The Palm Beach Pride Pageant took place last weekend at The Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth Beach. Compass Community Center was the host of the event, as they've done for many years in the past. This year was also a tribute to the former queen and kings. Beloved queens, Melissa St. John and Camille Dior Love, served as MCs.
“We are so excited to have you here tonight at the Lake Worth Playhouse,” said St. John at the time. “The girls have worked hard to put on a great competition for you tonight. So, sit back and relax and prepare to be entertained. Since today is Valentine's Day, we need you to show some love to all the contestants!”
Miss Palm Beach Pride Pageant featured contestants Leila Cox and America Demore for the queens, while William LaPaige competed alone representing the kings. The competitors were judged on four different categories, including presentation, evening gown, Q&A, and talent. For the first category, there was a presentation. Contestants were encouraged to wear either all the colors of the LGBTQ flag or one of them. The queens pulled out all the stops. Contestants wore ensembles that made the Met Gala look like a thrift store. The outfits featured opera-length gloves, feathers, larger-than-life wigs, and a large amount of bling.
One of the highlights of the event is always the much-talked-about talent scene. The queens gave performances that rivaled some of your favorite entertainers. William LaPaige wowed the crowd with a dance routine featuring a black and blue fringe jumpsuit. Cox’s performance showcased her as a brilliant actress. She pretended that she was auditioning for the Rockettes, but she was also dressed as an old lady in her 50s. Cox had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. America Demore gave a Broadway-worthy performance of “I’m Changing” from Dreamgirls. Demore came out dressed as a homeless woman in a robe. By the end of the song, she transitioned into a glamorous gold dress and managed to safely apply a new wig with no mirror, all while performing. Her performance was next level. If you missed the performances, you missed out.
Throughout the night, former queens performed in between scenes to allow the contestants an opportunity to change for the next portion. Audience members were treated to performances by all the former titleholders like Velvet Lenore, Rianna Petrone, Taquoya Love Dupree, Kataleya Davenport, and Tayanna Love. Other special guests include members of the Imperial Sun Court, Compass Community Center, and Inspire Recovery.
The winner of the 2026 Miss Palm Beach Pride is Cox. She not only won the title, but she also took home the award for best Q&A and Talent. Second runner-up went to American Demore, who also won the Evening Gown portion of the pageant. LaPaige earned the Mr. Palm Beach Pride title, marking a milestone as the first African American to hold the crown. That’s quite a historic moment, considering this is Black History Month.
Compass Community Center will present its annual Pride on March 28 and 29. For more information, visit compasslgbtq.com/palmbeachpride/.
