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I think it's a lot like wearing a mask for a lot of people because or even after my family told me they didn't recognise me, my mom said she only recognised me because of the dress. Um, when you put on any costume, it changes how you feel. But something that's that big transformation. It's almost like a feeling of freedom. Mike Todd [00:00:30] Tony Liz, Jeremy Maggie, Andre Ash, Jackie Evan, David FR, Ed Dane, Trevor Rob Campbell, John Michelle Boys Mel Charlotte [00:01:00] Cascade Anton, David James Jerry, Ronnie, Wendy, Phoebe OK, that's us. Hey, hey, Thanks, guys. Right. Tomorrow night during the show, we're going to be making five announcements. Some of you won't hear them because you'll be off stage. So I thought I'd give the five announcements to you now so you know what they are. First one, I can confirm that [00:01:30] we've definitely raised 40,000. OK, true, I can confirm that this is the largest audience we've ever had. I can confirm that we will break the Guinness world record that we see right. The majority of people are not, [00:02:00] um do not do drag elsewhere do not do any sort of performance, so This is really this is the one special moment, but they love it. They embrace it. And we take everyone, um, regardless of size, shape, sexuality, gender orientation. Uh, we we're not worried about that. It's very inclusive. So we've been a safe place for heterosexual people who support the cause or support the charities. That we're supporting HIV charities is what we support positive, uh, women body positive [00:02:30] and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. So, um, that's always been an ethic that we we want to promote safe sex and the message of, you know, of of health for people living with HIV and prevention of HIV. So, um yeah, the money is raised. That's where it goes. So people who are supportive of that cause and either have, uh, a supporter of the gay community at large, or maybe even have a son or a daughter who's gay. They've been in the show, have been have strong contribution, [00:03:00] and it's a safe place to be no one. You know, no one gets a rough time. We don't question people about why they're there. So we've had everything from transverse sites to cross dresses, drag queens. Um uh, heterosexual mothers, um, guys who who just would like the idea of, for the first time ever, dressing up in a frock and and doing a show being part of a show. So really, um, women dressing as muscle boys, which is fine and boys dressing as girls and and even people sometimes being a girl one [00:03:30] year and the muscle boy the year yet the next year. That's just great. Hello. Oh, I've just done. I'm Miss Belgium. I'm an And I've just done head gear of nations. I've got the mannequin piss, which is the famous, um, statue from Brussels. And, um, on the night, he's gonna be peeing on the front audience. So I've saved that for tomorrow. And this is me, my dresser. She's She's been helping [00:04:00] with the show. And here's my, uh, Miss Barley high sharing my dressing room. I just gotta carry on. Thank you. There's construction of all of your costumes and your head gear, which, uh, the headgear especially, can be a little bit of work. Some of it's very, very impressive. Um, there's a lot of time that goes into rehearsals, especially coming up to the end towards the show. Two rehearsals a week. If you are an Act two girl or you're working with an Act two girl, there's more on top of that for [00:04:30] their own performance. So had you done drag before? No, I never done drag before. Had you done any kind of performance? No. Um, I was one of those kids who always wanted to, but I went to a rather large all boys school and the drama group. There was very, very small and very separate from everybody else, and it just never sort of got into it. It was more the geek group at school. But, you know, I thought, Why not? When else am I gonna get the chance to be on stage in front of 2000 people? [00:05:00] OK, so it is two metres long about a metre 40 high. It's the Beatles Yellow Submarine album cover Yellow Submarine and in the front is a large porthole. So it sits on my head and I look out through the porthole and I'm wearing sixties inspired um, go go girl garb. And I have one of the Beatles with me on stage, which [00:05:30] is pretty groovy. Um, I'm Angelina Jolly fish, Miss Atlantic ocean. And, um, one of my issues is I have crabs. Crabs? Yeah. It's probably the most fun community event. You know, um, that I've ever been involved in just because it's so diverse. And I just get really excited by what? How it all [00:06:00] shapes up and what people do and what they bring to it. The love they bring to it and the fun they bring to it and the camaraderie they bring to it. Um, and and just working with the collective. You know, I think you've got about, um, 35 to 40 or 50 people on stage, you know, including, um, all of the performers. And we usually have, like, our dresses and volunteers and stage crew. Uh, probably another. You know, 