Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2008

Sequins bedazzle the evening gowns. Poise falters during the on-stage question. Vibrant talent wows the enraptured audience. But only one beauty is awarded the glittering tiara: Here she comes...Miss Gay America! The Miss Gay America pageant, held since 1973, is all about the art of illusion: all contestants are female impersonators, and the use of female hormones or surgical body enhancement is forbidden. There are only fifty coveted spots, and the competition is—-unsurprisingly-—fierce. A charming, behind-the-scenes documentary, PAGEANT follows a handful of contestants passionately vying for the ultimate title. They may be flight attendants, Disney theme-park employees, or backup singers in their regular lives, but as one contestant asserts: “I’m able to make the most of what I’ve got when I’m in drag.” Ultimately, they all share the same dream: to be crowned as the one and only Miss Gay America.