Introducing Mathew Bailey Mr WV Pride 2008 and his three lovely Pride wives Now that the news that three queens were crowned as Miss WV Pride 2008 has settled a bit, we are beginning to see some wonderful benefits of having three Pride queens this year. There is so much talent, beauty, creativity and experience among these three ladies and only Mathew Bailey has the matching male energy, personality and talent to be crowned their king. These are the faces of West Virginia's GLBT Pride of 2008 
Mr WV Pride 2008, Mathew Bailey I'm 26 and single. I was born and raised in Ashland, KY. My five siblings and I all grew up in church, which is where I got involved with music. I was always in choir and taking piano during my high school years. I am now attending Marshall University as a Graphic Design major. I love the school and love being involved with campus organizations and activities. After graduating I would love to work as a designer for a major publication, such as Out, GQ, or Details.
I have always been a performer on the side, but it was not until this year that I got involved in the pageant world. This summer I began bartending at The Polo Club in Huntington and was persuaded by the staff and regulars to enter the Mr. Polo Pride preliminary. I was really surprise to win, and the support to enter the Mr. WV Pride pageant was overwhelming.
I am extremely excited to have the title of Mr. WV Pride. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to travel the state and get involved in the gay community. Meeting new people, raising money, and hosting benefits, are all things that I look forward to this year, but more importantly, I want to focus on setting up a Huntington chapter of the WV Rainbow Pride Organization. We all agree that there in a need to unify and include the entire gay community of WV. Being locally from Huntington, I feel the need to use the title to promote and help organize a chapter in the community. I plan on working very hard to do what ever is necessary to get the Huntington chapter up and running. Miss WV Pride 2008 (These ladies equally share the crown and responsibilities of Miss Pride of WV 2008 and are listed in no particular order below.) Jessica Jade 
My journey in female impersonation started in the summer of 1999. I took stage for the first time competing in a talent night at The Park in Raonoke Virginia, I was the proud creation of then Miss Virginia, Diondra Dee. I performed a Britney Spears, Opps I did It Again, mega mix in a skin tight red vinyl cat suit. Needless to say, I didn't win the contest that night, but I found my calling in the spotlight. I've been performing extensively ever since. I have a true deep seeded passion for performing and enjoy the creativity and theatre that is alive within the art form. I have been afforded the opportunity to travel and work at some of the premiere clubs on the east coast, mostly in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and DC, I have competed and won many contest over the course of my career and have competed in four national contest (Miss Gay America, Miss Gay USofA, Miss Unlimited, Miss United States). I won my first national title in 2007 as Miss United States. My ultimate goal in female impersonation is to be a Miss Gay America. I compete for my spot back to Miss America as Miss DC, July 6th in the nation's capital; so, wish me luck! It has not been easy juggling a professional career in healthcare and my career in female impersonation without slighting one for the other, but I feel I keep the consistency and don't slight one for the other. You only live once and my motto is "Make a difference leave your mark". I intend to do just that everyday.... somehow....someway. I look for forward to performing as much as possible throughout the year in West Virginia and getting know as many people and performers as I can from the Mountain State!
