MISS HOMECOMING QUEEN CONTEST

 

                                                     By Jeannie Lieberman

     May 26, Cherry Grove

It was that fun season opener at Cherry Grove Community House. How could the season begin without its new annual Homecoming Queen? Without lending her official imprimatur to the opening of all major events in the community?

 

Arts Project members were in high spirits greeting each other, many for the first time this season. The house was filled with royalty, many former HC Queens :Beach DeBris,  Uneeda Dunes, Ivana Cocktail, Luisa Verdi, Lola, Donna Pirhanna, Legs Labohn, Mandi, Cobra, Coco Love, Angela Merci, Urban Sprawl, Joan Van Ness, and more

 

And of course outgoing HCQ 2012 Robyn Kradles…

 

…who quipped when asked how it felt to be over “Its great! I didn’t even pin this (crown) on”

 

No one gets past HCQ Uneeda Dunes till doors officially open (and she’s BIG)!

 

Celebs mingled in the crowd

Rene Flaming

 

HCQ Beach Debris & Cobra

 

HCQ Legs Labohn in a rare smile escorting contestant Shirley Shapiro

 

Ivana Cocktail in biker chic

 

The ever glam Donna Piranha

How many raffle tickets did you want? HCQ Luisa measured for the max.

 

 

The Contestants Arrive:

Robin Banks – “I want to change my life”

 

Shirley Shapiro – “I want to show what an old girl can do”

 

The ever nurturing Mother – “I want to give back to the community”

 

Whore D'Oeuvres of Palace fame: First time entry, “It’s my time”

 

Jo Jo Gerard – long time resident –

 

The Audience

Newlyweds Curtis & Jack reveal who handles the money

 

Martha, her sister & Ellen

 

Les Girls Linda & Barbara

 

Beach DeBris, Lola and Juanita Martini show off new bar tending technique

 

Former Mr. Fire Island Leather BMG’s approach more serious

 

Perhaps because the current Mr. Fire Island Leather 2013 Candido Soares is standing by

 

Backstage

Wizard HCQ Urban Sprawl transforms Bobbie Green into a Panzi

 

Am I seeing double? That’s Bella wannabe Joanne Tavis with the real thing

 

Gotta get down on her knees to be here

 

THE CONTEST

Hosted by Panzi & Bella

 

There they are…………..

 

Or are they???

 

Borrowing from last year’s smash hit Identify Theft theme of the Doctor’s Fund show

Bobbi Hirsch and Joanne Tavis became Panzi & Bella

 

Double Vision!!! The Real Thing – nice try gals

 

Bella prefers the “other ‘ Panzi!

 

HCQ Robyn croons her swan song “I thought about you” to the enthralled crowd of devoted subjects.

 

Robin Banks: “I woke up like this. If elected I’ll rule with an iron fist – first one to get it – Bruce Michael” (???)

Jo Jo Girard, Grove historian from1928-1982 (the years she’s been here??)

 

Newbie Juanita Martini – needs a little work —“I believe this is where the angels live;”

(That’s the adorable Anita helping out in the back)

 

The gorgeous Whore D'Oeuvres wants it “because it’s not the Pines”

 

The ever expansive Mother had the best motives: One thing I can hope to accomplish is to t try to establish ourselves as the leading gay community and do it in a way to give back to the community “

 

Official photog Lorraine and Joan eating it up!

 

…and then it was Shirley Shapiro’s turn

 

contestants Jo Jo Gerard, Robin Banks, Whore D'Oeuvre & Shirley Shapiro, MC Panzi & Bella, & contestants Juanita Martini & Mother

 

After a close run off – repeated twice for accuracy between newcomer stunningly statuesque Whore D'Oeuvre and community favorite Shirley Shapiro (you can’t make these names up, folks – and they say it all)

 

The  winner is…Shirley Shapiro

 

Robyn said she warned the contestants about crown-ready hair but no one listened!

 

“As Homecoming Queen, I would like to do a little something extra to save the Community House.”

 

Partner Donald (Sister Sylvia Shapiro) will have a ball designing all those gowns for those Royal Command Appearances.

 

  LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!