Rock Candy

Michael Brown, a longtime manager at Discovery and a DJ who goes by nom de turntables Mandonna, thinks he might be the only straight promoter of Miss Gay USA in the country. “The art of female impersonation” is how he describes it, but some of the contestants might take issue with that characterization. Like RuPaul once pointed out, “How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs and skintight dresses?” Not to delve too deep in semantics: This is men dressing up as women and competing in a contest that adheres to the traditional pageant formula. Pre-show, contestants participate in an interview with judges. At the event, queens battle it out, gracefully, in an evening gown section, a talent portion and an onstage question. The winner of this event goes on to compete in Miss Gay Arkansas, which, of course, sends a finalist to Miss Gay USA. RK Collections sponsors and contributes its fashion show expertise to the production. Brown says if this event goes well, he hopes to hold a monthly dance event geared to the gay community at Revolution.