60 or so people behind the stage and it's all working together. [00:06:30] It's a great It's a great, um, atmosphere. Really. And, um, we we it's run professionally, but it's run with with a real sense of fun. So are you one of the backstage helping? Um, as you can see, that huge configuration only learned the other night how to put it together, but we got it takes two of us to do it. Stilts and the skirt and the hat. And, uh, I been helping out for years. Probably half of it. So, yeah, just [00:07:00] being involved with, um, this wonderful, um, group of people. Yeah. Diverse. Because they should work for the as well. So this is one of Egypt, Ellen with the whole body. So he made us in costumes as well. And the head gear and everything else out there. He's a design student. So this is Ellen. Hello. So how long have you been doing this? Or is this your first time? Or this is my I think, its fifth year. The 3rd [00:07:30] 3rd character? Yeah, France last two times went to Auckland, and prior to that was Miss Zambia. Victoria Falls at the table. Yeah, that was when I flew France. The huge number? Yeah, that was great fun. And you're making all these costumes yourself? Yeah. Yeah, we get to the boys. Yeah. OK, Bye. E. They got out and do coming down through [00:08:00] the aisle. So you gonna go and watch? I think it's worth the watch. I was actually really lucky. My family has been very, very supportive of the whole thing. They were a little bit thrown at the beginning. With the whole I'm gonna be in a show dressed as a woman and didn't quite understand what that was about. But after they adjusted to that, my mom actually helped me make all of my costumes. So to start off with, thought we'd go shopping and see if there are any things that we could just buy pre-made. That was very interesting. Um, I remember [00:08:30] going into Greenfield mall with my mother into women's clothing stores and trying on clothes. Yeah, my my family has been amazing. Um, my dad was actually very keen for me to do Act two this year when I said that I wanted to, um, so he's actually sponsoring me for it. So his or his company is sponsoring me so that we can actually afford to do these things, because obviously I'm, um, just very recently out from being a student, and I'm an apprentice hairdresser, so I don't earn that much money, but yeah, [00:09:00] helping helping out of it. And the family is all sort of pulling together. Do we come forward on the stage, please? Thank you. Please, And gentlemen, please forward on the stage. Thank you, Ladies and gentlemen. It is now time to take a few moments to acknowledge a very special [00:09:30] person. Many years ago, this gentleman had a dream to create a very queer live show to entertain the queer and the straight community alike. His commitment, his dedication has been nothing short of incredible. It has been such a pleasure and an honour to be part of the dream that has entertained thousands of people [00:10:00] over the years, not to mention the world breaking records. Of course, we are talking about no other than Mr Jonathan Smith, our creator. Three cheers for Jonathan Smith. You it has [00:10:30] our audience is probably about 30 or 40% gay community and probably 60% wider community, heterosexual community. And and that's pretty consistent, too. It's sort of it's fun and and not in your face. We're not We're not beating any drums. We're just celebrating a lot of different things within our community aesthetic, you know, and and, uh, we we we get a full house, and so we make the most of it. I mean, that's our That's our one night to make the money that we need to make for our for our, you know, charity. [00:11:00] And, um, we do have you got any idea how loud it's gonna be? OK, there's something I say to people, which is when this curtain goes up, it's like the audience are trying to pull you into the house and people I remember people looking at me and thinking, What the hell is he talking about? But you would experience that they actually want a piece of you. And I tell you what, This is gonna be a real really loud audience, so be prepared for it. It's gonna be bloody loud, really [00:11:30] loud, the loudest we've ever had. And the acoustics in here are even better. Which means you're gonna hear it. Yeah, so enjoy it. Because it's the whole universe. And because we're really inhabiting a fantasy realm, we've had everything from Fantasy Island, uh, Miss Antarctica, um, out of planets, missus. So and Miss Venus And and, uh So there's there's characters, Miss Atlantis, uh, that are just totally [00:12:00] possible and fit within the genre in their own unique way. The boundaries can go in any direction if people want to take it there. And we had um, just thinking from last year's, um, pageant. Um, Miss Samoa was, um, two fell for a sofa, and she loved it. She loved that name and all her friends do. And she is so on. So it was perfect. She she could totally get away with it, too fat to fell off her. So and, um, miss Transylvania Nora [00:12:30] vane just, you know, plays on little