Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

THIRD ANNUAL MISS GAY MELROSE AMERICA PAGEANT ANNOUNCED 

Six Valley Drag Queens Compete for Cash, Prizes and The Crown, Saturday, March 7

PHOENIX – February 17, 2020 – Producers Morgan Pearce and Jay Foster today announced the third annual Miss Gay Melrose America (MGMA) preliminary pageant, to be held at The Rock Pavilion, March 7, 2020. MGMA is one of six Arizona-based preliminary pageant sanctioned by the Miss Gay America pageant and the only one held in Phoenix’s iconic and historic Melrose District. The Rock Pavilion is located adjacent to The Rock, located at 4129 North 7th Avenue. All fundraising efforts for the pageant are donated to The Vivre Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides quality housing to help people at risk transition back into society.

“This year’s theme is FIRE & ICE and it is truly a performing arts competition focusing on beauty, talent and intrigue,” said Co-Producer and Executive Director, Morgan Pearce. “Our contestants know their performances have to be over-the-top, in terms of production, not only because we’ve earned the reputation as the biggest and most well-attended preliminary pageant in Phoenix, but also because last year’s Miss Gay Melrose America, Espressa Grande, went on to win the Miss Gay Arizona America pageant and won her group’s competitions for both talent and interview and was a Top 10 finalist.”

The 2020 MGMA pageant honors Grande and her #elevatedyou platform as she steps down from her current reign. It begins at 6:00 pm, immediately following the Melrose on 7th Avenue Street Fair, boasting more than 30,000 in attendance. It’s hosted by Savanah Stevens, (Miss Gay Scottsdale America 2016, Miss Gay Copper City America 2015 and Miss Gay Phoenix America 2014), and Nevaeh McKenzie, (Miss Gay Phoenix America 2015, Miss Gay Arizona America 2015 and Top 5 Miss Gay America 2016). There are also special appearances by other notable Arizona drag queens, including 2018 Miss Gay Melrose America, Piper M’Shay, 2019 MGMA first alternate Kadee Christian Starr, Celia Putty and more. This year’s special guest is Benji Solano, known as Ginger Minj, a contestant in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 and cast member of Netflix’s AJ and the Queen.

Contestants for MGMA will be announced, later this month, and all contestants will participate in the Stacy’s Follies drag shows, held at Stacy’s @ Melrose, 4343 North 7thAvenue, every Sunday, throughout the year. The winner’s prize package includes a signature award, $500 in cash and a $1,000 competition allowance to be used toward the Miss Gay Arizona America pageant, as well as a custom sash and crown. The first alternate will receive the signature award, $250 in cash and a $1,000 competition allowance to be used for the state pageant.  

Tickets are now on sale at Eventbrite.com. General Admission tickets cost $20, reserved seats are $25 and tickets for VIP Seating, which includes a meet-and-greet with Ginger Minj, are $50, (four VIP passes cost $175 and six VIP passes cost $250).  

Co-Producer Jay Foster adds, “Our ultimate goal is always to coach, support and usher our winners to the State and National pageants, creating more positive exposure for our pageant and the Melrose neighborhood, as a whole. We know that this pageant is clearing the path to Melrose becoming a more vibrant, integrated and safe haven for Phoenix LGBTQ residents, visitors and allies - comparable to Hillcrest, in San Diego, Boys Town, in Chicago, WeHo, in Los Angeles, and Castro, in San Francisco.”

Sponsors for MGMA include: The Rock, Open Wide Dental, Smirnoff, Hensley Beverage Company/Bud Light, Paulann Egelhoff Photography, Stacy’s @ Melrose, Pat O’s Bunk House, Phoenix Coqui, Ion Arizona, Miss Gay Arizona America. Details are available at: http://missgaymelroseamerica.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/570237606850990/.