Judging the 20th Anniversary Miss Exotic World Pageant at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend – Part 1

Headmistress Jo Weldon

Saturday night was a doosie – even by my standards – because I was in fabulous Downtown Las Vegas in the showroom of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, judging the 20th Anniversary Miss Exotic World Pageant; the highlight of the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend.  My buddy, Frederic Apcar is one of the event’s Executive Producers, and when he found-out that they needed a “media/celebrity type” he immediately thought of me.  So he hooked me up with the event’s Judging Coordinator, Jo Boobs (aka author Jo Weldon, whose new release The Burlesque Handbook by Headmistress Jo Weldon, with Foreword by Margaret Cho is available now from HarperCollins).  And in case you haven't already picked-up on it – these folks aren’t kidding around!

World Famous *BOB* and Dixie Evans

It was an absolute joy to witness such creativity and color and flair.  It was a throw-back to an era when people dressed for the evening and enjoyed doing so.  It’s a fascinating community, where everybody knows everyone else, they are all very supportive of each other’s art, and genuinely happy to see each other win.  Who even knew such a group existed?  Well, apparently the people at the Burlesque Hall of Fame did.  FYI – The BHoF is located at 520 East Fremont Street - #120; and it is curated by the legendary Dixie Evans.  The museum features items from such legends of burlesque as Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee, Jayne Mansfield, and promotional materials for performers including Blaze Starr, Lili St. Cyr, Chesty Morgan, Candy Barr, and Tempest Storm.

Nash and Leroi the GirlBoi

I’m STILL in the process of formatting the images of the competitors from the night.  You see, while the actual event, itself, lasted 5 hours; from the time I arrived at “judging class” to the time I left the after-party was a 9 hour night!  As a matter of fact, my camera battery died (but not until the finale).  There were so many contestants and categories and superlatives and absolutely no light at the judges’ table (so we all had to use the light from our cell-phones).  But it was a blast!

Tigger (Mr. Exotic World 2006)

I’ll be back in Part 2 with some of my favorite looks and performers from the actual Pageant, itself.

TTFN!