The afternoon sun reflected the dazzling glitz of the sparkling gowns worn by the contestants of The Miss Fire Island drag pageant, held annually by The Ice Palace on Cherry Grove. The celebrated queens, after spending hours painting and in some cases months preparing for one of the biggest contests in the nation, roamed the Palace with hope and anticipation. The fabulously lavish event was hosted by Ariel Sinclair, Logan Hardcore, and Porsche, accompanied musically by DJ Chuck.
Miss Fire Island at The Ice Palace has always been a venue for illustrious drag queens from all over to compete for cash, prizes, honor, glory and the treasured crown, for some a dream of a lifetime, representing larger-than-life entertainment. Originating in 1966, Miss Fire Island has become a tradition for all to see, with categories including Miss Fire Island, Entertainer of the Year and Ms. Fire Island.
Robert Lassegue, Ice Palace manager and executive producer, along with Ken Braun, entertainment manager, did a sensational job of orchestrating the activities, making sure all ran smoothly and that everyone remained buzzed and happy until the suspenseful announcement of the winners. This year’s victors were Lady Ivana for Mrs. Fire Island, Holly Dae for Entertainer of the year and finally our own Honey Davenport for Miss Fire Island.
I made my way through the tantalizing gown creations, many designed by Michael Perez and Michael Vincent. Some of the contestants included Laydee Alessandra, Honey Davenport, Lady Ivana, LeeLee Heavenly, Anastasia Storm, Zola, Tina Burner, The Countess Mascara, Pearl, Annie Manildoo and so many others. My companions included Jimmy Star and Ron Russell, radio and television masters of the largest Internet show in the world with over four million viewers, who traveled for hours to catch this prestigious event.
Get Out! spoke to winner Honey Davenport and asked her how she felt wearing her bright, new, sparkling crown and title. She had this to say: “Incredible! I did this pageant for the past three years. This place is really near and dear to my heart. It’s like another home for me. I’ve been trying my hardest to really become a strong part of this community, and I feel like this title will give me that opportunity.”
