We have reached the last month of the year! This can mean the end of something, the beginning of something, or... both! It just kind of depends on what you make of it.

I didn't end up having prelims this month and I got to spend a lot of time with my family and it was rejuvenating for my soul. Christmas🎄 time is beautiful and special for so many reasons but, when you have a kid, it just hits different. Getting to make them feel special and loved and believe in the magic of Santa 🎅🏻...instill the sense of family with traditions and togetherness. IDK, I just love it.

With the colder ❄️ weather we have been having, I have been sick 🤧 a lot. I'm a bit of a germaphobe and wash my hands constantly and I feel it's like it has weakened my immune system. Plus there is A LOT of illnesses going around. I've been taking daily mens gummy vitamins, zinc, drinking Emergen C and Liquid IV's, and lots of Mucinex 😷 (LOL). Stay healthy out there and take a break when your body tells you to.

After Christmas, came my son's birthday 🎂. He turned 7 and we took him and 3 friends to Great Wolf Lodge and let me tell you 😅 he had a BLAST but I am glad that I only have one child to look after (LOL) Then the following Sunday, we hosted a party 🎉 at our house for our family and friends and it was great! We brought in the New Year with just the three of us at our house and it was perfect!

What's next? Mexico in early January, then nationals!
I am contestant 21 and I cant wait to represent Missouri at MGA, wish me luck!  I hope to see many of you in Arkansas.  If you can't join us, you can watch online (more information in Miss Gay America social media).

After nationals, I have 2 preliminaries scheduled: City of Fountains (Sun Jan 26- please note the new date!) and Mid-Missouri (Sat Feb 08).  Details in Preliminaries

Xoxo, MGMA 💋
The 50th 👑
​Viv 💕

Someone has the fast-forward button pressed on my life lol! I swear! It's going by SO fast, and I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I had two amazing preliminaries this month. One being my step-down for Miss Gay Springfield, and it was lovely. I had the privilege to present one of my dearest sisters with the sisterhood award. It went to the person who helped me in my preparations for MGMA, and coincidentally, it went to the person that I crowned that evening, Miss Priscilla. We started our drag journey together, competed against each other at MGMA multiple times. She’s dressed me for my first national pageant and when I won MGMA. She is now Miss Gay Springfield America and on her way to state with an amazing first alternate, Chevelle Chardonnay. She is so sweet and does a lot for her community, and I admire her philanthropy work! They will be a great team at state, full of heart and fire!
Up next, I had Miss Gay City of Columbia, and I had such a blast! The venue was absolutely beautiful and had adequate space for everything we needed. It was run very smoothly; hats off to Trent Rash and Veronika Versace! Phenomenal job. Columbia feels like a second home to me because of the people that live there and how they make me feel when I’m there. I got to see Athena Voce as she was a judge, and she showed me how to pin my crown in a way the pins wouldn’t show and make it more secure, and she was RIGHT lol. It didn’t move. She also tipped me during my performances and told me she loved me and that I was doing a great job. To experience that from someone I’ve looked up to for a long time is surreal and it made me feel as if I was on top of the world. Validation from your peers and formers always feels good, but when it’s coming from a legend, that’s something else. I admire the sense of community and SISTERHOOD that Miss Gay City of Columbia has. They all show up and are there for each other. I love it. Congratulations to Liz Anya for a great showing as your first alternate, and congratulations to your new Miss Gay City of Columbia, Penelope Booze. Can’t wait to watch you at state!
We ended November with a bang and had a fundraiser for MGMA at Hamburger Mary’s. I got to kiki with some amazing sisters such as Lexxus Chaney, Melinda Ryder, Sparkle Iman, Kyla Breeze, Christa Collins, and Tajma Stetson! We helped raise over $2,500 and had an absolute blast doing it! It was so nice to bond and make memories with these KC legends.

November seemed to start off on a somber note with the election, and personally, it was a rough month for me with lots of changes and emotion, but you know what they say…what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. I’m feeling stronger than ever, baby, it was a rough month, but blessed and GRATEFUL to still be here and buckled up for the rest of the ride.
Nationals is coming right up, and the pressure is on! I’m excited but nervous.

Our next preliminary is December 15th, Miss Gay City of Fountains America. Hope y’all can join us!
Until next time, lovelies…
Xoxo, The 50th, MGMA 2024,
​Viv 💋

This post covers both September and October.  The season is in full swing, life has been busy and I am about to tell you all about it! Besides, I heard a quote on Princess Diaries once and I will apply it to this: "The Queen is never late, everyone else is simply early."

