Miss & Mister Pride of West Virginia 201o, West Virginia’s Premiere LGBT Pageant, will take place in Charleston at the Clay Center on May 28th, 2010 at 7:00pm.
Join us for our second year at the Clay Center, West Virginia’s renowned Arts & Sciences Center in historic downtown Charleston.
Tickets for this event will sell out!
There are two options for seating at this event:
TICKETS WILL BE WAITING AT DOOR. WILL NOT BE MAILED.
1. Table of Four (close to stage) – $100/table SOLD OUT!!!
2. Gallery Seating (general admission) – $15/ticket at Door (cash only please)
2010 Pageant Schedule
2010 Contestant Packet
2010 Sample Contestant Contract
For details, please contact one of our Pageant Directors
- Martina Dezarea at martinad_4u@yahoo.com
- Mila Rich at jeremye113@yahoo.com
- Steven Tompa at steventompa@yahoo.com
The following contestants will compete on May 28th at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV for Miss and Mister Pride of West Virginia!
Miss Pride of West Virginia 2010 Contestants
Dimitria
I am Dimitria from Oakland, Maryland. I am Miss Vice Versa Pride 2010. I live right along the Potomac River less than one-half mile from the border of West Virginia. Until I was 4 years old, my family raised me in Bayard, West Virginia. My family owned the Mountaineer Inn, and my mother was a former contestant for Miss West Virginia. Following in her footsteps, she entered me in the baby contests at the Bayard Firemen’s Carnival each year. I see my mother as an inspiration in my creation of Dimitria. As a female illusionist, I strive every day to be just like my mother. She is a loving person, strong, gentle, and proud. My entire life, she has been my biggest support. Being able to compete for Miss West Virginia Pride is one of the best ways I see to honor my mother. Because of her, I have learned that the greatest gift of all is love. Pride to me, is the ability for all people to show love.
Donita Monroe
I am Donita Monroe from Charleston, West Virginia. I have been appointed Miss Broadway Pride 2010. I would like to say thank you for considering me for Miss Pride of West Virginia 2010. I find it a real honor to compete with some of the most talented entertainers from across the state and region. I first stepped into the stage lights at the Grand Palace in 1995, became Miss New Face World in 1996, and competed in the very first Miss Pride of West Virginia pageant in 1998. It has been a dream of mine to be Miss Pride of West Virginia for a very long time. Over the years, I have served our community with numerous other titles. I was Miss Red Ribbon 2005 and helped raise money for the Living AIDS Memorial Garden. The mission of this organization is to establish and maintain a garden in memory of those who have died of AIDS and provide a place of reflection. I started with raising money for the Endowment Fund, sold imprinted bricks, and recruited new members. I want to be Miss Pride of West Virginia 2010 so I can put a spotlight on PRIDE. I want to be a spokesperson that helps raise money and recruits more into our Pride family. I will be visible in the community and focus on important issues. I feel I have the knowledge and qualifications to do the BEST. I look forward to the pageant on May 28, 2010 at the Clay Center. I hope to see everyone from all over the state there showing their PRIDE. Thank you for your support.
Ivy Profen
I am Ivy Profen from Charleston. I am Miss Union Square Pride 2010. I want to be Miss Pride of West Virginia to have the opportunity to advance my commitment to the LGBT community and to allow myself to volunteer with organizations throughout the state of West Virginia helping our community advance with awareness of AIDS/HIV Prevention. I would also use the title to affect positive change within our community. I could bring a positive uniqueness to the pride community; that would be “PHAT” which means Professionalism, Honesty, Administration, and Talent. I am more than willing and eager to invest my time and commitment to the pride origination. I’m a firm believer that no matter what your goal is, you can always achieve it. Now I ask myself do I want to be Miss Pride of West Virginia enough to commit and work for it? That answer is simple. It’s YES.
Morgan Le Fay
I am Morgan Le Fay, your current reigning Miss West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010. To go forward sometimes you have to go back. Back In 1998, I ran for the title of Miss Pride of West Virginia. I was young and had no idea what I was doing. I hid behind the costumes and makeup because I was frightened. I had no clue what pride was. Over time, I have learned pride comes from within and you have to have pride in yourself before you can begin to have pride in anything else. Over the years, I have graced the stage of many clubs and met many performers that I idolize to this day. I learned that every one of us are different and bring something unique to the stage. I have performed in benefit shows of all kinds for many reasons; from someone’s house burning down, to a battered woman’s shelter, and learned that sometimes you have to put other people’s needs before your own. I am running for Miss Pride of West Virginia once more, and I am not doing this just for me. I want to spread the word that we all need to take pride in ourselves, our state, and come together as one big family and help each other in times of need. As well as have laws passed to protect our rights to be who we want to be and who we are as individuals. I would like to think that I have done my part in giving PRIDE back to West Virginia by doing bigger and better things and getting our communities involved and moving forward and making West Virginia a better place to live.
