The fourth annual Dude Look Like A Lady womanless pageant fundraiser took place on Oct. 21 at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre, raising a record total of over $40,000 for the Kimmunity Angels.
Ten contestants strutted across the stage in heels to raise money to help seriously ill people in the community who have trouble affording medication, equipment and transportation.
“It was fantastic, the audience as always was very supportive of the guys because they know they’re doing something out of their comfort zone,” says Donna Slavik, pageant organizer and Kimmunity Angels Society founder. “They were applauding, clapping, and cheering them on to encourage them.”
The total raised by the contestants was $25,861. Another $15,000 was added to the total fundraised amount from ticket sales, calendar sales and auctions.
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Each contestant was asked to raise $250 in pledges as part of their entry fee, but all surpassed that goal by extraordinary amounts.
Peter Versteege, known as Miss Razzle Dazzle in the pageant, fundraised $8,600. Brent Schmidt, Miss Aqua Gina, fundraised about $7,000.
“They all went above and beyond,” Slavik says. “The guys always bring their own energy, their own talent — that’s all theirs. They bring that creative energy.”
Performing to a sold-out crowd, contestants competed in three categories: evening gowns, the talent portion and in swimsuits.
Four judges, including Terrace’s own drag queen Luna Saffron, evaluated the participants and announced Kenny Giesbrecht (Ima Tucker) as the Miss Dude 2019 winner, with Bevan Sweeney (Miss Carly Caves) as the runner-up.
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The show was noted as another successful year and Slavik says she looks forward to the next one, which will take place on Oct. 17, 2020.
“The community gets great entertainment and when they’re buying their tickets, this supports somebody that’s dealing with a serious illness so they’re providing a wheelchair or any type of medical equipment.”
natalia@terracestandard.com
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Contestant Miss Razzle Dazzle (Peter Versteege) performs in the pageant. He fundraised the most with $8,600. (Natalia Balcerzak/Terrace Standard)
(Natalia Balcerzak/Terrace Standard) (Natalia Balcerzak/Terrace Standard)
(Natalia Balcerzak/Terrace Standard)
Kenny Giesbrecht (Ima Tucker) was crowned as the Miss Dude 2019 winner on Oct. 19 in the fourth annual Dude Looks Like A Lady womanless pageant at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre. (Natalia Balcerzak/Terrace Standard)