SEPTEMBER

There’s something about September that just hits different for me. The weather starts to change. My birthday approaches. My son is back in school. Change can be such a beautiful thing. In fact I've learned that in life, it's the only consistent thing. Friends come and go and sometimes it's not as upsetting as it once would have been. Life can change so quickly.

The summer flew by and I've been so busy. We didn't get the opportunity to take a summer vacation with our son and we really needed some quality bonding family time. With being MGMA, obviously,I am very busy and my family has been placed on the back burner so it was nice to have a reset and enjoy each other. We went to Universal Studios and Laguna Beach. It was absolutely beautiful and we had an amazing time.

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary. Amongst the sunshine there were somber moments: we experienced the tragic loss of a dear friend, Suzanne Shay. She was the woman that married my husband and I in 2013 and she's always remained a close friend. Coming to support drag shows, helping Tyson with his camp for neglected and abused children. She was such a giving soul and it was so sad to hear about her lost battle with cancer. We're taking comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain and is resting in paradise and watching over us.

I oversaw my second preliminary and qualified two AMAZING contestants with the comeback of Miss Gay Northwest America. Congratulations to Heather Fellas and her first alternate Lorilie! This team is going to slay at state and I'm so excited to witness it. We have (hopefully) 8 more preliminaries to qualify a total of 20 contestants this season. That is my goal and I've been working to ensure it happens! October is next and there's about 6 months left to my reign. So much more in store!

OCTOBER

October, my love. Our time has come and gone. You were filled with so much celebration, joy, and abundance and it's a shame I won't see you for another year. I always love the change of the weather and upcoming holidays are on the horizon. My favorite holiday (my birthday) was this month. I turned my annual 27 in my mind but in real life I guess you could say that I am 34 now. I threw a small little shindig at my house with a few friends and a lot of family and even had a special surprise of one of my favorite humans on earth coming to visit me, my cousin. We grew up together but we have never had the privilege of living in close proximity. Seeing each other every 5 years or so but always remaining together in spirit. Now that we are adults we see each other more often and it's so nice. She is just one of my tribe but I love her so much and it was a lovely surprise. I had amazing food cooked by the master chef of the family, my stepdad Ralph. It was to die for. I also had a permanent jewelry vendor, a Botox injector, a tattoo artist and a tarot card reader. We set up little stations in different areas of my house and just indulged and ate and laughed and celebrated the night away. I felt so loved and special. Thank you to my amazing husband for putting such an extravaganza on for me. 34 is definitely one for the books. With age comes wisdom and I'm feeling so clear and focused right now and I love that for me.

I got to support Miss Gay Missouri USofA by attending.  The sisterhood is real and palpable.  Great job to Veronika Versace and L’oreal.  Veronika is also part of Team Missouri for MGMA this year and Im glad we got to spend time together.  I also got to spend time with many of my MGMA sisters.  Congratulations to Roxana Rexia on her win!

It was also a busy month for MGMA preliminaries. I had Miss Gay Kansas City America first and I always LOVE all the formers and kiki'ing with them. Misty Meanor gave up her crown and we shared a tiny little walk in closet for a dressing room but we had a blast! Two qualifying contestants were proclaimed! Congratulations to Kaycee Adam's and her first alternate, Alexchandra Luv! This was my third preliminary and I finally felt like I was getting in the groove of things. 

Then came Miss Gay St. Louis America and I had so much fun! I got the privilege of doing my makeup and having Lexsus Chaney beside me the whole time and we just talked and formulated ideas and I really enjoyed it. One of the best parts of this job is the people. Definitely thankful for her and our relationship. Congratulations to our new Miss Gay St. Louis America, MaryAnn Bright and her first alternate, Venus DM Steele! Job well done ladies.

I am excited to announce that Miss Gay City of Fountains America is coming back this year but with a new promoter as well! Please welcome Chad Salmans to the family. We are still in the scheduling process but hope to have the prelim in early December!

In our community, my partner and I got to speak with the local chapter of PFLAG about being parents! In the pageant scene, we mourned the loss of Miss Gay Missouri America 1983 ( and MGA 1989), Vicki Vincent.  She was always so kind and encouraging to me.  May she rest in peace.

