{"id":46537,"date":"2019-04-17T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/juneau-drag-heads-to-national-stage\/"},"modified":"2019-04-18T11:33:17","modified_gmt":"2019-04-18T19:33:17","slug":"juneau-drag-heads-to-national-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/juneau-drag-heads-to-national-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Juneau drag heads to national stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t

Gigi Monroe is going to Hollywood.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The Juneau drag queen will be one of eight competing in a new Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition<\/a> debuting during RuPaul’s DragCon 2019<\/a> in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Monroe is the pageant’s one small-town <\/a>contestant<\/a>. Others hail from Miami, Chicago, Phoenix or the Los Angeles area.<\/p>\n

\"Gigi<\/a>

Gigi Monroe prepares backstage for a Christmas-themed drag show in December 2015. (Juneau Empire File)\n Gigi Monroe prepares backstage for a Christmas-themed drag show in December 2015. (Juneau Empire File)<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t

“The biggest thing I want people to realize is you don’t need to be in L.A. or New York City or Chicago or Miami to have a big impact in drag,” Monroe said in a phone interview with the Capital City Weekly on Wednesday. “I really take that seriously. I’m just incredibly proud to represent my home —even though I’m not from here — I’ve been here six years —it’s definitely my home.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

[Breaking hearts and gender norms<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The pageant is the brainchild of drag queen Alaska, a former “RuPaul’s Drag Race” runner-up and winner of the second reason of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” and the event has an intentionally over-the-top title.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“That makes it a little bit confusing for those of us reading about it here in Alaska,” Monroe said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

RuPaul’s DragCon is a three-day convention celebrating all things drag with both New York and Los Angeles iterations. The upcoming L.A. convention is scheduled for May 24-26, and the new pageant is slated for Sunday, May 26<\/a>. Monroe said streaming or broadcast information hasn’t yet been shared.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Contestants found out they were selected to compete about a week and a half ago, Monroe said, but an official announcement was made earlier this week.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“I was sworn to secrecy at the threat of jeopardizing my candidacy,” Monroe said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Now, Monroe said it’s time to prepare costumes and practice routines.<\/p>\n

\"Gigi<\/a>

Gigi Monroe clutches a bouquet courtesy of organist T.J. Duffy after a St. Patrick’s Day organ concert at the State Office Building, Friday, March 15, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t

Monroe said contestants will square-off in four categories: pre-show interviews, creative costumes, evening gowns and talent. For the latter, Monroe said she plans to stick to the routine that’s allowed her to travel around the country and world.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“I feel like I’ve been working up to this moment the last 15 years I’ve been a drag queen,” Monroe said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

There will be celebrity judges with a $10,000 prize on the line, but Monroe said who exactly those judges will be is still a mystery.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The audience’s make-up is more known.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

[Special St. Paddy’s concert features antique organ and drag queen<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Given the event’s proximity to DragCon, Monroe would expect there to be a lot of drag queens in attendance, which is both good and bad news.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

On one hand, the crowd will be able to appreciate specific elements of the performance. On the other, it means an audience with high expectations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“I would say that’s a lot of pressure,” Monroe said. “Drag fans are a lot more forgiving than drag performers.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\u2022 Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.<\/b><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

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