Greetings loved ones,
April has come and gone, and with the help of a fantastic team, I have come to realize a dream that started in 2007 as a figment of my imagination. While this month has come to an end, we are certainly not seeing the last of the “April showers that bring May flowers”, and without further adieu, I am ready to take on this opportunity to blossom and better myself through this prestigious title! Hearing my name called at the finale of the weekend’s events as the newly crowned Miss Gay Missouri will be a moment that forever sticks with me. For at that moment, I knew I had finally formulated a team and plan that rang true to my preparation, dedication, and desires.
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| MGMA 2015 Court |
To start off, I would like to begin by introducing myself to everyone out there who this is reaching. My given name is Tony Highfill, and I am 30 years old (shhhhhhh). I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, where I am employed as a Unit Manager at Boston Financial Data Services. I live in the heart of downtown Kansas City with my husband of 2 years, Ben Orscheln, and our one and only child, a dachshund by the name of James Dean. Ben and I have been together for nearly 8 years, and I must say that he has played an intricate part in my competition journey. He has had a hand in every pageant in one way or another… from being a dresser, being a dancer at the National level in 2012, and lastly… being a goofy cowboy that played to his acting strengths… BLESS HIS HILLBILLY HEART! I became interested in the art of female impersonation in 2005, and I made my first appearance in women’s clothing on the 4th of July, 2005, at Tootsie’s Nightclub. Who would have thought that what started off as answering a dare would turn into a hobby that would fulfill my theater outlet needs?!
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| MGMA 2015 Kyla Breeze |
This year I went in with a brand, and I plan on continuing this brand throughout my reign. One of the biggest things that I have learned and embraced through my years at Boston Financial Data Services is that feedback is necessary for growth. When we are willing to give and receive feedback, truly listen to the information provided, and apply what we feel is necessary, we will better ourselves as well as our organization by creating a “Coaching Culture”. While I travel the state as the next Symbol of Excellence, what is more important to me is that I am seen as your friend, your peer, and your mentor… with common goals and common interests… both from an individual perspective and while looking at this organization holistically. As much as I am ecstatic about watching everyone fulfill their roles this year and provide the necessary feedback for growth, I also know that I need your critiques and your feedback to better myself, thus creating a “Coaching Culture” dynamic. I am thrilled at the friendships that I have already felt developing, and I want this direction to continue throughout the year. I want to be utilized as a sounding board, and with that said please know that I am a phone call, a text message, or a Facebook message away. Please reach out to me, because if you don’t… I will reach out to you!
Two weeks in and the duties have already begun (as they should)! Listed below are the 7 preliminaries that have been scheduled to date:
Sunday, May 24th – Miss Gay River City, Missouri
Theme – Last Dance; honoring the reigning Nadia Louis
Location – Hannibal, MO, at QPEX Church
Promoted by Jade Sinclair (Michael Klataske)
Saturday, July 25th – Miss Gay Kansas City, Missouri
Theme – Welcome to the Jungle; honoring the reigning Moltyn Decadence
Location – Kansas City, MO, at Missie B’s
Promoted by L’oreal (Jeff Hickman) and Valari Knyte (Grover Vermillion)
Saturday, September 19th – Miss Gay Metropolitan, Missouri
Theme – Singing in the Reign; honoring the reigning Kyla Breeze
Location – Saint Joseph, MO, at Headquarters Nightclub
Promoted by Daniel Flier and Kyla Breeze
Saturday, September 26th – Miss Gay Gateway, Missouri
Theme – Planet Soul; honoring the reigning Musica Malone
Location – Saint Louis, MO, at the Grey Fox
Promoted by Karma Kassidy (Greg Coleman) and Lola Vergara (Luis Acevedo)
Saturday, October 17th – Miss Gay Northwest, Missouri
Theme – Grace and Glamour; honoring the reigning L’oreal
Location – Saint Joseph, MO, at Headquarters Nightclub
Promoted by Dustin Mathews and Patrick Hall (Bianca Bliss)
Saturday, October 24th – Miss Gay Saint Louis, Missouri
Theme – Heaven of Hell; honoring the reigning Melissa Marnier
Location – Saint Louis, MO, at the Grey Fox
Promoted by Jade Sinclair (Michael Klataske)
Saturday, March 12th – Miss Spirit of Saint Louis, Missouri
Theme – A Night in Olympus - Goddesses; honoring the reigning Cierra St. James-Monet
Location – Saint Louis, MO, at the Grey Fox
Promoted by Rolanda Devereux (Orlando Burton)
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| Miss River City Missouri America 2016 |
Gentlemen, there is no time like the present for preparations to begin. The package I presented this year was a vision created over a 2 year time frame, and with the assistance of grabbing early tickets to the state pageant my mind was able to remain at ease while maintaining a constant focus at the task at hand!