Martina Dezerae (Pictured below with her LTR Partner of 17 years, William)
My first performance was in Fayetteville, NC at a club called Reunions. I performed to Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out", followed by "The Right Stuff" by Vanessa Williams. The reactions from the audience was great, but when asked if I was going to start performing as a female impersonator, I answered, no. Now look at me, 17 years later! The first time I did drag was on a dare. It was our DJ's birthday party at my hometown club, CLUB OZ. I was a senior in high school. Terry Vanessa Coleman of Louisville, KY and Shanna Brooks of Atlanta, GA are my 'drag mothers'. Starting with the most current title before WV Pride 2008, Miss WVAS QUEER NEWS (Woodstarr, Parkersburg, WV) and a partial list below: Miss Huntington, WV (Polo Club, Huntington, WV); Miss Gay Knox County (Rainbow West, Knoxville, NC); Miss Polo Club (Huntington, WV); Miss Broadway (Charleston, WV); Miss Trax Pride (Charleston, WV); Miss WV Pride (Charleston, WV); Miss Gay Tri-State (Huntington, WV); Miss Ohio Metro Entertainer of the Year (Cincinnati, OH); Miss WV USA at Large ((Huntington, WV); Miss Mountain State Entertainer of the Year ( Trax, Charleston, WV); Miss Foot Hills North Carolina, Female Impersonator (Hickory, NC); Miss Beckley Tri-States (Beckley, WV) "Always be a first-rate or yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else."--Judy Garland Stephanie Michelle Williams 
Stephanie Michelle did not respond to our requests for information for this deadline, but her history of dedication and hard work in the community over the years speaks for itself. She has been in the pageant and female impersonation circuit for years, with numerous titles and accomplishments as an entertainer, as well as, her work with the Rainbow Pride of WV committee. She teamed up with former Mr Pride of WV, Steve Tompa this year to raise money for the CLAW Nation tour and local AIDS organizations. Her tireless efforts in the local GLBT community, matched with her talent and experience in the female impersonation business, deservingly, place her among West Virginia's most elite in the entertainment circuit. "I remember her performance at my birthday party this year most fondly."--Jim Lawson, WVQN She showed up and volunteered to help host the fundraiser for The Memory Garden, INC. The crowd responded enthusiastically to her and she has become an honorary member of the leather community through her most recent work to raise funds and encourage hope for a cure for AIDS. We will be seeing much more of these fab four in the coming year. Congratulations to Mr and Miss Pride of WV 2008! by Speak Out reporter, Jim Lawson
Introducing
Mathew Bailey
Mr WV Pride 2008
and his three lovely Pride wives
Now that the news that three queens were crowned as Miss WV Pride 2008 has settled a bit, we are beginning to see some wonderful benefits of having three Pride queens this year. There is so much talent, beauty, creativity and experience among these three ladies and only Mathew Bailey has the matching male energy, personality and talent to be crowned their king.
These are the faces of West Virginia's GLBT Pride of 2008
Mr WV Pride 2008, Mathew Bailey
I'm 26 and single. I was born and raised in Ashland, KY. My five siblings and I all grew up in church, which is where I got involved with music. I was always in choir and taking piano during my high school years. I am now attending Marshall University as a Graphic Design major. I love the school and love being involved with campus organizations and activities. After graduating I would love to work as a designer for a major publication, such as Out, GQ, or Details.
I have always been a performer on the side, but it was not until this year that I got involved in the pageant world. This summer I began bartending at The Polo Club in Huntington and was persuaded by the staff and regulars to enter the Mr. Polo Pride preliminary. I was really surprise to win, and the support to enter the Mr. WV Pride pageant was overwhelming.
I am extremely excited to have the title of Mr. WV Pride. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to travel the state and get involved in the gay community. Meeting new people, raising money, and hosting benefits, are all things that I look forward to this year, but more importantly, I want to focus on setting up a Huntington chapter of the WV Rainbow Pride Organization. We all agree that there in a need to unify and include the entire gay community of WV. Being locally from Huntington, I feel the need to use the title to promote and help organize a chapter in the community. I plan on working very hard to do what ever is necessary to get the Huntington chapter up and running.
I have always been a performer on the side, but it was not until this year that I got involved in the pageant world. This summer I began bartending at The Polo Club in Huntington and was persuaded by the staff and regulars to enter the Mr. Polo Pride preliminary. I was really surprise to win, and the support to enter the Mr. WV Pride pageant was overwhelming.
I am extremely excited to have the title of Mr. WV Pride. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to travel the state and get involved in the gay community. Meeting new people, raising money, and hosting benefits, are all things that I look forward to this year, but more importantly, I want to focus on setting up a Huntington chapter of the WV Rainbow Pride Organization. We all agree that there in a need to unify and include the entire gay community of WV. Being locally from Huntington, I feel the need to use the title to promote and help organize a chapter in the community. I plan on working very hard to do what ever is necessary to get the Huntington chapter up and running.
