Embracing Diversity, Celebrating inclusion:
Every face, every voice, every story
The SWVA Pride Pageant is a gender-inclusive drag pageant for contestants who believe in the power and importance of community service. Our pageant winners are more than title holders. They live and breathe the Spirit of Pride. They envision a world in which all LGBTQIA+ people are affirmed, respected, and included — free from any discrimination, rejection, or prejudice. They commit their volunteer work, time, and energy to the SWVA Pride mission to enrich, empower, strengthen, and make more visible the lives and experiences of LGBTQ people in southwest Virginia and beyond.
About the new pageant system...
•This year’s SWVA Pride Drag Pageant will be held on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 from 7pm-11pm, at the Vinton War Memorial. as a component of the 2024 SWVA Pride FEST on the Festival Stage, in order to increase community participation, encourage broader community awareness of drag art forms, and broaden exposure of the talented pageant contestants.
•The SWVA Pride Pageant follows suit in-line with our commitment toward intentional inclusion and visibility. We have combined usually previously separate pageant contests, with each titled contest which will be open to all performers regardless of gender.
•Up to Three winners will be selected and will equally reign as the SWVA Pride Court: Mx. SWVA Pride, Miss. SWVA Pride, and Mr. SWVA Pride.
Titles&
Prizes
SWVA PRIDE CONTESANT AGREEMENT
MISS. SWVA PRIDE
·Miss SWVA Pride is open to any Cis Female, Drag Queen, Transgender Female, or Female identifying individual.
Prizes
•Cash prize of $200.00, (Cash prize awarded as follows – $100.00 upon winning, $100.00 upon completion of her reign)
•an official crown
•Sash
• Photoshoot provided by a local photographer.
•Flowers
•personalized merch on SWVA Pride Website (benefits SWVA Pride)
•Perform on the SWVA Pride Stage at Pride Fest and After Party
MR. SWVA PRIDE
·Mr. SWVA Pride is open to any Cis Male, Drag King, Transgender Male, or Male identifying individual.
Prizes
•Cash prize of $200.00, (Cash prize awarded as follows – $100.00 upon winning, $100.00 upon completion of his reign)
•an official medallion
•Sash
• Photoshoot provided by a local photographer.
•Flowers
•personalized merch on SWVA Pride Website (benefits SWVA Pride)
•Perform on the SWVA Pride Stage at Pride Fest and After Party
MX. SWVA PRIDE
·Mx SWVA Pride is for individuals who identify as non-binary.
Prizes
•Cash prize of $200.00, (Cash prize awarded as follows – $100.00 upon winning, $100.00 upon completion of their reign)
•an official medallion
•Sash
• Photoshoot provided by a local photographer.
•Flowers
•personalized merch on SWVA Pride Website (benefits SWVA Pride)
•Perform on the SWVA Pride Stage at Pride Fest and After Party
*Prizes and cash Prizes are subject to change without notice. The minimum cash prize for each winner shall be a minimum of $200.00 as stated above in the official prize package.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
·Contestants must be 18 years of age or older. (Proof of age is required).
·There is a $50 application fee due at the time of applying.
·The competition is focused to individual's primarily in the SWVA region, but is open open to Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carlina and Tennessee residents.
·Mr. SWVA Pride is open to any Cis Male, Drag King, Transgender Male, or Male identifying individual.
·Mx SWVA Pride is for individuals who identify as non-binary.
·Miss SWVA Pride is open to any Cis Female, Drag Queen, Transgender Female, or Female identifying individual.
·Contestants will be judged in the following categories: Creative Costume, Talent, and Question and Answer.
·The Talent competition is limited to a maximum of 5 minutes. Contestants who exceed the time limit will be given a score of zero. Each contestant is given an additional 1 minute for set up and 1 minute for breakdown of props. The additional time may not be added to the performance time.
·Any contestant, or person affiliated with a contestant, who misappropriates the property of another contestant, violates any law regarding the abuse of alcohol or drugs, or is caught in the act of stealing will be disqualified and removed from the location of the competition. Unsportsmanlike conduct by a contestant or contestant’s entourage (dresser, dancer) before, during, or after the competition will not be tolerated and is subject to immediate dismissal from the venue and competition.
·It is further understood that by signing and submitting this application, contestants and the contestant’s entourage (dresser, dancers) will take responsibility for any damage (should it occur) to event venue before, during, or after the competition.
•On the day of competition, each contestant will receive 100 administrative points upon arrival. Any contestant who arrives late will be deducted 10 points for every 5 minutes of tardiness.
·At no time during the competition shall a contestant or their helper(s) receive a gratuity of any kind during their time on stage.
·Each contestant will be allowed ONLY one (1) dresser at any given time. Contestants must remain in the assigned area at all times. Five Administrative points will be deducted from contestants who do not remain in the designated area. Dressers and Dancers as well as any other helpers with a contestant must pay at the front door before being allowed access to the dressing room.
·Each contestant who has back-up dancers or prop support staff shall be allowed to have them get ready 2 numbers prior to the talent performance. The contestant coordinator will strictly enforce this rule.
·Contestants are permitted to provide individual walking music for the category of *Creative Costume.