Crowning a New Queen

Venus O’Hara lip-syncs and accepts tips on Saturday at Serendipity Salon and Gallery in Columbia. O’Hara was the seventh Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America and returned this year to crown the eighth.

Crowning a New Queen

Three candidates, Jennipher Jameson, Mahajanay DeMornay and Roxxy Malone competed in the eighth annual Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America competition on Saturday, Nov 11, 2023. MGMMA is an official preliminary to the 50th Miss Gay Missouri America. Candidates competed in categories like Evening Gowns, Talent, and Stage and Personal Interviews.

“Pageantry is really great because it elevates the art of female impersonation to a different level than just a regular show,” said Venus O’Hara, the seventh MGMMA. “It’s not just three minutes of a bar number, it’s you presenting your absolute best, polished self so that you can make a difference in the world.”

In the end, Mahajanay DeMornay was crowned Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America, with Roxxy Malone winning first alternate.

“I think when it comes down to it, it’s about the heart of it all, and I think all three of them have really, really strong hearts,” said O’Hara.

Published with the Columbia Missourian.

One of the Stage Interview question cards sits on a table next to the Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America crown and sash on Saturday Serendipity Salon and Gallery in Columbia. Candidates are given the opportunity to pick a question blind, and are asked the question twice before answering.

Mahajanay DeMornay dances during the talent portion at the Serendipity Salon and Gallery on Saturday in Columbia. DeMornay’s dance choreography was done entirely by herself.

Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America co-host Sable Sinclair points upwards during one of her two performances on Saturday at Serendipity Salon and Gallery in Columbia. Special entertainment, like Sinclair, were allowed to be tipped, while MGMMA candidates were not.

Venus O'Hara, the 7th Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America, crowns her drag grandmother, Mahajanay DeMornay, as the 8th MGMMA. "In the drag community, you have mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers. These are the people that kind of give you the advice and the courage and lessons the hard lessons of drag as you go through your years," said O'Hara. "Mahajanay is the mother of my drag mother, D'Manda Respect."

Mahajanay DeMornay performs for the first time after being crowned Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 at Serendipity Salon and Gallery in Columbia. Alongside winning MGMMA, she also won the Talent category.