IU student comes in 3rd at Miss Gay Indiana pageant

INDIANAPOLIS -- Returning senior Chris Grooms put on his makeup, donned a wig, zipped on a white Elvis-styled jumpsuit covered in gem stones and stepped onto the Talbott Street Theater stage in Indianapolis Friday as his drag persona Miss Bianca Defy at the 26th annual Miss Gay Indiana USA pageant. Grooms placed third and won the Glamour award in what was his first state pageant.\n"For his first Miss Indiana pageant, I think he did exceptionally well," said Grooms' roommate and recent IU graduate Andrew Rehrig.\nOver the past year, Grooms jump-started his drag career with the help of Miss Gay Indiana 2003 Alana Steele who took him under her wing and taught him the art of creating a female illusion. Steele's mentoring helped Grooms capture the titles of Miss Gay IU and Miss Gay Southern Cities earlier this year. \n"Alana was the key to Chris' transformation," said Grooms' friend and recent IU graduate Erin Drake.\nEleven contestants from around the state competed Wednesday and Thursday during the preliminary rounds of the pageant. At 10 p.m. Friday the emcee named the top five contestants who went on to compete with the same costumes and numbers they used in the preliminary competition in the days before. The top five contestants were judged based on their performance in three categories: on-stage interview, evening gown and talent.\n"Watching drag is an art form," Drake said. "It's definitely one of the more fun art forms out there."\nA full hour before the show, there was no seating left and most of the audience stood during the four hour competition.\nFor his talent, Grooms reprised the Medusa number he did at the Miss Gay IU pageant. Dressed in a green sparkly body suit with a long thick tail, a nest of glittery snakes upon his head and a set of fake fangs in his mouth, Grooms dramatically lip synched "All By Myself." \nRehrig said Grooms looked amazing when he performed.\n"He's really involved in his lip synching," Rehrig said. "He really looks like he's singing."\nOf all of the contestants, Miss Gay Indianapolis, a robust drag queen named India Black, captured the most audience reaction and applause. She ended up winning the title of Miss Gay Indiana as well as separate awards for best talent, best on-stage interview and best male interview. Annastacia DeMoore, Miss Gay Zim Marss, won first runner-up. Both Black and DeMoore are now qualified to compete at the Miss Gay America 2005 pageant in Little Rock, Ark., in October.\nThroughout the competition, former Miss Gay Indianas, Miss Gay America and other prominent drag personalities performed, as well as Mr. Gay America Dave Morgan and Mr. Gay Indiana Rasean Montrese .\nSteele, who won first runner-up at Miss Gay America 2004, sobbed during her farewell speech and performance -- sad to relinquish the title of Miss Gay Indiana.\n"I finally learned why I'm doing this," she said. "The creation of Alana Steele is something that was meant to be. It's hurting me to give this up."\nAs Steele performed her final numbers as Miss Gay Indiana, audience members and contestants lined up to give her money to show their appreciation. The lines went from the stage all the way to the back of the club.\nDrake said she was proud of Grooms, but couldn't wait until next year's competition because she was sure he would win one of the top two spots and continue on to nationals.\n"I thought that I had a chance. You need to think that you will have a chance or else you won't win," Grooms said. "You need to be sure of yourself. That's what's gotten me as far as it has." \n-- Contact Arts Editor Jenica Schultz at jwschult@indiana.edu.