‘Superstar’ crowned winner of 19th annual Miss Gay IU

Five contestants clasped hands as they waited for the winner’s name to be announced.

As Chanel Cartier heard her name called, she clung to the other contestants with excitement and thought, “I hope my heel doesn’t break,” she said.

Cartier was crowned Miss Gay IU 2009 at the 19th annual pageant organized by OUT GLBT Student Union on Friday at the IU Auditorium.

“We are all equal. We are all one,” Cartier said, adding she wants to spread her message of equality throughout the community. She also said equality and love must start within the GLBT community before it can spread.

Cartier, who also competed in 2008, said she entered the pageant with a new attitude and picked a talent she called “completely in my element.” She performed songs from the movie “Superstar,” dressed as its main character, Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katharine Gallagher, and was joined onstage by backup dancers dressed as nuns, fellow students and Gallagher’s enemy, Evian the cheerleader.

Cartier received a standing ovation from the audience after her performance.
The talent competition was the largest portion of the pageant and was worth the most points. Cartier also won the pageant’s talent award.

Cody Daniels, a sophomore from Avon High School in Avon, Ind., said he came to the pageant last year and again this year because it helps him to be proud of who he is.
“It’s an inspiration because they have such bravery to get on stage,” he said. “It’s really impressive.”

The pageant’s theme was “Angel Fashion Show,” chosen by Britney Taylor, the 2008 Miss Gay IU. It began with a song by Taylor followed by a catwalk of contestants and former winners, including some wearing angel wings.

Before and between the competition categories, past winners sang in elaborate costumes covered in glitter, rhinestones and sequins. The songs included “Work It” by Missy Elliott and “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga. During the performances, the audience lined the IU Auditorium’s aisles, waiting to tip the performers.

“It’s a fun, wild night,” sophomore Julia Napolitano said.

She added the audience was large and diverse because drag has the potential to cater to all kinds of people.

Actor and IU alumnus Doug Spearman, who was a judge, said he credits the full auditorium to the increased exposure of GLBT issues. He added that the auditorium wouldn’t have filled when he was a student, and he was excited to see a lack of negativity surrounding the pageant.

The contestants began with interviews during the day Friday where they expressed their goals to the judges.

Cartier said she wants to give back by going into the community dressed in drag to share her goals.

Emcee Vicki St. James, who has been involved with the pageant since its second year, said she remembered Cartier from last year’s pageant and was impressed with her growth and improvement as a contestant.

She said Cartier will be a good representative of the community because she is a resident of Bloomington. The pageant was originally open to just IU students, but to increase participation, it was opened to Monroe County residents and is now open to all Indiana residents.

In addition to the talent competition, the contestants modeled evening gowns and answered questions about topics such as STD awareness, leadership, campus involvement and the goals and future of the GLBT community.

Sophomore Chris Hall said the pageant promotes being proud of who you are.
Spearman said when he heard about the pageant, it was a no-brainer to decide to come back to the school he loves. He spoke to the audience before intermission about his time at IU and added that the auditorium was the first place he ever went on a date with a boy.

St. James said she hasn’t missed a year of pageant because she wants to give back to the community, and the pageant has grown to be more than just a fundraiser.

“It’s so young gay kids have a place to connect and find themselves,” she said.

Cartier said she prepared for the contest for seven months, but Spearman said no matter how much the contestants prepare, the goal is to pull off the illusion of being a woman and making the audience members forget they’re looking at a man.

“You can be gay and be anything you want to be,” he said.