Gadrie Arbulu is the latest winner of Miss Florida F.I., a prestigious pageantry title. Arbulu, from Maryland, took home the crown and the $5,000 top prize. She's no stranger to pageant titles: winning 1st Alternate to Miss Continental in 2022, 1st Alternate to Miss First Lady Continental in 2016, and Miss Glamorous Newcomer in 2014.
Now in its 52nd year, the groundbreaking contest provides a pivotal platform for the drag and transgender communities. This year’s event at The Venue on Wilton Drive was no exception.
“The contestants were all very good,” said Alyson Thomas, the Miss Florida F.I. Organizer. "The crowd was thoroughly entertained both nights. Our judges did a good job. I think we had the correct winners. We ended up with a very good, diverse court for this year. They're all hungry and eager to help us grow the system."
Growing the system is how the other categories – Miss Florida F.I. Supreme, Mr. Florida, and Miss Florida F. I. at Large came to exist. They expand the pageant categories to include older and plus size contestants, as well as men.
“Those divisions were added to keep up with the times and with the changing times in pageantry," Thomas said.
Daesha Richards took home the top honor for Miss Florida F.I. Supreme. She's the 2020 Miss Renaissance winner. The Atlanta resident also won Miss Royal Continental in 2015.
Isaiah Sanchez Hilton won Mr. Florida. The Tampa-based entertainer has many titles, including 2022 Mr. New Orleans, 2021 Mr. Peach State, and 2020 Mr. North America.
Jelitza Fierce was crowned Miss Florida F. I. at Large. Like Hilton, she's based in Tampa. This is her fourth national title, having been crowned Miss Renaissance Plus in 2018, National Showgirl at Large 2019, and All American Goddess at Large 2023. But winning last month's pageant is a special honor for Fierce.
"I get to represent Florida, where I actually live," she said. "So this is the first title based in Florida that I have won. So it's very exciting. We are planning to expand this pageant and bring back preliminaries."
The pageant took place as drag performers and transgender people continue to come under attack in Florida and nationally. Amid the troubling times, the show featured powerful performances. The organizers say putting on Miss Florida is an enormous task, and describe it as a labor of love.
"It truly takes a village to put this together," said Thomas. "When you're entrusted with a legacy pageant like Miss Florida, you can't quit, you can't stop. So we have to constantly strive to keep up with the times and keep up with the changes in our community, and to make people know that when this event comes, it's something you don't want to miss."
