Written by Above: “The Queens” trailer. View 5 additional clips from “The Queens” here.
Long awaited documentary takes a look inside
the first beauty pageant ever to allow
transgender female impersonators to participate.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andy Reynolds at Popular Publicity andy@popularpublicity.com
(New York, NY) August 11, 2020–Independent nonprofit filmmakers The Reporters Inc. have just released “The Queens,” an eye-opening feature-length documentary celebrating the transgender women of the internationally revered Miss Continental female impersonator pageant.
Nearly a decade in the making, “The Queens” has screened at over a dozen film festivals in five countries, garnering three Best Documentary nominations. The Reporters Inc. partnered with Vimeo on Demand to launch the film in 240 countries and it is available for streaming rental and purchase through their website at www.thereporters.org.
Part “Pose” and “Paris is Burning,” part “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and part Miss America, “The Queens” follows contestants Tiffany, Gabby, Sunny and Naysha as they pursue their dreams of becoming the next Miss Continental, considered to be the most prestigious (and sometimes most cut-throat) international pageant of its kind.
“The Queens” takes viewers inside this little-known subculture of glamour and illusion that attracts thousands of competitors worldwide. Misunderstood or dismissed by some in mainstream society, the contestants are vying for the crown, but also for acceptance, validation and respect.
The Miss Continental pageant was created in Chicago in 1980 by Jim Flint, owner of The Baton Show Lounge, one of the premiere female impersonator showcases in the world, which he opened in 1969. “I went to another pageant and [saw] where they were discriminating against entertainers that had body enlargements or enhancements or facial things or whatever, and I just didn’t think you should be discriminating, you know, so I started a pageant for them.”
“The Queens” was produced, directed, written and edited by Mark Saxenmeyer, who for seventeen years was the special project reporter at Chicago’s Fox affiliate, WFLD-TV. “I don’t think the transgender subculture of competitive female impersonation is widely known or understood by most outside that world and, therefore, it’s a perfect subject to investigate via a documentary,” says Saxenmeyer. “It’s intriguing. It’s colorful. It’s entertaining. And beneath the surface of the glitz and glamor there are serious and significant issues to be explored.”
Of the nine key people profiled in “The Queens,” all are transgender, except Naysha Lopez, Ginger Grant and pageant owner Jim Flint. Trans entertainers featured include Sunny Dee-Lite, Tiffany T. Hunter, Alexis Gabrielle “Gabby” Sherrington, Mimi Marks, Maya Douglas and Sheri Payne.
Fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fans will delight in spotting numerous contestants in “The Queens” including Naysha Lopez, Manila Luzon, Jasmine Masters, Nina Flowers, Roxxxy Andrews, Alyssa Edwards, Ginger Minj, and Brooke Lynn Hytes. And fans of FX’s “Pose” will recognize Dominique Jackson, aka “Elektra Abundance” competing at Miss Continental under the name Tyra Allure.
The Reporters Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and proceeds from all rentals and purchases of “The Queens” will be utilized to fund the completion of their next documentary series about wrongful convictions.
Join “The Queens” producer, stars and original music contributors for a live Zoom viewing party followed by Q&A on August 12 at 7PM Central. More info and sign up via “The Queens” Zoom Viewing Party! Facebook Event page.
More on “The Queens”
- Short Synopsis, Long Synopsis, Director’s Statement, Director’s Bio, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants appearing in “The Queens” and great quotes from “The Queens” here.
- Read “Director of The Queens Tells All About the Film’s Nine-Year Journey to Worldwide Release.“
- View film clips, press coverage, photos, film festival screenings, awards and more on “The Queens” page at www.thereporters.org/project/the-queens/
Popular Publicity 