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QUEEN OF THE WHOLE PACIFIC - A VERY QUEER PAGEANT |
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By Angelynne Enoka |
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Event Organiser, Jonathan
Smith and the team this year staged a very queer beauty pageant based
on the Los Angeles AIDS fundraising event in the late 90’s. Attending
the event were MPs Georgina Beyer and Tim Barnett. It was a beauty
pageant glorifying the queer world that Auckland has never seen before
and certainly will never forget.
The event was a beauty pageant comprised entirely of drag queens, each
representing a country from the Pacific Rim. The 30 beautiful girls
represented the nations of the Pacific had been together for the past
couple of months, practising and gearing-up to parade with their own
flare, creativity and inspiration for the big night of this inaugural
event.
Over 500 people at the Skycity Theatre clued to every word said by the
hot and spicy MC, Helen Medlyn, clad in her tuxedo and geled hair-do,
explaining the significance of the pageant.
The opening number had all the contestants on stage in their national
costumes, lip-syncing to Shirley Bassey’s ‘I Am What I Am’, backed-up
by the very popular band ‘Pulse’, along with two muscle boys strutting
their stuff, escorting the ladies down the catwalk.
Guest performer ‘Buckwheat’ entertained the audience with an Indian
number whilst the judges selected the 12 semi-finalists. The
contestants were then invited back to the stage for the announcement,
with Antartica, Australia, Japan, Tahiti, Guam, Mexico, Costa Rica,
USA, Aotearoa, China, Russia and Malaysia qualifying.
The semi-finalists were then interviewed by the MC with the focus
on what they would like to achieve during their reign, should they become ‘Queen
of the Whole Pacific 2004’. ‘Pulse’ entertained the audience with Abba’s ever
popular ‘Dancing Queen’ while the judges selected the top 8 finalists. The
judge’s decisions were based on interview skills, costume and poise.
The 8 finalists were: Antartica, Tahiti, Aotearoa, Russia, Australia, USA and
China. To show their arty designs, the finalists were required to parade the
catwalk wearing national costumes whilst the national anthem of the country they
represented played.
Miss China was disqualified during her |
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Catwalk of Nations at 'Queen of the Whole Pacific', fundraiser
for the NZ Aids Foundation. |
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Miss Aotearoa's Interview/National Costume entry at 'Queen of
the Whole Pacific', fundraiser for the NZ Aids Foundation. |
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Hon. Judith Tizard crowns the winner Miss Russia at 'Queen of
the Whole Pacific', fundraiser for the NZ Aids Foundation. |
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interview as she was caught carrying a
chicken in her bag, as was Miss Australia, who was disqualified by the director
because of her nationality, leaving 6 contestants to compete for the crown.
Miss Japan took the first award of ‘Miss Durex Congeniality 2004’, presented by
Fiona Mackay from Durex.
Guest performer Raymond Morgan hit the floor with ‘Walk like a Man’ followed
shortly by the talent / artistic category, lead by Miss Antartica, who took to
the stage with an original solo piece reflecting life in the Antarctic. Miss
Tahiti rocked the crowd with pacific drums and her own version of a Celine Dion
number, backed by the Tahitian dancing group. Miss USA gave a lively
presentation, capturing the audience with humour. Miss Japan demonstrated her
imaginative flare with her own piece entitled ‘Don’t tell Mummy’, accompanied by
the two muscle boys. Miss Russia’s presentation included a send-up of Olympic
gymnastics events, complete with the accompaniment of two young gymnasts. Miss
Aotearoa further lifted the morale with her poi dance, upholding the kiwi spirit
to farewell the contestants returning to their homelands.
Guest performer, Cindy of Samoa then impersonated Tina Turner with her version
of ‘Simply the Best’, while the remaining girls prepared for their final
interview.
Miss Russia (Ivana Vodkashot), supported by House of Mortgages, took the crown,
with the judges describing her as “full of surprises”. First runner-up went to
Miss Aotearoa (Cheryl Moana Marie), sponsored by Queenie Aotearoa Enterprises
and second runner-up went to Miss USA (Ms Gloriousole), supported by the Next
Door Bar in Hamilton.
All the contestants were invited back to the stage for the finale and to
congratulate the winner of this year’s ‘Queen of the Pacific’.
NZAF Chairman Michael Stevens finished the evening by proudly glorifying the
event and thanking everyone who turned-up, for supporting the NZ Aids Foundation
Association.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd. 2004
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