names. And, um, these are more wrestling. And famously, miss India, who won, uh, miss that year was, uh, Miss Iona de and we had, um uh, Trinidad and Tobago were a contestant, and they were Siamese twins. Joined together at the hip, and, uh, they got through to the final. But then we found out to be fakes because they were actually masquerading as twins and they were found to be joined at the [00:13:00] hip by device. And that was, uh, unlocked. And they were kicked out of the show. And, you know, sometimes you say the audience goes, Oh, you know, like I wanted her to get through. It's like, No, Well, you can't say no, it's not going to happen, But it isn't going to happen, is it? But, um but there is. There is a, uh, an element of true competition, isn't there? Yeah, there are. There are There is a small group of people who are who are committed in advance to be, um, Act two finalists. [00:13:30] And they have to be because they've got to do, um, you know, they truly are the competition part of the show. So that is built in there. The audience doesn't know who's going to really be those ones. So at the beginning of the large, um, production opening number, all the girls are there, and the and the muscle boys and, um, you don't know who's going to be going through that, too. And that's fun, that's all. And the elimination process happens. And then we come down to our last performing ones, and they usually have to do a special [00:14:00] a special fashion parade, an interview question, and then a five minute performance piece, which is judged by, uh, we have a judge panel in the audience Celebrity judges. And and, uh, that's a true competition. Yeah. Oh, that was the same time, my friend Diana, who is, as I say, she's my creator. She was doing an art course at Rutherford College. Um, and it was like that first year of [00:14:30] when you go to university and you do your first year of art and you find out where which which you want to study. And there were three TS or something. It was truth, transformation and something about that. Anyway, she chatted with me and she said, What about the transformation from you from Ed into a drag queen? You know, the truth of HIV aids And, um so I said, Yeah, fine, I'll I'll I'll do it. [00:15:00] So she did this amazing study. I've got this lovely book she did of me on the sewing machine and picture of just my leg, my hairy legs and then in stockings, on the shoes. And and And then the last picture at the end was, um, Ophelia, Ophelia Dyke. That's who I was as Miss Holland. Um, and it's interesting because even though you know I'm an openly gay man, have been and love dressing up and all this [00:15:30] Diana really had to fight with me because it's the only time I feel Butch is. When I put a dress on. I just feel like a man in a dress. I said, Oh, you know. And when she was taking all these photos and things, she's saying So you know, you you know, And she sat me down and of course, I think I was about 58 then And she said, What you've got to remember is you're not a 28 year old woman. You're [00:16:00] a bloody good looking 58 year old woman. I said, You're right, you're right. My shoulders went back and good on you, but it was really, really interesting. I found it. Really? As I say, I just felt just like a bloke in a dress. I just felt so butch. I don't think I could ever be butch. It's mid afternoon. We're getting here to set up, [00:16:30] and, uh, the show is on tonight. How are you feeling, Jonathan? I'm actually feeling really relaxed, but you know what it's like The minute you get in here, there's just things bombarded at you. Where's this? Where's that? Where's this? So I always think of the last week, the last week of the show. Like I get the show ready a week, a week beforehand, get everything done. And then my last week I think of as sort of my troubleshooting week just putting out fires and dealing with that sort of thing. So, no, I'm good. I'm relaxed. So we're just going to warm them up. Now, we we've got no [00:17:00] no feedback. We did all that last night, so that means it's just a really positive thing. We start on and we'll get them to do the opening routine just to loosen up a bit. And we normally play around with them a bit. So we tease them and play, You know, those sort of things. Then we're gonna do the POY dance because the POY dance wasn't good last night. They weren't lip syncing. Um, so we'll chase that up, uh, do the finale, and then they can all go off and have their shaves and showers and get ready for makeup. And then the two girls, um, we'll run their performances, Um, [00:17:30] till about four o'clock. So I'm feeling good. We're ready. We sold even more seats. We're selling them every minute, So we're gonna have a very full house. Very full house. Could I have the backstage workers on stage, please? I wanna talk to you all backstage workers. Thank you. The one thing I'm going to tell you all, but particularly backstage workers, including yourselves, do [00:18:00] not become involved in the show. When you're not on, don't get