AMATEUR DRAG PAGEANT CROWNS MISS ISLAND QUEEN

CORAL CRAZE

EVENT RAISES $55K FOR SAMUEL’S HOUSE

There weren’t any kids in the audience, but there were plenty of drag queens — amateur and professional — on stage at Key West Theater on May 23.

The second annual Miss Island Queen amateur drag pageant raised $55,374 for Samuel’s House women’s shelter and had the crowd in hysterics.

The event was created by Samuel’s House board member Kirby Myers, owner of Kirby’s Closet, who emceed the event with her husband, the Key West Weekly’s own Britt Myers.

Each of the six contestants was paired with a professional drag queen who coached them in style, wardrobe, makeup, talent and over-the-top personalities.

The audience voted with their wallets, throwing money on the stage and writing checks to Samuel’s House on behalf of one or more contestants.

At the end of it all, business owner Casey Arnold — aka “WyMOANa Juggs” — was crowned the 2023 Miss Island Queen under the guidance of his coach, Sushi.

The event and the $55,374 that was raised to help women and families in Key West wouldn’t have been possible without the enthusiasm of each contestant, their coach, the Samuel’s House staff, board members and former contestants.

2023 CONTESTANTS

• Casey Arnold aka “WyMOANa Juggs” and coach Sushi

• Beth Moyes aka “Clutch Mashaft” and coach Jessica Deveraux

• Tom Dustin aka “Lucille Ballz” and coach Puddin’ Taine

• Dorian Patton aka “DeeDee Royale” and coach Hugh Janus

• Andrew Morawski aka “Poetic Pussycat” and coach Blu Diamond

• DJ Sanaris aka “Rizzo Vybez” and coach QMitch

1. Casey Arnold aka ‘WyMOANa Juggs’ celebrates his crowning achievement as 2023 Miss Island Queen. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

2. The 2023 Miss Island Queen pageant and its amateur drag contestants raised $55,374 for the nonprofit Samuel’s House women’s shelter that helps local women and families.

3. Dorian Patton aka ‘DeeDee Royale’ plays to the crowd.

4. DJ Sanaris aka ‘Rizzo Vybez’ struts his stuff.

5. On stage, contestant Andrew Morawski, aka ‘Poetic Pussycat,’ is showered with donations from 2022 contestant Bill Lay, who reprised his 2022 drag character as the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis.’

6. Liz Love, Samuel’s House board member, sweeps up buckets of donations.