Pricilla Divine
I am Pricilla Divine. I am Miss Jackhammer Pride 2010. When most people think of pride they think of the gay community, rainbow flags, triangles, etc… Those are great, and it’s a wonderful thing to be proud of your community. However, to me, pride is much more. Pride is being true to yourself and to those around you, not only in portraying yourself for who you truly; but also to believe in yourself and never letting anyone make you feel bad for being yourself. Pride is also respecting those around you. Pride is appreciating, respecting and helping everyone be proud in themselves and others. It doesn’t matter what sexuality you are, what race, what nationality… Pride is being true to yourself, and feeling good about who you are and what you can or may accomplish. Pride may have started in the media as the colors of the rainbow, but it’s so much more than that. I’m proud to be Jerry Canterbury, I’m proud to be Miss Priscilla Divine, but most of all…. I’m proud to be me. These are the reasons I want to be Miss Pride of West Virginia 2010.
Robin Hearts
I am Robin Hearts from Morgantown, West Virginia. I am Miss Vice Versa Pride 2010 Runner-Up. I want to be Miss Pride West Virginia because as a transgendered female, I know what pride is. I live it every day. I learned from the path I was gifted to walk being born into the wrong gender that you have to wake up every morning, love yourself, not be ashamed of who you are, and carry your head held high. I make it my goal in life to treat others as I would like to be treated, and educate anyone and everyone with a willingness to learn. We are all one community, whether gay, straight, bi, transgendered, whoever, or whatever and I would make sure to carry that message not only onstage and when representing the West Virginia Pride Committee and the state, but throughout my daily life. Pride is every second of every day.
Samara Brookes
I am Samara Brookes, Miss Union Square Pride 2010 1st Alternate. I would like to thank everyone that is involved in making this year’s pageant possible and to all of the community who has came out to support the contestants. I would also like to thank Union Square for believing in me enough to represent them this year. I will do my best not to let you down. I am 34 and was born and raised in Charleston. I began female impersonation on July 1, 1999 at the Broadway in Charleston which led to becoming a regular performer at Trax Nightclub. While embracing our community and growing as an entertainer, I have been honored & crowned as Miss West Virginia Sweetheart ‘06, Miss West Virginia Independence ‘07, and Miss Trax Pride ‘08. Through other appearances at such WV gay clubs including The Grand Palace and Woodstarr in Parkersburg, I have been able to further stay engaged in our gay community. I am very honest, professional, proper, and respectful. I feel I would represent the community with the grace and dignity that we ALL deserve while maintaining the grace of a lady while the gown is on. It comes as no shock that it would be a highlight of my career and sincerely an honor to be crowned Miss West Virginia Pride 2010. In closing I would like to wish all of the contestants the best of luck this year and warm wishes to the real reason why we are all involved – PRIDE.
Tearah Dezarea
I am Tearah Dezarea from Charleston, West Virginia. I am Miss West Virginia Queer News Pride Runner Up. Throughout my life, I have continuously kept Pride in my life and heart. I began as a female illusionist at Traxx and proceeded to entertain in the Charleston and Huntington areas. I was fortunate enough to be crowned your Miss West Virginia Queer News New Face last year and competed in the Miss Pride of West Virginia pageant as Miss Polo Club Pride. Over the years, I have been involved with event planning for the Pride committee and continually feel a deep commitment to our community. If selected your next Miss Pride of West Virginia, I would continue to help make this organization great and show everyone throughout the state the importance of being out and Proud. I feel that my personality, sense of community, and love of this great state make me an excellent candidate for Miss Pride of West Virginia. I personally want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me throughout the years, without you I could not be where I am today. I hope that everyone shall come out and support myself and the other great contestants throughout the state. Thank you for your support, and I hope everyone enjoys this year’s Pride pageant and festival.
