Celebrating drag excellence at the first Newfoundland Drag Awards
Abby Cole | CBC News | Posted: March 16, 2025 8:59 PM | Last Updated: March 16
Show hopes to empower 2SLGBTQ+ artists in the province
Drag queens were dripping with glitz and glamour as they walked the red carpet Saturday night for the first ever Newfoundland Drag Awards, held at The Rock House in St. John's.
Dakota Blake, who performs as Misty Manifest, and Dill March formed their own production company, Dream Haus Productions, and their non-profit, Drag is Art, put off the event.
They felt there was a need for more performance opportunities after many performers chose to leave Velvet Night Club — the only bar in the city dedicated to drag performance — after it was exposed for the low pay it gave performers on Canada's Drag Race.
Blake and March's goal is to empower 2SLGBTQ+ artists in the province by creating professional development and performance opportunities.
The non-profit received funds for the event from Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism department as part of its year of the arts campaign.
March said they were excited to have the opportunity to celebrate drag excellence.
"I think that these types of events exist for other artistic disciplines, but for drag artists less so," said March.
Another important part of the evening for March was the opportunity to showcase new performers through the new and emerging drag artist award category.
"There's not really too many venues where new performers can really try and test out some of their drag. So we're really excited to showcase some of the new and emerging talent." said March.
WATCH | N.L. drag community holds its first ever Newfoundland Drag Awards:
'Be you, be true, be happy.'
Fifi Fofum, a drag artist of only seven months, won the new and emerging drag artist award. She said the award night was incredible.
"Drag is so important, so special, especially in our world right now," Fofum said. "To celebrate it on such a high level is fantastic."
The show featured six categories: most authentic drag artist, new and emerging drag artist, lip sync assassin, dripping in opulence, drag host with the most and most creative.
The public weighed in on nominations with about 1,000 submissions. The Drag is Art board of directors, alongside community representatives, narrowed down the categories to 10 nominees. Then, a public vote of 6,000 ballots decided the winners.
The award category for the most authentic drag artist was in honour of drag queen Reign Michaels, who died in October. Her mother, Roxanne Stacey, presented the award in drag with the stage name Storm Michaels.
"I'm very happy to be here and I'm very proud to be here in drag as Storm," she said. "It's giving me a connection that I needed and it's going to help with my grieving. So thank you to everyone."
Award winner Ophelia Delight called Reign Michaels a dear friend.
"Be you, be true, be happy, is the words I live by every day," Delight said, quoting Michaels.
Coming together, despite venue loss
For local queen Tara Nova, performed by Lukus Oram-Feltham, the drag awards were not about winning.
"I'm just more so happy that the community is here, that the community is together. This is what we've been pushing for for so long," Oram-Feltham said.
Drag artist Crystal Queer said she was ecstatic that the community could come together despite losing the Velvet Night Club.
"We have such a small queer community here in Newfoundland, and to see us all celebrated in such a way that it can bring all of us together as a community … it's amazing."
Performer Karrie Korsette was also excited the community could come together in the same space.
"Despite what has happened in the previous few months, I think the community is more connected now than it's ever been."
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