It’s the most fabulous drag event in the country. In 2000, Theatron, the biggest gay disco in Colombia, founded Miss Gay Internacional, a competition in which men travel to Bogotá from across Colombia to become the sexiest drag queens they can be. The men are trying to dress, act, and move like women, but aren’t necessarily trying to pass as female. Under the rules of the pageant -- which allow for plastic surgery -- the use of female hormones is not allowed, and each of the men is given a medical examination upon arrival.
For the most recent competition in August 2013, 19 men under the age of 27 came to Bogotá to compete. They were all Colombians, but each “represented” another country, including Canada, Panama, and Costa Rica. They paraded down the catwalk, modeling bathing suits and clothes from their designated country; Miss Venezuela, for example, donned military garb and carried a Venezuelan flag. The queens are judged on a clearly defined criteria: 40 percent of their score is based on how well they have transformed themselves into women, 30 percent on their costume, 10 percent on the crowd’s reaction and the remaining 20 percent on their attitude, as well as their performance during two preliminary interviews. This year, the winner was 21-year-old Maria Antonia Cadavid from a small city near Medellín, who brought home about $930 for her victory.
Homophobia and hate crimes are still a problem for Colombia’s LGBT community, many of whom seek refuge in the country’s bigger cities, like Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín, in order to live their lives more freely. (Globally, gay sexual activity is still criminalized in 76 countries.) And while gay marriage is technically permitted in Colombia, homosexual couples have faced opposition from conservative groups. Events like Miss Gay Internacional are intended to build respect and tolerance for Colombia’s LGBT community.
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Naomi Castillo, representing Costa Rica, parades in a swimsuit.
Viviana Peretti
Castillo gets ready in the dressing room before going on stage.
Viviana Peretti
Nathalia Andrea Navarro, representing Panama, enters the dressing room after having walked the runway in her original costume. Viviana Peretti
María Antonia Cadavid (left), representing Italy, and Reashell Muñoz Acosta, representing Aruba.
Viviana Peretti
A participant waits before going on stage.
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Rehearsals for Miss Gay Internacional 2013. Viviana Peretti
Listening to contest organizers before rehearsals at Theatron.
Viviana Peretti
Participants during the Miss Gay Internacional competition.
Viviana Peretti
A moment from the drag queen contest.
Viviana Peretti
Theatron, formerly a movie theater, is the biggest space of its kind in Colombia, and one of the biggest gay discos in South America.
Viviana Peretti
Susan Marian Perez Arias, representing Canada. Viviana Peretti
Macry Elena del Castillo (right, representing India) talks with Naydelin Del Castillo (Argentina) before going on stage. Viviana Peretti
María Guadalupe Federova with the Venezuelan flag. Viviana Peretti
María Antonia Cadavid, representing Italy, waits for her turn on stage. Viviana Peretti
María Antonia Cadavid, a 21-year-old stylist, in the dressing room before modeling her swimsuit. Viviana Peretti
Representing Puerto Rico, María Victoria Callejas leaves the stage.
Viviana Peretti
The crowd cheers during the competition.
Viviana Peretti
María Antonia Cadavid accepts the crown.
Viviana Peretti