Mister Pride of West Virginia Contestants
Adam Rhodes
I am Adam Rhodes from Huntington, West Virginia. I am Mr. Jackhammer Pride 2010. For the past fourteen years, the prestigious positions of Miss & Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010 have been attained by exemplary constituents who exude the most imperative qualities the community strives to achieve and display: compassion, sincerity, and servitude. I, Adam C. Rhodes, will maintain this tradition with dynamism and charity if elected Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010. Prior to this competition, I have worked with such notable organizations as the Fund for the Public Interest, the Community Voters Project, Environment Ohio, and the Human Rights Campaign. I have also volunteered for MoveOn.org as well as for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, the current president who opposes and is seeking to repeal the prejudicial and discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. As a graduate student currently attending Marshall University, I wholly appreciate and comprehend the importance of diligence, determination, and the unrelenting desire to enhance oneself as well as one’s environment. The progression of the gay community and society en masse evidently presents itself as a fundamental motivation in my daily life and decisions. As Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010, I will continue to return to the gay community and its supporters the encouragement and love which I have received and endeavor to exhibit this exceptionally beautiful cycle to the society at large.
Daron Del Ray
I am Tim Albee from Ceredo, West Virginia. I have been appointed Mister Ron Wilson Hair Gallery Pride 2010. I perform as Daron Del Ray. Daron is my middle name (pronounced like the gay dad on the television show Bewitched). Del Ray is in honor of my dear, passed friend Delisha Del Ray. I am proud to be a 39 year old gay man. I am honored to be born and raised in West Virginia. I want to be Mr. Pride of West Virginia because I want to unite the LGBT community throughout the state. Although many areas are together, others seem disconnected. I want to all communities to feel like they are apart of the West Virginia LGBT family. If I were selected Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010, I would show that the LGBT community in West Virginia may not be as large as in other states, but we are just as strong. I want to make our Pride Festival one of the most recognized but attended in the area of the country.
Jamie Seabolt
To all of you who have come here to support Pride, I am pleased to announce myself as Mr. Union Square Pride 2010, Jamie Seabolt. Beginning my journey just 15 miles up the road in Sissonville, I have accomplished many rewarding efforts, all before turning 30. I began my first gay newspaper that served West Virginia back in 2002 and led to an entire chain of publications. This work for our community rewarded me as one of Gay.com’s Entrepreneur’s of the Year in 2004. Just one month later, I was publicly sued by the City of Pittsburgh for putting a gay publication on their streets. With the help of the ACLU, we rebuttaled, and made a huge leap in gay rights. Similar situations have occurred recently, as I have publicly been fighting to allow openly gay establishments prominent locations in Downtown Charleston. My fights over the years such as these have awarded me the honor of the national Mr.Gay.com Community Leader in both 2008 and again in 2009. As you can tell, PRIDE to me is many different things. Importantly however, it’s about fighting the right fight. It’s about being respectful even when slandered; being there with facts and statistics, not assumptions or hearsay. It’s my right to be gay my way, not their stereotype. It’s about not being afraid to be seen in mainstream media or risk getting your name thrown in mud; because sometimes you must put the individual, yourself, on the line for the greater good of our gay community.
Jason Van Meter
I am Jason Van Meter from Huntington, West Virginia. I am Mr. West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010 1st Alternate. I am so excited and honored to be one of the contenders for Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010. To me, pride is more than just five letters on a shirt or six colors on a flag. I see gay pride as being a positive representative to both people in the LGBT community as well as the general public. In our fight for equality we must project an image of poise and prosperity rather than allowing stereotypes and stigmas attached to us to hold true and only further oppress our cause. Mr. Pride should be someone who can reach out to all demographics and support various needs of the LGBT population of West Virginia. If given the opportunity to hold the title of Mr. Pride of WV 2010, I would like to focus on reaching out to LGBT youth through speaking to school groups at a high school and college level, furthering HIV/AIDS education and prevention by working with organizations such as the Tri-State AIDS Task Force and MPowerment Charleston, and finally pushing for greater equality legislation in West Virginia by supporting the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity to the WV hate crime legislation and the housing equality act. Whether I am chosen to represent the state as Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010 or not, I hope my participation in this year’s festivities makes each of you proud to be a part of the LGBT community and proud to be a West Virginian.
Jonathan Clark
I am Jonathan Clark from Cross Lanes, West Virginia. I am your current reigning Mr. West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010. I am an Emergency Medical Technician and am very proud to be a gay man living in our beautiful mountain state of West Virginia. I was raised and supported by two of my uncles who are gay and my mother who is lesbian. I want to be Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010 because I feel that with my positive outlook on life and professionalism I could be a liaison within the communities of the state to unite them together. With everyone united in the state, it would allow us to work together to push for equality for all. I have represented our state LGBT community in the past as Mr. West Virginia Independence 2009 and Mr. Polo Pride 2009. If I were selected Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010, I would travel the state and be a spokesperson and role model for Rainbow Pride of West Virginia. I would participate in different events and organizations throughout the state to bring everyone together within the LGBT community. At last I would just like to say that I am very proud to be gay and will stand up for what is right for all my fellow gay West Virginia family.
