From DallasVoice.com
You twirl, girl
By Daniel A. Kusner - Life+Style Editor
May 15, 2008 - 4:34:10 PM
Dallas diva Kelexis Davenport busts out her baton for the Miss Gay USofA pageant
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| MISS major—ette:
Kelexis Davenport knows that
bigger can definitely mean better. - DANIEL A. KUSNER/Dallas Voice |
For the next week, y’all don’t want to envy Kelexis Davenport. She’s one of Rose Room’s fiercest emcees, but her life is about to get even more intense. Davenport — and about 40 others — are competing in the Miss Gay USofA pageant, a national showcase of female impersonation that’s held in Dallas right before Memorial Day.
For now, Davenport’s call-it-like-it-is mouth must be harnessed. The competition is so bloodthirsty, she can’t reveal too many details about her gown or talent. She says her gown will rival the cost of a new car. And for her talent portion, she’s hired about two-dozen backup dancers who’ll emulate a high school drum-line that will provide the rhythm as Davenport breaks out a baton and twirls like majorette.
This year, Davenport is one to watch. At previous Miss Gay USofA pageants, she’s helped emcee. But the USofA pageantry system has different layers: “classic” is for contestants 35 years and older; “Mr.” for men competing as men, “At large” is for contestants whose weight must be a minimum of 200 pounds.
When it comes to collecting tiaras, Davenport knows how to win. She’s a former Miss Gay USofA at Large and she’s the reigning Miss Texas FFI at Large and Miss Texas USofA.
The Miss Gay USofA is known as a “skinny girls pageant.” And there’s no question that Davenport doesn’t fit that mold. But her large frame doesn’t slow her down: She’s a whirlwind of energy known to do coochie-slamming splits that make male audience members wince.
Preliminaries for Miss Gay USofA start on Tuesday at the Round-Up Saloon. Each night, groups of contestants rotate gown and talent portions. Final night will be held in the ballroom at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel (the former Adams Mark) — where the Miss Gay USofA 2008 will be crowned.
MISS GAY USoFA SCHEDULE
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• Preliminary nights: May 20-22 at the Round-Up Saloon, 3912 Cedar
Springs Road. $12 per night. Evening gowns at 9 p.m., talent at 10 p.m.
Contestant groups rotate each night.
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• Final Night: Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 North Olive Street. Tickets $40-$75. |
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 16, 2008.
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