for all people to be free to be who they are.

A Philadelphia native, Mr. Tee’s inspiration for his art comes from other Drag Kings such as Lee Hill, Sir SAUVEY, Hannibal Licker, Mo Betta, and Manny Lovette.

Inspired by Daynara Torrez, a Puerto Rican queen who earned the title of Universal Queen in 1993, Nahiara’s name is an homage to Daynara.

Nahiara, a member of the D’Quest house, established herself in a local contest, competing for Miss Quebradilla Gay 2017. Earning the title of Miss. Lancaster Pride 2023, has empowered her to continue the legacy of her drag family, “Casa del Sabor”. She is honored and humbled to be able to represent her Puerto Rican heritage and the LGBTQ+ community that she loves so much.

“When I was little I was afraid of showing who I really was and that led me not to accept and love myself as I am, but ever since a priest friend advised me “You can’t swim against the current, it’s impossible, from that moment on I understood and I began to accept and love myself just the way I am.” D’Quest goes on to explain what the title of Miss Lancaster Pride means to her. “I am an example of many children who at this moment feel the same as I felt in the past. There is nothing wrong with being the way you are and that we should be happy and people have to respect us. as Miss Lancaster Pride is a door that opens for me to continue fighting for our rights in our community and through my Drag we can also raise awareness that Drag is not a crime but is art and also deserves to be respected.”

Earning the title of Miss Congeniality is Icy Hottiee. Miss Congeniality is a coveted title at a beauty pageant. Known by her peers as the most friendly, helpful, genuine and outgoing contestant in the pageant.

Prior to performing in drag, Hottiee felt very uncomfortable in their skin and did everything possible to avoid attracting attention. “When drag found me, it saved my life. The art form is helping me heal the traumas of my life and gives me the ability to express my emotions/feelings in healthy ways,” says Icy Hottie. They describe their aesthetic involving all colors of the rainbow with a focus on reds and blues.

When they are in drag, they want to be seen! Icy Hottiee’s drag persona is essentially a split of two personalities: the soft, sensitive, slow-paced side, and the high energy, vibrant, sensual, fast-paced side.

The community will be seeing Lancaster Pride Royalty at the Pride Festival on Saturday, June 17 at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

In addition to the pageant, performances included:

• Tamia Gisele Mykles
• Amethyst Diamond
• Kendralyiz D’Quest
• Kahmor Vixenn
• Orion Angel
• Nevaeah La Vixenn
• KendraMae Way
• LeXross
• Karma Sutra
• Miss Amie Vanite

The Lancaster Pride Pageant has occurred for 15 years marking the Lancaster Pride Association’s 15 years in the community celebrating of the progress that the local LGBTQ+ community has made toward achieving visibility, acceptance and equality within Lancaster County.

For more photos from the event, CLICK HERE (Facebook).

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