Performers took to the stage in a bid to show they had what it takes to take home the title of The Big Drag Pageant winner.
The competition saw 14 uniquely different acts take part in what was Liverpool’s first official drag pageant.
Friday’s show was held at the Baltic Market’s Christmas Spiegeltent and hosted by drag prince, Alfie Ordinary, who was backed by a panel of judges including Coronation Street’s Allison King, Brookside actress Eithne Browne and co-founder of the LCR Pride Foundation, John Bird.
The showcase was made up of a range of characters, such as drag king Sammy Silver, circus performer, The Vicar’s Daughte,r and even queens such as Rodger Witadee, who admitted this was a first official performance.
The contestants themselves included cis-gendered men, women, non-binary and transgender.
Alfie guided the acts through four stages of a runway parade, a talent performance from the top ten, a Q+A segment for the top five and a final performance from the top two.
YouTube: Christopher Megrath
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLZUm_kVDc
After a few hours of glitz, glam and shenanigans featuring confetti cannons, comedy, live singing and a few queens toppling off stage, the final two came down to Sammy Silver and Spanish political act Chorizo May.
Midgitte Bardot was the breakout star as she joined the Sammy and Chorizo for a final performance due to a fierce crowd reaction.
At the end of the evening, Chorizo won by audience cheering with her high-energy comedy routine of a Spanish woman being in the UK, beating Sammy’s comedy routine and Midgitte’s live singing.
Chorizo told JMU Journalism: “I can’t believe it, I’m so happy. I wanted to do a performance based on coming to this country and what it is like as a woman with the current government. I am so happy the crowd enjoyed it and I really can’t believe it.”
Prizes included a crown, a custom-styled wig, a supply of NYX Cosmetics, a professional photoshoot and more.