involved. You must not start to become emotionally part of this show. If you're in the wings, your job is to do your backstage job and keep an eye on it. Technically, click it over in your head. Do not become involved. And if you're in the wings waiting to go on again, don't become emotionally involved with what's happening on the stage. [00:18:30] Your job is to show these people out here who have paid, I hope, $100 a seat to actually see you perform. Don't think Oh, gosh, this is great. What's going on? You can't do that, OK, that's all I wish to say. And I hope you have a very happy dress rehearsal. OK, you. Hello, everyone. Um, can you please all get into your places [00:19:00] for the bow at the very end? Because I just want to go over that because the timing wasn't right for everyone. So the Act two girls and Buffy and Bimbo are in the front. Can you all go from where you do the arms up, Arms down Hippy hippy, hippy hip Do the last lot of that Ready So the end of your dance and arms go up arms go down Hip, hip, hip, hip Walk [00:19:30] round 234 Imagine that was the last time and arms go up and then you take your bow and then arms go up and then you take your bow and post. Now you hold the pose for 101 102 103 the audience are going wild And then you'd all take three steps back. But hang on. Before you do that, be aware that the people at the back might be close to the steps. So you may need to go up the steps [00:20:00] off you go and walk. 123 and another pose. Then you wait for the curtain to bounce. It goes back up. Then you watch Jonathan and you would all go arms Go up and then you take your bow and then the arms go up and take your bow and make up pose and the curtain may bounce again. That whole thing may happen a couple of times. Let's do that again, please. [00:20:30] Most of the shows I work on deal with professional dancers and actors. And so, um, working with people who are not trained dancers has been just, you know, really refreshing. Um, obviously, it brings its own challenges with it, because there was a lot of choreography to get through. Um, and so we had to try and work quite fast at the beginning, which for non dancers can be a bit overwhelming. But everybody has been absolutely amazing. And to watch them have the journey from the first, you [00:21:00] know that first rehearsal, Um, right through to what we see now in the final minutes of rehearsing before the curtain goes up tonight. It's just amazing. And I'm feeling so excited. I. I mean, my job's sort of complete now, so I'll be in the audience tonight watching everybody, Um, which is also hard, because usually I feel like jumping up and counting out loud, which I'm not allowed to do. Jonathan's given me strict instructions, but, um, yes, the choreographer's job is over now, and it's up to the dancers to go out there and just have [00:21:30] a blast tonight. What's your most favourite thing about the queen of the whole universe? Um, definitely the fantastic people that I have come to work with who, a lot of whom have now become my friends. And, um, it's just so lovely to be welcomed by such an amazing group of people and the, um, community pulling together and and doing this sort of event and I, I feel privileged to be a part of it. Oh, my God. It's going really well. Um, I think it's a It's a luxury [00:22:00] to have, um, technical rehearsals just a few hours before the show. Um, and I think what it does is it picks our energy up. Um, it gives us that that, um, last run through and they're going really? Well, guys, Excuse me, guys. How do you feel about that? Off to make up? Um, what is it? It's about three hours, three hours from show time [00:22:30] and to see you. So we've just finished our final run through what we call a dry run. So it's without costumes, but we still did all the scene changes and ran. Ran the main act to make sure everything flows right. So what stage we're at. It's called the calm before the storm, so we have about two or three hours before the utter madness starts again. [00:23:00] So in that 2 to 3 hours, we have a chance to get some food. If there's any technical issues on stage, such as lighting changes or any touching up on scenery or even moving wigs up to the stage, that happens now, Um, we have had just a couple of things where people have had to go for acupuncture because of their headdresses have been quite heavy, and it's it has impacted on on their spines. So we [00:23:30] have to think of that. Also, there's been a few nails have been broken. A couple of sequins have come off. I just had to quickly fix a POY before, um, which is at the end of act one, but I managed to get that done. Um, yeah, so it's all been good. Everyone's coming together, so it will be a great show tonight, So looking forward to it, hold up because there's such a large crew 35 drag queens, to be exact. We do the makeup progressively, so in the room we [00:24:00] have brow block stations. We've got a base station, and then you go through and have your cheeks and lips done. And then you come to the last section, which is eyes and brows. So there's lots of moving around in the room for the models. 