Miss’d America crowns a new queen in Atlantic City – NJ.com

The Miss’d America pageant returned to Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City Saturday night to crown a new queen of the runway for 2023. After being named first runner-up of the 2022 Miss’d America contest, Miss Elaine vowed to come back this year with a vengeance — and that she did, beating out seven other contestants to take home the top prize.

The Miss’d America pageant — “the one with the D” — is a pageant for drag queens and has raised approximately $500,000 over 31 years for the LGBTQ+ community in South Jersey, Philadelphia, and nationwide.

Miss Elaine, born Scott McMaster, of Pennsylvania, performed a ‘60s-themed dance routine as her talent — but perhaps her true talent was shown off in her evening wear, a copper gown studded with sequins and rhinestones, which she made herself.

In addition to talent and evening wear, competitors also strutted along the runway in creative swim suits and answered an interview question.

Miss Elaine’s interview question was partly a pop quiz of sorts, asking the year the Stonewall Riots happened, as well as what she thought was the most important thing to come out of that time in history.

After answering correctly that the Stonewall Riots started in 1969 — to loud applause from the nearly full Sound Waves theatre as well as from emcee Carson Kressley of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” fame — she continued to explain that that was “really the start of the modern gay rights movement here in America.”

“Without Stonewall, we would not have events like this here in front of us today,” said Miss Elaine.

Miss Venus Mystique, of Philadelphia, was named first runner-up, dancing her way through the talent portion with an alien- and outer space-themed routine, and rocking a form-fitting white evening gown with sequins and feathers.

Miss Maria TopCatt (Anthony Mauriello), currently of Philadelphia but born and raised in South Jersey, was named second runner-up, earning the honor with her dance routine, which she performed to a medley of music including “Rhythm is Going to Get You” by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.

Miss Tiffany Foxxx (Gerald Posey), of Trenton, drew cheers from the crowd with her tribute to Black women in history, in which black and white images of numerous women such as Rosa Parks and Katherine Johnson flashed across the screen as she herself danced to the song “Stand Up” from the movie “Harriet,” dressed as Harriet Tubman.

Another crowd favorite was Miss Sophya Medina (Velsanel Veguilla Navarro), who was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and is currently living in New York, with her energetic Studio 54 themed dance performance.

Other contestants included Miss Jasmin Van Wales (Jasmin James), of the Bronx; The Countess Mascara (Michael Mascari), of New York; and Miss Cleo Phatra (Bobby “Fabulous” Goodrich), of Philadelphia.

Miss’d America 2022 Amanda Porq opened the show with a Jersey Shore/beach-themed dance routine and performed a final dance with a sunset backdrop before crowning Miss Elaine as the new queen.

The contestants and dancers arrived in Atlantic City Friday for the Saturday night competition — with only a day to rehearse for the show, which was written and directed by Mark Dahl.

Among the ten judges for this year’s competition were Philadelphia Gay News editor Mark Segal, AtlantiCare President Lori Herndon, Ms. New Jersey Senior America 2022 BettyJean Pace, Miss’d America 2019 Adriana Trenta, New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian, and Lisa Johnson of Lisa Johnson Communications.

For more images, click on the Miss’d America 2023 photo gallery above.

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Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Lori on Instagram at @photog_lori.

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