# Miss Continental

Miss Continental is an annual drag queen pageantry system founded in 1980 by Jim Flint. The pageant itself takes place at the Baton Show Lounge in Chicago, Illinois, and is usually held over Labor Day weekends.

## History

Jim Flint organized the first Miss Continental Pageant in 1980. He started the competition as an inclusive pageant for all female impersonators, including those who have taken hormones or had surgical enhancements.
The first competition had 14 contestants. Ten years later in 1990, there were 44 contestants and 25 preliminaries in the United States.

## Competitions

Also known as the Continental Pageantry System, the pageant features different competitions.
* Miss Continental Plus debuted in 1991, a pageant for competitors weighing 225 lb (102 kg) or more.
* Miss Continental Elite was created in 2004 for entertainers who are over the age of 40.
* Mr. Continental was formed in 2003 for male entertainers.
* Mr. and Miss Continental Newcomer was added in 2023.
Formerly, both Miss Continental Plus and Miss Continental Elite had been held each year over the Easter weekend, in Chicago; now all are held during the Labor Day weekend.
Contestants show five looks and a talent. More than 40 preliminary competitions occur around the world, with finalists arriving in Chicago for the event.

## Winners

Sources
Legend: † indicates that the contestant is deceased.
| Year | Miss Continental | Miss Continental Plus | Miss Continental Elite | Mister Continental | Miss Continental Newcomer | Mr. Continental Newcomer |
| 1980 | Chilli Pepper † | | | | | |
| 1981 | Heather Fontaine | | | | | |
| 1982 | Tiffany Arieagus | | | | | |
| 1983 | Chena Black | | | | | |
| 1984 | Cherine Alexander † | | | | | |
| 1985 | Maya Douglas | | | | | |
| 1986 | Tandi Andrews † | | | | | |
| 1987 | Dana Douglas | | | | | |
| 1988 | Kelly Lauren | | | | | |
| 1989 | Lakesha Lucky | | | | | |
| 1990 | Chanel Dupree | | | | | |
| 1991 | Amber Richards † | Ginger Grant † | | | | |
| 1992 | Mimi Marks | Denise Russell | | | | |
| 1993 | Monica Munro | Lady Catiria † | | | | |
| 1994 | Cézanne | Erica Christian | | | | |
| 1995 | Lady Catiria † | Carmella Marcella Garcia † | | | | |
| 1996 | Paris Frantz | Victoria Le Paige | | | | |
| 1997 | Tasha Long | Dena Cass | | | | |
| 1998 | Michelle Dupree | Santana T. Summers † | | | | |
| 1999 | Tommie Ross | Terri Williams | | | | |
| 2000 | Danielle Hunter | Tumara Mahorning | | | | |
| 2001 | Candis Cayne | Angel Sheridan | | | | |
| 2002 | Yoshiko Oshiro | Chevelle Brooks | | | | |
| 2003 | Erika Norell | Victoria Parker | | Carl Harris (Dethroned) Ray Matthews | | |
| 2004 | Erica Andrews † | Anjelica Sanchez | Nikki Adams | Antonio Edwards | | |
| 2005 | Domanique Shappelle | Amaya | Barbara Herr | Tony Desario | | |
| 2006 | Victoria Le Paige | Desiree DeMornay † | Maya Douglas | Simba Hall | | |
| 2007 | Necole Luv Dupree | Tajma Hall † | Danielle Hunter | Rasean Montrese | | |
| 2008 | Tulsi | Mercedes Tyler | Angel Sheridan | David "Freklz" Hunter | | |
| 2009 | Armani | Coco Van Cartier | Michelle Fighter | Christopher Iman | | |
| 2010 | Mokha Montrese | Roxxxy Andrews | Electra | Nick Gray | | |
| 2011 | Alexis Gabrielle Sherrington | Chelsea Pearl † | Daesha Richards | Phillip Alexander | | |
| 2012 | Sasha Colby | Tanisha Cassadine † | Dana Douglas | Angel Saez | | |
| 2013 | Naysha Lopez | Whitney Paige † Farra N. Hyte | Kourtney Paige Van Wales | Kalil Valentino | | |
| 2014 | Brooke Lynn Hytes | Tahjee Iman | Lady Charisse Estrada † | Joey Taylor | | |
| 2015 | Tiffany T. Hunter | Kofi | Chantal Reshae | Mykul J. Valentine | | |
| 2016 | Jazell Barbie Royale | Natasha Douglas | Teryl Lynn Foxx | Antwuan Steele | | |
| 2017 | Shantell D’Marco | Keke Velazquez-Lord | Fontasia L'Amour | Ramon Ventura | | |
| 2018 | Stasha Sanchez | Chy'enne Valentino | Lorna Vando Misty Knight (Honorary) † | Sir Valentino | | |
| 2019 | Vanessa Van Cartier | Darcel Stevens | A'zsia Dupree | Desi M. Andrews | | |
| 2020 | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | | |
| 2021 | | Britney Taylor | Yosmein C. Starr | | | |
| 2022 | Juliana Rivera | Rachel Meredith | Layla LaRue | Travis Stancil | | |
| 2023 | Sunny Dee-Lite | Lindsay Paige | Taylor St. James | Syvon Sinatra | | |
| 2024 | Zhané Dawlingz | Alvion Arnell Davenport | Lee Ann Feathers / Honorary Fantasia Dior | Noel Anaya | Dominink | Dioscar Montesino |
| 2025 | Raquell Lord | | | Raul Griffith-Valentin | | |

## Popular media

The Queens, a documentary directed by Mark Saxenmeyer, premiered in 2020 and focused on the 2011 competition.