35 drag queens. How long does that take? Well, we've got three hours, and there's other things thrown on top of us as well. We've got muscle boys to do up. We've got Cleopatra. We've got somebody that needs to be made really dark. So yeah, it's [00:24:30] not just standard makeup. At the moment. We're getting rid of my eyebrows. I also I got my, um, triple D cuts on ready. And then once this is on, it's it's all go. It's, um, here tucking, dressing, G strings, panty hose, the works. Um, last night when, uh, Jonathan, before we started, um, technical rehearsal. [00:25:00] Uh, Jonathan kind of gave us a couple of real life examples of, um where the money goes that, um, that the show, um, raises and kind of brought at home the importance of why we're doing it and what we're doing it for. And I mean, we're all doing it for fun and different personal reasons. And, um, you know, I've always wanted to be on stage, but never mentioned it being a frock. But, um, yeah, no, I just brought it home. The importance of what we're doing and why we're [00:25:30] doing it. And, um, how it's impacting and affecting other people's lives, which is absolutely amazing. So, Micky, how's it going? Good. Nervous now? Yeah, Um, bit of butterflies, you know, because, uh, yeah, I always do. But then once the curtain goes up, it's fantastic. You know, when you hear all the noise and the crowd, it's wonderful and all this is it. It was all part of it, you know, It goes so quickly, [00:26:00] I it it's all over in a flash. And then tomorrow it's like, take a bit of a dip because it's been going on for so long now, with rehearsing and everything. So no, it's fantastic. It's gonna be a good show. Final show for Jonathan. We'll do our utmost and our best for him. But, um, now this is the next part to make up the transformation of everybody. That's so funny. Um, I originally was going to be an act two girl this year [00:26:30] and I was gonna be Miss Candyland. And her name was going to be KENDY Kane, and she was gonna have, like, a Southern Texan accent. Oh, yeah, of course she did. She was she was going to be. Hey, y'all, My name is candy Candy like your lollipop. I'm gonna make you call my friends in Texas and just say what you just said and I'm gonna hang up and not explain it. I'm glad you guys for for a second we get done here [00:27:00] we are covering the brows that with foundations on it looks like there's no eyebrows there, so we can draw them higher for more makeup. And I hate to admit my face look bigger. And I hate to say, in my early years of doing makeup, I did the same thing to myself and I'm a girl. I was like, more room for makeup. Why not? For me, the biggest point in the transformation is usually the first time. Uh, I was running a little bit late, just with me getting ready. I bought [00:27:30] a pair of eyelashes and one of them was broken and they were very big eyelashes. So I spent a very long time in makeup with him trying to fix that. Um I. I was running so late that when we had the final rehearsal on the stage, which is supposed to be the final dress rehearsal, everyone's supposed to be ready or nearly ready. I was. My makeup was half done. I had one eyelash on and I was only wearing my jeans surrounded by everyone, and I was pretty much in full drag. So I just remember running full speed down the stairs, got my makeup done, ran back up to my dressing [00:28:00] room. I didn't even have a chance to look in a mirror while I got dressed. But then I got my Julie on, grabbed my wig, turned around, looked at the mirror and just sort of stopped because I just couldn't recognise myself. It's just such a It's like a shock, seeing that you can look so different. You can go back because I know how you like your crosses this thing. [00:28:30] I think that looks fantastic and we'll just pin it. Are you happy with that? Yeah, I managed to fracture my ankle about 12 days ago, which unfortunately means my availability to do some of the dance routines is somewhat limited. So I have to wear a moon boot for the next six weeks, which is rather uncomfortable. But, um, Jonathan's been great and still going to participate in the show where I can, so we're just gonna try and kind of tart it up [00:29:00] and make it a little bit less obvious, and I'll be on stage dancing with crutches. Is this the first queen of the whole university I've done? This will be my fifth show that I've done. So it's, um, yeah, great to be part of it. It's a fantastic show, great cause, and it's a bit sad to have it as the last one. So make sure you go out with a bang regardless. And who are you being this year? This year I am Miss Turkey, So I will be a physical turkey for the headgear. So which will, um, hopefully get a few last? Because I'm not sure whether people [00:29:30] will expect that or not. This is my first show. I've been doing theatre for a fair few years. I was intrigued by the concept of this show simply because it's so different to anything I've ever done before. And