As many would say, “Pageant Life Is A Gamble,” when it comes to entering any pageant contest.

Mizz Out South Florida was established to be nothing like any other pageant in South Florida. In 2023, mainstream media provided coverage of our drag and trans artist community, referring to them as derogatory statements, that the team of OutSFL needed to find a way to showcase what’s being hidden in plain sight. 

Without the assistance of our performers, many of our nonprofit agencies would not exist as we know them today. How many drag bingo nights, charity auctions, or 50/50 raffles have we all participated in over the last 20-plus years? Dozens upon dozens of these activities, all produced by our entertainers to keep the doors open, and for many decades, we have relied on those performers to assist us with critical fundraising. Out South Florida Newspaper and Magazine salutes those who provide this level of support to the community we all serve. 

This year’s festivities were brought to you by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale, a major supporter of the LGBTQ community at large. “It is important to the Grieco Family that they support the community in their backyards, which provides a diverse and welcoming experience at our dealerships,” said Louis Izquierdo, GM of Grieco Ford Fort Lauderdale.  

Aquaplex was the host of this year’s event, providing us with a complete and ready-to-go venue to showcase everything we had in store. Contestants are judged in the following categories. First, “Presentation and Advocacy,” which consisted of contestants showcasing themselves and the nonprofit they are representing. The core requirements were to have the nonprofit in South Florida, tell us about the mission and services, and follow up with how they impacted your life. It’s a crucial moment for contestants, as this category and another are our Pageant's cornerstones. 

Next was the “Talent” portion of the evening, where the contestants got to showcase exactly why we love them in the first place. Finally, our “Evening Wear and Question and Answer” category always brings the best of each contestant with gowns that blow anyone out of the water and poised with questions about volunteer service in our community. 

While some may not fully understand the difference between us and many other systems, it is our focus on what the performers bring to the table for the community that separates our pageant from others. A special focus is placed on their volunteer work and giving back to the community they serve, and are not allowed to enter without providing service hour details.

This year’s pageant featured Velvet Lenore, reigning Queen, Tayanna Love, first runner-up, Lupita Hollywood, second runner-up, Angie Ovahness Pryce, Marsha P. Johnson Award of Excellence, and Leila Cox of the Imperial Court. While I have had the opportunity to get to know many of the contestants personally, there is nothing more exciting than the start of the night and kicking off the Pageant with “Presentation and Advocacy.”

This year's judging panel featured our head judge, Kevin Scott, returning judges Chris Rhoades and Morgan Mayfaire, and new to the panel Joanna James and FayWhat?! (Fay Albernas), who have assisted organizations throughout their lives as well. Judges never have it easy when judging our Pageant. Our judges are given the freedom to judge as much as possible without interruptions from the pageant creators or founders. We stand fully by the scores from our panel and have even published this year's scoring for transparency. 

Another year has now passed as Velvet Lenore takes her reign, and we bid farewell to our founding queen, Erika Norell. Norell’s reign, while coming to an end, is only the beginning of what her future has in store. Where will I see Erika next? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Erika has left her mark on our pageant system, and she will forever go down in our hearts as our first Queen.

Stay tuned for future announcements and fundraisers as we explore new opportunities with our community partners. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to donate to the Out South Florida Melissa St. John College Student Scholarship. Your donation allows us to fulfill the dreams of our future leaders.  

Thank you for allowing the OutSFL team and me to serve the community of South Florida. See you soon!