Miss WV Pride 2008
(These ladies equally share the crown and responsibilities of Miss Pride of WV 2008 and are listed in no particular order below.)
Jessica Jade
My journey in female impersonation started in the summer of 1999. I took stage for the first time competing in a talent night at The Park in Raonoke Virginia, I was the proud creation of then Miss Virginia, Diondra Dee. I performed a Britney Spears, Opps I did It Again, mega mix in a skin tight red vinyl cat suit. Needless to say, I didn't win the contest that night, but I found my calling in the spotlight. I've been performing extensively ever since. I have a true deep seeded passion for performing and enjoy the creativity and theatre that is alive within the art form.
I have been afforded the opportunity to travel and work at some of the premiere clubs on the east coast, mostly in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and DC, I have competed and won many contest over the course of my career and have competed in four national contest (Miss Gay America, Miss Gay USofA, Miss Unlimited, Miss United States). I won my first national title in 2007 as Miss United States. My ultimate goal in female impersonation is to be a Miss Gay America. I compete for my spot back to Miss America as Miss DC, July 6th in the nation's capital; so, wish me luck! It has not been easy juggling a professional career in healthcare and my career in female impersonation without slighting one for the other, but I feel I keep the consistency and don't slight one for the other. You only live once and my motto is "Make a difference leave your mark". I intend to do just that everyday.... somehow....someway.
I look for forward to performing as much as possible throughout the year in West Virginia and getting know as many people and performers as I can from the Mountain State!
Martina Dezerae
(Pictured below with her LTR Partner of 17 years, William)
My first performance was in Fayetteville, NC at a club called Reunions. I performed to Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out", followed by "The Right Stuff" by Vanessa Williams. The reactions from the audience was great, but when asked if I was going to start performing as a female impersonator, I answered, no. Now look at me, 17 years later!
The first time I did drag was on a dare. It was our DJ's birthday party at my hometown club, CLUB OZ. I was a senior in high school. Terry Vanessa Coleman of Louisville, KY and Shanna Brooks of Atlanta, GA are my 'drag mothers'.
Starting with the most current title before WV Pride 2008, Miss WVAS QUEER NEWS (Woodstarr, Parkersburg, WV) and a partial list below:
Miss Huntington, WV (Polo Club, Huntington, WV); Miss Gay Knox County (Rainbow West, Knoxville, NC); Miss Polo Club (Huntington, WV); Miss Broadway (Charleston, WV); Miss Trax Pride (Charleston, WV); Miss WV Pride (Charleston, WV); Miss Gay Tri-State (Huntington, WV); Miss Ohio Metro Entertainer of the Year (Cincinnati, OH); Miss WV USA at Large ((Huntington, WV); Miss Mountain State Entertainer of the Year ( Trax, Charleston, WV); Miss Foot Hills North Carolina, Female Impersonator (Hickory, NC); Miss Beckley Tri-States (Beckley, WV)
"Always be a first-rate or yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else."--Judy Garland
Stephanie Michelle Williams
Stephanie Michelle did not respond to our requests for information for this deadline, but her history of dedication and hard work in the community over the years speaks for itself. She has been in the pageant and female impersonation circuit for years, with numerous titles and accomplishments as an entertainer, as well as, her work with the Rainbow Pride of WV committee.
She teamed up with former Mr Pride of WV, Steve Tompa this year to raise money for the CLAW Nation tour and local AIDS organizations.
Her tireless efforts in the local GLBT community, matched with her talent and experience in the female impersonation business, deservingly, place her among West Virginia's most elite in the entertainment circuit.
"I remember her performance at my birthday party this year most fondly."--Jim Lawson, WVQN
She showed up and volunteered to help host the fundraiser for The Memory Garden, INC. The crowd responded enthusiastically to her and she has become an honorary member of the leather community through her most recent work to raise funds and encourage hope for a cure for AIDS.
We will be seeing much more of these fab four in the coming year. Congratulations to Mr and Miss Pride of WV 2008!
by Speak Out reporter, Jim Lawson
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