From The Runway To The Boardwalk

From The Runway To The Boardwalk; The Rise of Drag in Asbury Park

Since the doors to Paradise opened, drag has been a tentpole of both their entertainment offerings as well as what the fans and customers continue to clamor for! The early years of Paradise saw local legends like Chantel Curtis, Tony Mona, and Nexus Lexus come roaring onto the Paradise stages (after being seen at venues like the Odyssey and Down The Street earlier in their careers). Paradise launched the Miss Paradise pageant soon after and crowned local superstars like Ashley Blake, Lady Marisa and Nikky SkyBlake, queens that each offered something different for the fans whenever they hit the stage. And who could forget the splash era of the Friday Follies?!

The premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race was not just a tipping point for drag internationally, but for local establishments all over the country, and Paradise was most definitely part of that equation. During their initial partnership with Absolut Vodka, Drag Race sent superstars like Drag Race Season 3 winner Raja and finalist Alexis Mateo to Paradise on the Absolut World Tour which packed the house in the early days off RuPaul’s eponymous competition show. The magic of Miss Paradise eventually collided with the cultural juggernaut that is RuPaul’s Drag Race, and a number of Miss Paradise titleholders have gone on to global fame from RuPaul’s Drag Race (Honey Davenport-Miss Paradise 2018/Season 11, Olivia Lux-Miss Paradise 2020/ Season 13, Sapphira Cristál-Miss Paradise 2023 /Season 16, Crystal Envy-Miss Paradise 2022/Season 17).

Having the cache of Drag Race performers launched directly from the Miss Paradise stage has definitely elevated both the Paradise brand as well as the caliber of talent that competes year after year. Truly, the eyes of the drag world are now on Miss Paradise (Paradise & Asbury Park itself have gotten several mentions on RuPaul’s Drag Race)! The panel of judges has also been elevated with acclaimed national drag pageant titleholders and finalists, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Margaret Josephs (and her irrepressible mother Marge Sr) and even RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Carson Kressley joining the judges panel.

Paradise showcases their former queens weekly, with queens like Cee’mour Cox hosting Drag Wars and Jolina Jasmine hosting Bingo weekly, so fans definitely will get their Miss Paradise crown holder fix when they pop in during the week. Georgies also has carved out their own unique corner of drag on the other side of town with Tastie’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Each and every Thursday, Asbury Park favorite Tastie hosts a show that spotlights drag in each and every form. Whether newer baby queens, established performers, or swoon-worthy drag kings, Tastie’s weekly show is showcasing these queens and giving them a much deserved stage.

One thing is certain; the world of drag, specifically in Asbury Park, is no doubt changing. Competitions like Fresh Face and Crystal Envy’s Diamond Race have cropped up and the queens competing and winning that competition are slowly crafting and reimagining the future of drag in our town. The showgirls will always have a place; but now they are helping give a platform to drag of all different styles.

Right now, our community continues to go through one of the most trying times in recent memory for a myriad of reasons. One thing though, is certain; drag queens were some of the archetypes of our initial revolution decades ago. I fully expect to stand arm in arm with equally as fierce kings, queens, and warriors as we move towards our next great queer revolution.

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