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Miami's Braxton Named Miss Gay Florida USofA

Tribune photo by CLOE CABRERA

Natasha Braxton of Miami won the crown in front of a standing room only crowd at the Honey Pot in Ybor City.

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By CLOE CABRERA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2009

TAMPA – Florida has a new Miss Gay Florida USofA.

Natasha Braxton of Miami took the over-sized, gem-studded crown Sunday in front of a standing room only crowd at the Honey Pot in Ybor City.

The Seventh-Avenue nightclub was packed with well-wishers, friends, boyfriends and, well, the curious.

The three-hour pageant, which is in its 21st year and marked its debut in Tampa, is like most other pageants held each year in the United States. There were spectacular evening gowns, elaborately choreographed song and dance numbers, and lots of beautiful women.

Their makeup was flawless. Their hair was long and perfectly coiffed. And the ladies knew how to work the runway.

But this pageant has a difference. Some of the girls used to be guys. Or they still are.

The USofA system is for contestants who are transgendered or are female impersonators.

Braxton, who identifies herself as transgendered, said she hopes her win will help shatter negative stereotypes.

"The [transgendered community] is the most misunderstood, underrepresented and often discriminated against by not only the mainstream community but also the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered),' said Braxton, who has a perfect complexion and some serious back. "Ironically, the T is last, and that's usually where transgendered people often find themselves."

Braxton also won the interview and evening wear categories; she won a $500 prize package and will represent Florida in the Miss Gay USofA pageant Memorial Day weekend in Dallas.

First runner-up Dorae Sanders also will compete in the national competition.

Second runner-up was Josephine Andrew, who also won the talent competition. Sonia Day La Cruz was awarded Most Beautiful.

Throughout the evening, reining and former USofA queens entertained the crowd with lip-synching numbers by celebrities like Alicia Keys and Britney Spears. Each time they performed, members of the audience lined up in front of the stage to give them money in hopes of receiving a wink or a kiss. The performers displayed amazing balance and flexibility in their costumes and platform heels, shimmying, cart wheeling and dropping into splits during their numbers.

Hosts Natasha Richards and Alicia Markston, both former Miss USofA's, kept the evening moving with campy humor and witty barbs.

"I am completely pleased," said Bob Taylor, owner of the Miss Gay Florida USofA system. "We wanted people to come out and have a good time and enjoy the brotherhood. And this was far better than I ever dreamed. There was nothing but love in that room all night long."

Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or ccabrera@tampatrib.com.

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