Michael B
My name is Michael Anthony Barnes. I was born in Shreveport, LA, raised in Virginia, but now am PROUD to be a seven year resident of Charleston. I would like to thank Keeley Steele for her appointment of me as Mr. Frütcake Pride 2010. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Tony Paranzino for his generous support of my efforts. In my spare time I enjoy participating in musical theater with the Charleston Light Opera Guild. I have been in many shows including The WIZ, Beauty and the Beast, Ragtime and RENT in which I experienced my most rewarding role as Tom Collins. I have performed in many venues but am honored to be here today at the Clay Center competing for Mr. Pride of West Virginia. Living on the East End of Charleston, I have had the opportunity to witness a community full of diversity and acceptances both mature and grow. This is my dream for all LGBT communities of West Virginia. Yes, we are all different in so many ways, yet we are bonded with one common goal: ACCEPTANCE. If I become Mr. Pride of West Virginia, I will strive to see that all communities are embraced and encouraged to become one united entity. It will be my goal to have benefits in the community to include ALL of the community. It’s time to UNITE! Once again THANK YOU for your consideration.
Michael Rose
For your consideration for Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010, my name is Michael Rose. As your current Mr. Union Square Pride 2010 1st Alternate, I have accomplished many feats despite being the youngest Mister contestant in this year’s competition. I began my vocal career in Sissonville, West Virginia as a member of Show Choir, 3 years of All-State Choir, and 9 years of All County Choir. This love of music led me to Marshall University’s Music Education and Vocal performance majors where I continue to excel. On top of being part of Marshall’s Color Guard, Chamber Choir, University Chorus, Opera Company, and Choral Union, I am pleased to have won several vocal performance scholarships, most recently, the “Eloise Campbell-Long Memorial Scholarship”. When not taking part in summer time journeys with my family, I take part in the Charleston Light Opera Guild such as former performances in their production of RENT. With all that said, PRIDE to me means being able to shine in your own talents and never afraid to hide or be yourself. This passion of living applies to not only my music but also my sexual orientation.
Scotty Angel
I am Scotty Angel from Gallipolis, Ohio. I am Mr. Broadway Pride 2010 1st Alternate. As we celebrate our 14th annual WV Pride Week, I am looking forwarding to seeing all of you on Friday May 28th for the Miss and Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010 pageant. I’d like to thank the Broadway for giving me the opportunity to represent them at the Clay Center and also send my appreciation to everyone who is coming out to support Pride. Please keep in mind our theme this year is “Unity in Diversity.” Without all of you in the state, we would not be where we are today. Thank you for your consideration to be the next Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010.
Tom Ronk
My name is Tom Ronk. I am your newly crowned Mr. Broadway Pride 2010. I grew up in South Charleston, WV, and although I have resided in other states, such as California and Ohio, I am proud to call WV my home. I have owned and operated Ronk’s Professional Cleaning Service for 16 years and counting, and continue to proudly serve my Tri-State area. I graduate next year from LPN school and aspire to become a Nurse Practitioner, and through everything I give thanks to my parents, Donald and Brenda Sue Ronk; without them, I would not be the man I am today. Honestly, the reason I ran for Mr. Broadway 2010 was to see if I really had the nerve to stand on a stage, to sing or perform what goofy talent came to my mind. When I was announced the winner, it put so much more of a highlight to what I would like to accomplish as Mr. Pride of West Virginia 2010. I would like MY GLBT community to become more involved statewide, and unite as a proud community. I would like so see more venues start clubs for activities, such as gay softball leagues, volleyball leagues, or even bowling leagues. It is 2010…and it is time to revamp the community. I would like to involve myself in groups like MPowerment, start support groups for parents who may not understand that it is ok for your child to be gay. I would like to promote the education systems to have groups for young GLBT students, without them being afraid to embellish their sexuality. Having cleaned house all my life, I personally know that the only thing that belongs in a closet is a vacuum cleaner, or a coat, not you. My future is now, and if I could make a difference in just one person’s life by giving back to my community as my gay forefathers (mothers) have done for me, then my job as Mr. WV Pride was a success. Thank you for all of your consideration, congratulations to all of my fellow Mr. Pride contestants, and I will proudly see you May 28th.