Recently during this Miss Piedmont USofA prelim, there was an editor and photographer there from YES! Weekly, doing their first story on female impersonation. I was honored to by their opinions of me, and allowing not just the gay community, but the community at large, a glimpse into the world of female impersonation, and sharing their thought and their compliments of the nights. Here are a few exerts ~~~~~~

It's trantastic: Miss NC US of A pageant lies somewhere in between

by: Brian Clarey

.....Warehouse 29, which has been open for 15 years, hosts several stages of the national affair each year: the Miss Greensboro US of A, Miss Piedmont US of A and Miss North Carolina US of A. Tonight Miss Piedmont will be crowned and take home the prize of $250, a tiara and earrings designed by Versagarama Designs and entry into the state finals in March. Four entrants will vie for the title, in the categories of interview, evening gown and talent. And past titleholders are on hand to perform between pageant segments.....

Arabia Knight Addams, a crowd favorite who lives in High Point, digs through a makeup case the size of a tackle box. She finds a small bottle of liquid adhesive and applies it to her earring, a big rhinestone-studded star. "So they'll stay on while I'm dancing," she says. "[I'm performing] a high-energy dance. I usually don't rehearse; I like to freestyle." This will be the seventh go at a US of A title for Arabia, a hair stylist and makeup artist by trade, though she's won the Miss Venus International and Miss Galaxy International pageants in the last two years. As she puts the finishing touches on her face she looks over at Melania, who's still showing a lot of skin, and says with in a sweet voice, "I swear I do, I hate you. I'll love you later but right now I hate you."

Arabia saunters from behind the curtain to Whitney's "I'm Every Woman" in a long red dress, lip-syncing along with the words. And then the beat speeds up; Arabia tears away the dress to reveal… a full-on Wonder Woman costume, shiny red boots, golden lasso and all. She whips and spins and puts her hand to her ear while the theme music from the 1970s TV show plays, finishing the dance with a cartwheel into a split.

A hush governs the room as she names Erika Diamond Sutton the first alternate, who will join the winner in the Miss NC US of A pageant in March. But the tiara and earrings go to hometown favorite Arabia Knight Addams. She accepts the crown and moves slowly on the stage in a victory dance of sorts to another Whitney tune, "I Will Always Love You."

~~~~

To read the article in full length, please visit YES! WEEKLY MAGAZINE