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Miss Gay Arkansas Newsletter

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Vanessa's

Raynebow

February has been filled with an outpouring of love from all over Arkansas, and in spite of being the shortest month it’s been packed full of adventures and great times across our incredible community. 

The big event this month that everyone was excited for was the Taylor Swift viewing party that was constantly being interrupted by a football game! Totally kidding - but as a Swiftie I had to! 

I spent Super Bowl Sunday twirling around Fayetteville, starting at Bugsy’s with Ella Rosa and Sugga Cookies. Owner Melissa Broyles-Langley and Ella Rosa have cultivated a welcoming home environment where the party never stops! After a fabulous brunch it was time to PARTY! A group of local entertainers and friends gathered together at the home of Lady Kakes, where she hosted a hysterically fun Super Bowl party and amazing food! Being surrounded by entertainers, from new artists to MGAR sisters and everything in between, was a beautiful experience. To see our community thrive as friends outside of the performance venues is truly beautiful and often rare. I am happy to see Arkansas standing together and supporting each other as family. Later that night it was time to party at C4 with Taylor Madison Monroe at her Sunday Showcase! 

 

Miss Gay Sweetheart Arkansas America kicked off our Preliminary season for Miss Gay Arkansas America 2024. Needless to say I was nervous, and I am so thankful that I had a support system of sisters and patient promoters and contestants to help along the way. Each of them will always be a part of my journey and have helped shape what the upcoming prelims will look like. For that I thank you! The promoters Janice Marie and Ava Hart put together a spectacular evening for all involved and were honored to see a total of 9 MGAR Forevers in the audience. MGAR 2022 Savvy Savant, 2021 Athena Sinclair, 2016 Charnay Cassadine, 2014 Ambrosia Bordeaux, 2013 Brooklyn Bisette, 2011 Zia D’Yor, 2010 Shawn Tyler Andrews, 1994 April Scott, and 1993 Kelly Cruise! On top of the Forevers, we had several Class of 2023 sisters who came out to support as well, such as Miss Hot Springs Melanie Masters, Miss Fayetteville Gianna Colucci, Miss Capital City Rosetta Stoned, and Miss Central Gigi Galore as a co-host for the event. Of course none of this would have been possible without the incredible and hard working staff at Triniti Nightclub! Ella Rosa and I have grown so close through the year, and she was a beautiful sight to see as we honored her all evening long as the “Jewel of the Sea.” Her reign may be over, but she will forever be a jewel as we continue to add more jewels into the Sweetheart family. A big welcome and congratulations to our newly crowned Miss Gay Sweetheart Arkansas America 2024 Diedra Windsor and her First Alternate Dakota Cummings. I look forward to seeing what these two bring to the stage in September. 

Approaching the end of the month and my time as Miss Kinkead’s 2023, we held a fundraiser at my home bar to support the 2024 Miss Kinkead’s Pageant. Many of you may not know, but Club Kinkead’s holds a lot of history in Arkansas as one of the oldest gay bars in the state. Most remember it as a hallway but they have expanded and now offer two full-service bars; space for pool, darts, and patio games; and a full stage with new sound equipment and lights. I’ve called Club Kinkead’s home since I began my drag career just two short years ago, and they’ve supported me and continue to as my journey continues. Without Club Kinkead’s I would not be where I am today, so I am grateful and honored to give back to the next entertainer to capture the crown. Thank you to all of the entertainers near and far who joined us for a successful night! 

The end of February was pageant time again! I had the honor of serving as the Head Judge for Miss Gay Arkansas USofA Newcomer 2024! This preliminary was brought back by Promoters Michael Fox and Wesley Fox and produced by The Brothers Foxx Productions. It is so exciting to see drag entertainment flourishing and thriving in Arkansas, especially in the world today. Thank you Brothers Foxx for stepping up to the plate and helping support a strong legacy in Arkansas Pageantry. Congratulations to our newly crowned Miss Gay Arkansas USofA Newcomer Tara Hole Royale and her 1st Alternate Amaiyah Foxx Dupree, and wish them luck as they are both off to Nationals!

Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming preliminaries! Miss Gay Central Arkansas America will be held March 3rd at Club Sway in Little Rock, and Miss Gay Hot Springs Arkansas America will be held March 11th at The Vapors in Hot Springs. 

In honor and remembrance of Nex Benedict, tell someone you love them. Nex, I want you and the world to know that you are loved, you are beautiful, you are talented, you are strong. And we are going to show the world! 

 

Vanessa Rayne
Miss Gay Arkansas America 2023

Vanessa.RayneMGAR23@gmail.com

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