so I saw it and thought, this is a challenge. Um, so half of me throughout the entire proceedings from the very first day was going Oh, what are you doing? This is this is drag. You don't do drag. And the other half of me was going Oh, my God. Glitter and secret. And so, uh, this has just been brilliant. So [00:30:00] much fun. Thank you. Hi, I'm Mel. Um, and this is the first year out of about six years that I'm being a QW boy. And I'm really enjoying that experience, getting to wear flat shoes and doing different kind of moves And, um, really grateful to be part of this great experience and for such a great cause. Hi, I'm Wendy, and I've been a part of the show for, I think, maybe five years. And I'm loving being a boy this year with Mel, and I [00:30:30] just love being a boy every year because the atmosphere is so great and they're always an awesome bunch of people. And we get to have a lot of fun because we get to share a dressing room. So few antics and, uh, few mischievous things that go on. But, hey, that's all part of it. That's right. It's the boys room. You see what I mean? So, um, yeah, just really looking forward to the show. Love the cause and being awesome to be a part of it. I'm David, and this is my first show, so I have no idea what to expect, but [00:31:00] it went bloody well last night, but, um, so it was great. I've been really, really enjoyed all the rehearsing and getting to know everybody. And then I had forgotten the the excitement that comes just minutes before, you know, the all that work that goes into it, and then it's all over in a flash. So there may be a bit of a down tomorrow. I don't know. We'll see. I'm Anton. Um, this is my fourth show, Um, a little bit sad, because, um um you know, I I've missed a [00:31:30] few because I live up in Melbourne, so but it's great to be here. And, um, to be able to support Jonathan and the cause And to be part of the last show. Yeah, and be seeing everyone again. It's great. My name is Cascade I, also known as Mr Whippy. That's my stage name normally, and I think that this event is a really significant event in the queer community. In fact, probably the most significant commit in terms of [00:32:00] people joining together in terms of recognising why we're doing it for and as a performer. It's the most important thing I've ever done. Now there's just a sense of like, seeing everyone and you can see the energy is really ramped up a level because it's kind of like it's just so nice and everyone turns up and there's all the little final finishing touches which start to to kind of complete the picture. So, um, I'm really excited about it. I'm so excited. It's gonna be fun. And there's always that thing of, like what [00:32:30] will happen, you know, like will there anything that happens, Dodge or someone fall over or, um, you know, all of that stuff is kind of fun seeing how it's going to pan out and stuff. I miss Spain this year, So, um, there are a lot of frills involved. Some very, very big dresses planned. Um, the best performances from what I I feel from what I've seen are the ones that do have a little bit of a storyline going on or a feel that goes through them, [00:33:00] and it's just trying to create that in five minutes. But without it being too, too much of the same thing, you need to have changes and costume changes because the audience loves that. One of the greatest ones I saw was, um I was helping out with Actually was Miss France, and I think he had seven costume changes. And that's not including the backup dancers. So it's just it gives it another dimension. Miss Spain is a complete family [00:33:30] team that put that together. His father built all the set. His mother has done all the costuming. In fact, I went to a meeting with with Campbell, who's Miss Spain. He's sitting there, his mother's there and his father's there. And, um, Campbell was talking about his words and his costuming, and his father was talking about how he's building the towers, and his mother was talking about how she's making me do outfits and I'm sitting there thinking, Wow, Mum and Dad sitting there talking about this with Campbell [00:34:00] and thinking This is what the show is about. I'm thinking back to when I was coming out and, you know, could I have done that with my parents? No way. And I think that's just an acknowledgement of the show as well. When you say Johnny, when you see that and it's like Andre Andre, who played Miss Japan and Miss Germany, his father built all the set everything. Yeah, I remember the one of the first ones I came to was when Ed Ed did the the flags and [00:34:30] the English need a whole whole rows of people who were his supporters. He made 100 and 20 flags of that show, all sitting in the front row this year. This year, the same thing. He's Miss Belgium. The first three rows he bought, I think he bought 100 and 60 tickets. And the 1st 34 rows are all Miss Belgium, all with flags. And he's told them that he goes through to act too well, we know something happens. So Kevin and I, we're gonna get booed, but we [00:35:00] gonna get booed off the stage when we disqualify this Belgium, the front four rows are gonna go absolutely berserk. If you've never had, like an audience cheering at you before, it's just the most. It's very energising, kind of feeling. It just makes you feel very like all of your hard work is paid off and it's valued and these people appreciate it. No, they might not necessarily know how much hard work you put in, but it's got value. Hi, everyone. [00:35:30] Welcome everyone. It's all come on stage. Doesn't matter what state you're in. They all get a bit chatty now. They become the, um, the performers that they're designed to be. And as you can see, everybody looks stunning. I never know who I'm talking to because I can't recognise them with all their outfits on. But, uh, the, you know, the show is about to get underway. It's, [00:36:00] um I'm sure there's the audiences are starting to gather on the outside. Let's look for a great night to New Zealand. The contestant of Queen of the Whole Universe. [00:36:30] Oh, darling, we we came last year to Wellington. We're from Australia, and we came for the, um the, uh um Asian Pacific Out gays. And we love the show so much we had to come back there is. Shut up! I'm camera here. There's 14 of us from Australia. Just come over for the weekend and watch this wonderful show. We think it's fantastic. And [00:37:00] we were down in Wellington for the Gay games. The game and what we really want to know. Is that what we really wanna know? What has happened to Miss Australia? We are most upset. Didn't you hear us? We screamed and screeched our fucking tits off. I mean, our ordinary tits off. Uh, because Miss Australia went home. So some bloody little Kiwi bastard upset her. And we're not real happy about that. And we were here last year. Got [00:37:30] disqualified last year. We were most upset about that too. Do you have any other favourites with City? It's gotta be. He's a he's a priest. Believe it or not, it is. He is gonna be officially in this country. That's right. Once they go outside the borders, it's all off. And and also, of course, Miss Belgium because we're going to the [00:38:00] games in Antwerp next year. My name is Jennifer Hills. I am married to just actually recently married last Friday to the emcee of the show. one of the M CS Brad Hills. That is my husband. And that's what brings me to the queen of the universe. Yeah. Wow. So just married. So is this your honeymoon? Yes. This is This is our honeymoon, which I know seems a little different, but I couldn't be happier. I think it's very exciting to be a part of this. And even just to be able to be here and see everything and actually [00:38:30] get to watch my husband perform and see him, and you know what he does? I think it's very exciting. My name is Andy, and I got involved because the organisers asked me, um, if I would be available to do, um, one part of the show as a guest appearance and award two prizes. So what kind of guest appearance are you doing? Um, I'm the current Mr Gay in New Zealand and Mr Gay World. What do you think? Something like the of the whole universe is important. It is, um, showing the variety of gay life. It is such a wide spectrum. [00:39:00] We have from very butch bears to very feminine queens. And I think I think it's just what it what? It makes us so unique. So I I'm really happy to be part of it. Have you ever done drugs yourself? No, I haven't. I tried walking in high heels once. Almost both. Both. Both my feet are not trying anymore. I started my involvement with queen of the whole universe when it first started in 2004 as a an MC and I was later. [00:39:30] Obviously I did something right because I was later moved to the judging panel and I was a judge for several years and now head judge, which seems an extraordinary responsibility. But there you go. Fake it till you make it. What are you looking for as a judge? It's an overall experiential thrill. This pageant, um and and the girls have worked so hard on it on all parts of their performance, and you have to look at everything Overall, I think the important thing is not to be [00:40:00] too dazzled by the sequence, as they say, not to be too swept away with props and, uh, audio visual stuff. But to actually see through that and look for the talent on stage. So if you take that attitude, you can easily see when one of the girls is just stepping through a routine. And the choreography is perhaps not that strong. Um, And you you look for the real performance, the overall performance. And what about the audience? Can you describe how the audience reacts? [00:40:30] I love this audience because it's a really broad range of people. Last time it was in Auckland, which was in November 2010 at Interval, I ran into two gorgeous girls who'd left their husbands in Hamilton something and come up to Auckland for a girls weekend. They'd seen this on a website and bought tickets just because they thought it was interesting and they were having a fabulous time. They absolutely loved it. And I think this is the the kind of event that brings us all [00:41:00] together and breaks down barriers and I. I reevalue it for that. Ok, ladies and gentlemen gentlemen, please welcome back for the last time. Our four finalists Miss Miss Bay, Miss Miss And Sunday, your winner of freedom of the whole universe. 