As you might have noticed with the details above, I have stepped up as a co-promoter with Daniel Flier over the Miss Gay Metropolitan preliminary. I have always stated that my heart belongs to the Miss Gay Missouri system, and I think this will be one of the first signs during my reign that I will be sticking around as a permanent fixture within this brotherhood. Miss Gay Missouri is about more than just a weekend – it is about diving in and enjoying every moment of preparation that you put into what you present over a weeklong event. As an acting promoter, I hope to inspire future and present contestants to go harder, dream bigger, and remain grounded while we accomplish what is your heart’s desire!
During my years competing, one question that has always been on the forefront of my mind is, “What can we do as an organization to make ourselves more relevant and present within our community?” Watching Josh McMikle raise funds for the charity he chose throughout his reign was very inspiring, and that has equally inspired me to choose an organization that is near and dear to my heart to raise funds for as I travel our wonderful state. Over the past few years, I have built a friendship with an individual that belongs to a community called L’Arche Heartland. During my time spent with Victor, I have witnessed that although he belongs to this organization that supports those with disabilities, he is no different than any other human being. He has set goals that he must achieve, and in attaining these goals gets rewarded with outings that any adult would enjoy doing in their leisurely time.
Taking part in these outings, as well as some of the yearly banquets their community organizes, has brought me to the realization that this non-profit entity is built upon some of the same principles that we should strive to lay as our foundation. Building relationships, holding oneself accountable for responsibilities, and welcoming others with open arms are some of the core belief systems that are comprised by this organization. All these same core beliefs are what should ring true to our platform, and for these reasons, it is with pleasure that I announce that it will be one of my extra-curricular duties to raise funds for this organization as I oversee every preliminary. For further information on L’arche Heartland you can visit https://www.larcheks.org .
This will bring my first newsletter to an end. I look forward to meeting with each and every one of you individually as this year has a lot in store for us, and I look forward to tackling each of these tasks head on as we ring true to exuding EXCELLENCE!
Sounding Off,
Kyla Breeze,
MGMA 2015
APRIL/MAY 2015 MGMA BOARD NEWSLETTER
What an amazing weekend we had at Miss Gay Missouri America 2015! First, I'd like to thank Lexsus Chaney (MGMA 2000) for leading up the effort in KC. All of the hard work of the volunteers and Missouri board was evident throughout the weekend. The Arts Asylum was a wonderful venue. I enjoyed watching the pageant from the comfort of the private balcony with my MGM sisters!! Adria had a truly amazing step down. It's amazing to witness the growth of a person from the time the crown is captured until the time it is passed down. It is a year of amazing growth brought on by being awarded the chance to work across the state - and in some cases across the country. The 19 contestants really showed talent, beauty and heart. I was truly impressed with the field, and I know we are going to have a spectacular preliminary season this year under the leadership of our new Miss Gay Missouri. Speaking of which, congratulations to Kansas City's Kyla Breeze for realizing her dream. She has picked the ball right up from Adria, and already scheduled 7 preliminaries! We, the board of alumni, are thrilled with what she has done in just two weeks, and look forward to working with her for the next 11 months!
Those who attended MGM this year were made aware of Daniel / Vanessa Vincent's announcement of stepping back from an official board member, though still participating in a limited capacity. We would like to express our thanks to Daniel for his years of service. You have been a role model to many, and we hope that some of our sisters are eager to follow your example. Look for more information on the 2016 season board to come.
June is quickly approaching, and with that LGBTQ Pride! We in St Louis are thrilled to share that Kyla will be performing at the Grey Fox over Pride weekend! We are also working on parade arrangements so she can partake in the full Pride St Louis experience! Traveling the state is such a wonderful perk of Miss Gay Missouri!
It's ironic that as soon as we crown Miss Gay Missouri, the work begins to find her replacement. The day after crowning we sat down with Kyla, and began to plan MGM 2016. It's truly a year in the making. We've given time frames to come up with her step down theme, set dates for some preliminaries, and started the process of date selections for the pageant. Of course, we expect Kansas City to again host Miss Gay Missouri.
Those who have MGM in their heart, start your preparations now. Allow yourself time to present your best, and you too can join the Miss Gay Missouri America sisterhood! The first preliminary is set for Memorial Day weekend in Hannibal, MO - Miss River City! Keep and eye on our Facebook page (or Kyla's!) for further preliminary information!
So we close today with a big thank you - to all who part impacted in Miss Gay Missouri America 2015 - contestants, volunteers, staff and management of the Arts Asylum and the Best Western Seville in, Miss Gay America Blair Williams, the formers, and the audience members! Thank you for helping keep our sisterhood alive and relevant in 2015!
Jade Sinclair/Michael Klataske
MGMA 2007
