Video: Miss Gay Gulf States America 2011 Crowned in Gulfport

Musical hits by Cher, Whitney, Barbara and more echoed throughout the Catherine A. Hickman Theater in Gulfport on Saturday as several divas took to the stage. 

The Miss Gay Gulf States America 2011 Pageant provided show-stopping performances that brought the audience to their feet, ignited laughter and encouraged tipping during some of the highlights. 

“You have to be confident in yourself, you have to have some amount of ham in you and a little bit of ego to actually put yourself out there to do this,” Miss Gay Gulf States America Contestant Blair Williams said.

Three contestants competed for the title Miss Gay Gulf States America: Blair Williams from Savannah Georgia, Victoria DuPuis from Key West, Florida and Jaeda Fuentes from St. Petersburg, Florida. The show included performances by Miss Gay America 2011, 2010 and more from the Miss Gay America family. 

“We enter this because we see the people on stage, we want to be that, we want the applause, we want the lights, we want the attention,” Miss Gay Gulf States America 2010 Chantel Reshae said.

After three hours of dancing, singing and wardobe changes . . . Miss Victoria Dupuis took home the crown with Williams chosen as the first alternate. 

“So excited, this means the world to me, I'm here, surrounded by so much love and so many great people who helped me get here,” Dupuis said.

More than 35 years ago, the Miss Gay America Pageant was born . . . and today, those involved say the competition has become more mainstream and respected.

"The only media attention we were getting were the Jerry Springer queens which are very trashy, now we're so mainstream even Disney capitalizes on it with Mrs. Doubtfire . . . we were always normal in certain pockets and now it’s getting to a broader audience,” Rashae said.

It’s more than the glitz, glamour and spotlights that make up the illusion on stage. 

“If your lucky, you get a voice and then people who would never pay attention to things all of a sudden listen to what you have to say, you can use them for benefits, charities, your personal causes,” Rashae said.

The Miss Gay America Pageant has given performers an opportunity to achieve a dream. 

“It just really takes believing in yourself that’s what the whole system's about is believe you can do it, otherwise. . . what’s the point,” Dupuis

Miss Gay Gulf States America 2011 Victoria Dupuis and First Alternate Blair Williams will both compete at the Miss Gay America 2012 pageant on October 12 - 16, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. The Miss Gay Gulf States America Pageant 2011 was sponsored by Glitzaholic by Q in Dunedin, FL. A special thanks to the Peninsula Inn and Spa in Gulfport.