2012 receives a prize package with over $4000 including $2000 [00:41:30] in cash. And is there was no controversy here. This, uh, winner won by a long way. And, you know, you wanted her to win because she's spoken hot. Miss [00:42:00] Stop. Hello? I thought it was astounding. In fact, I thought it was outstanding, which is a cross between outstanding and astounding. And I thought they were They were amazing. And I loved it every single second. It was the most wonderful, outrageous fun show. Yeah, I just It was very sad as the the last one. So but, um, I've been to a few of them, and, uh, I always supported a lot of fun. Well, [00:42:30] it was quite fabulous. It was more lavish and a little more extreme than than than I was expecting. This is my first time. A lot of effort by a lot of people. Yes. I love the mix of, um, community and sort of basic. Um, it was it was sort of down home, and it was so I mean, yeah, my my cheeks are really stretched from laughing, and I was yelling I was in the front front row and it was just really funny. So it was. Everybody's [00:43:00] smiling when they come out. It's really good. The crowd just went nuts at a couple of places when we did the there, you know? And, uh, that was it was special. And, you know, just the the way they were getting into it, Uh, like they were saying when the curtain went up, it was just awesome. And you just hear this wall of sound in the darkness, and it was just just absolutely incredible. And, um and all the colours of all the girls and their dresses, you get to see sparkling red everywhere and and the energy from the crowd. It was just amazing. I I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Amazing. [00:43:30] And the crowd was so good. They were so supportive as soon as we started. So as soon as that happened, you sort of think Yes. Yeah. No, it was great. It was a really good show. I think Jonathan and Kevin are really pleased. Yeah, no. Now what? Now I know to find something else to keep me occupied in a few years. Geriatric on B. That's good. [00:44:00] We had a great audience capacity audience at the centre, and, um, we have just had a rocking good night, haven't we, Michelle? This is Hello. How are you doing? Did you enjoy the show? She drove up from after work at four o'clock to make it here for the show. That's what I call dedication. It does see this one rocking his stuff on stage. He's really into it. [00:44:30] Yeah. So the satisfied punter, Michelle is the first time in the show Contestants. So just brilliant and such. Good spirit, Good dancer as well. And she's got the moves. Thanks, darling. She's got the moves, and, um, she she helped us, Uh, Spain win. Ah, we have a competition tonight, Gareth. We did. [00:45:00] And, um, you just never know on the night people lift their game. Incredibly. They just give that performance to the crowd. The judges see it, and that's what it's all about. I tell you what. That's got to be the best show. There's no doubt about it. And what a way to finish it after nine years. What a way to go. What a way to go. We just didn't get nervous. And, um, you know, we try not to add, but when you got an audience out there that just wants [00:45:30] and wants and wants, Yeah, we just have to come off the script, and then Brad started to misbehave. And then, of course, we we'd already planned all these sort of one liners, and all of a sudden they all started to come out at once. It was absolutely hilarious. So no good night. Good night. You know, and well done to the 482 girls, too. They did very, very well. Very well. So it's a good night, right? I need to go and see the people upstairs and have a chat to them. How [00:46:00] do you come down from such an intense experience? Yeah, I did find afterwards I was I felt a bit lost. Um, I used to having these rehearsals so often and seeing this group of people every week or twice a week, and then it's just all over. It's a bit of a a sad thing, you know, saying goodbye to everyone. If you had the opportunity on that last performance to, uh, address the crowd in some way, is there anything that you would want to say to them? [00:46:30] Um, I'd want them to take the feeling that they get from the show that feeling of joy and acceptance and there's a huge feeling of love that goes with it and to keep that with them, you know, don't leave it behind and treat everyone else that they come into with that same compassion and happiness that the show brings to people like, I think it's it's amazing just the way that this hugely [00:47:00] diverse group of people and the hugely diverse audience all come together for this one night and everyone has an amazing time and I just wish, you know, the the rest of people's lives could be like that.
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