I am also expanding my esthetics business and moving to a bigger suite and it's gorgeous and I'm very excited! I will be doing some training for new services so that's exciting as well! Blessed to have this opportunity with a job I love. 
Couldn't end October without Halloween and we have a tradition at my house. We invite a few friends and family over and we make a fire in a pit in the driveway and have spooky music and pass out candy to hundreds of trick or treaters. I make chicken tortilla soup and everyone brings something like a dessert or appetizer and we hangout and take our son trick or treating to a few houses. It was a good night with great food and ever better people. 

The next prelims are Springfield (which happens to be my give up) and we also have City of Columbia. For details, please see our Preliminaries Page on the website. It was a great month.

My heart is full. Nationals are getting closer and November is here, so that's wild!

‘Til next time. 
Xoxo, Miss Gay Missouri America, The 50th
Viv

Hello lovelies! August has came and gone before my very eyes. My son started back to school as a first grader which is WILD. He will always be my tiny little baby angel but when they say kids grow up in the blink of an eye, it's true. He has acclimated well and likes his teacher so fingers crossed he has a great year! 

I had my first preliminary this month as well. We opened the season with Miss Gay Metropolitan America, with Trixie LaRue as the promoter. Trixie went above and beyond to welcome me and keep me in line. Congratulations to your new Miss Gay Metropolitan America, Venus O'Hara and her 1st alternate, Angel Sedique!! What a fabulous team they will be at state! Metro, was my first prelim and also a learning experience for me. I made several notes as it commenced lol and sometimes things just can't help but go wrong. Little things like my tooth brush falling in the toilet at the hotel, a dress that I had taken in didn't fit, I brought no back up options so I had to borrow a dress to sit at the judges table. Shoutout to Kaycee Adam's for being a sister and lending me a dress! We were a little crunched on time with events going on at the venue before and after the pageant so we definitely had to keep things moving! I can be a bit of a perfectionist especially when it comes to my look and I was running like a chicken with its head cut off. Miss Gay Missouri America has DUTIES, honey, and you have to be prepared to be at certain places at certain times and when I got done with my first number I had to change to sit at the judges table for the pageant to begin and baby, I was sweating. My forehead makeup was gone, I had to borrow a dress because the one I brought didn't fit, I had no time to change shoes so I wore black thigh high boots that I wore for my number, threw a wig on and the crown and off I went. These things might not sound big to some but I always want to look my best and represent excellence in the best way and I felt like a hodge-podge troglodyte sweaty mess lmao. It was fine though. I did my job and the pageant went on and I LEARNED. I also got to spend quite a bit of time with #49, Akasha Royale. She was a judge and we got to go to lunch and out for drinks and she even surprised me with a lovely gift basket full of letters from formers, special trinkets, and things I would need to help me reign as successfully as possible. It was so sweet and I enjoyed seeing that side of her. You may go into the competition thinking you're fully ready for the job that is Miss Gay Missouri America but you really don't know what it's like until you actually do it. The one who filled the shoes before you will play a role in your reign and be a guide for you. I am thankful to have an amazing guide and a coven of sisters that love and respect me and have my back. I learned from my mistakes and I am making sure to be more prepared and polished then I was the last time but I am human and I am sure there will be many other things that will arise as I reign but each time I'll be more prepared than I was the time before. Onward and upward into my reign. Til next time...
 Xoxo, 
The 50th, 
Miss Gay Missouri America, 

Vivian Versace

Much more coming.  Keep watching.👀

XOXO,
Viv 💋
​The 50th. 👑

Wow, the month of June has come and gone. That was FAST lol. I hope you had a great Pride and an awesome 4th of July.  This is a special edition covering the end of June festivities!

I was blessed to be booked in numerous shows and pride festivities all month long and it was truly amazing. Sometimes we can feel judged or maybe even like an outcast within our own community and it's nice to come together and all celebrate our pride, our community and how far we have come in this country even if it seems like we are sometimes taking steps backwards. 

Thank you, Warrensburg Pride for having me again, it's always inspiring seeing the sense of community that you have at your Pride.

One thing that I love about Pride and something I saw specifically at Saint Louis Pride was the diversity. So many cultures, individuals, families, allies, and just a variety of people. Everyone just having fun and indulging in the moment and not a single soul judging any of them, just authentically living their life. Participating in the Pride parade was something I'll never forget. Everyone was so kind and supportive and I truly appreciate that energy.  

One of the many reasons I love the America system, Missouri America specifically, is because of the people that I have met by participating. This story is especially true for Greg Coleman (better known as Karma T. Cassidy) and Luis Acevedo (aka Lola Vergara). We met the very first year of me competing ten years ago and we are friends to this date. These amazing folks went above and beyond during our recent trip, welcoming my husband and me into their beautiful home for most of our stay.Not only are they incredible hosts, but they're also great friends. We always have a blast together! Luis deserves a special shoutout for his contributions to the MGMA website, we're incredibly grateful to him.

Whilst in the Lou, I was also blessed to have some pool time with my forever MGMA sister, Adria Andrews (2014) and be in a show with her. It's always a good time with her and sweet partner, Craig. I also got to have some drinks with forever MGMA, Trixie LaRue (2021) and many laughs were had per usual! Had the pleasure of seeing forever MGMA's Dieta Pepsi (1991), Alexis Principle (1998), Ali Kat (2003), Akasha Royale (2023), and Erica Foxx (2009)! MGMA's Herstory is rich and I love seeing these beautiful people around! Thank you to Promo for having me! We had a lovely time. Also thank you to my MGMA sisters Jade Sinclair (2007)  and Krista Versace (1997) for having me at Prism. I had a blast! 

The Mama Mystery podcast episode has yet to be executed due to Kelly having her baby girl, Ellie! Congratulations, she is beautiful! 

Well guys, onward into the thick of summer. Don't forget your SPF. Rays today, raisins tomorrow. 

The preliminary calendar will be announced soon and the MGMA 2025 theme teaser will be also coming out soon...I might have had a photo shoot and I am EXCITED!! 

XOXO, 
The 50th, 
Vivian Versace

Time seems to be moving at a rapid pace. One day flying by after another. I have been trying to balance my life, devoting time and effort to all avenues: my husband and son, my fur babies, my business, Miss Gay Missouri, bookings, keeping up my house and laundry, friendships, family & of course self-care. It seems like a lot, but someone once told me not to get overwhelmed and just to focus on one thing at a time. It works for me most of the time lol.

​I am also a list maker, and it makes me feel accomplished to check things off of my list. One of those things on my list was my first official photo shoot as Miss Gay Missouri America. It was with a dear friend of mine; her name is Lura Landis. Fun fact, she has done my headshots every single time I have competed at MGMA and most of them winning "Most Photogenic". She is located in Saint Joseph, MO and has her own photography business. She has always made me feel comfortable and confident. We like to say we make magic together and the photos are proof of that. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out and I am excited to collaborate with other photographers and get as many photo shoots in as possible while I reign.

It's such an amazing thing to accomplish something you have wanted for so long. You feel validated and appreciated. You pay attention to who congratulates you and I hate to say it but even those that don't, my advice is don't. Nourish the relationships and people that truly matter, the ones that you never have to question their intentions. Also, get out of your own head. Trust and believe from someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, in your head sometimes is the worst place to be. That is one of the reasons why I feel I was triumphant this year. I was focused. I saw a quote and it truly spoke to me. It was "What could you accomplish if you got out of your own way". So much of my life everyone would say such encouraging things to me, and I would never believe them. I had to believe it myself. Once I did that, I got out of my own way and magic happened. The crown happened.
I am so excited for what is coming! Pride month is almost here, and I will be making appearances at Kansas City Pride, Warrensburg Pride & Saint Louis Pride. I am also excited to speak at the Promo Gala in Saint Louis. In case you didn't know, Promo is Missouri's statewide LGBTQ+ Advocacy organization.

They confront systemic inequities to liberate the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination and oppression. They want Missouri to be a state in which LGBTQ+ people and every demographic to be valued and thriving with equality. That is definitely something I support, and I am so honored to be able to represent Missouri and speak at their gala.
Another thing I have planned for June is to be on one of my best friend's podcast. Her name is Kelly Evans, and she has a true-crime podcast that is widely popular. In honor of pride month, she is going to cover the story of Matthew Shepard. I will be her co-host. It's called Mama Mystery and can be streamed on almost any streaming platform. I usually listen on Spotify. So, keep a lookout!

​Miss Gay Missouri America is out and about and spreading love, kindness, and pride!

Until next time, my dears.
Love always,
The 50th,
Vivian Versace