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It's just grown. I mean, it's a bit like Topsy, it's just grown. I mean, the first year we did it in 2004, I mean, nobody knew how it was gonna go. We performed at the Sky City, and it's an 800 seater. And we, um, sold out. I mean, we just didn't know And it was interesting for me. My straight friends, that came the husbands all came out of duress. But after the show, they all wanted to come come again and they've [00:00:30] they've supported all the way through. And, um, I mean, even so now I've just I've just sold 100 and five tickets for the show in July, So it's just Yeah, it's just amazing. And and, of course, the camaraderie and all this of meeting people and people that are not involved with it think Oh, it must be screaming queens and daggers and stilettos, you know, thrown at each other. But it's just the whole the whole band. Just [00:01:00] get on well, so well together. Can I take you back to that? That first pageant and I'm just wondering how how did you get involved in it? Well, I'm I used to do amateur dramatics, sort of musical theatre, and Jonathan and Kevin had seen me in a few things, and so they knew I could move. And they knew I could, um, hold a tune. Not that, of course, in the Queen of the Universe. We don't have to be able to do any of that. Um and so Jonathan [00:01:30] contacted me and said, We're doing This is the show we're doing. And, um, I want you to be a finalist because because everyone says it's fixed, but it's not fixed. I mean, we know who the finalists are, but on the night, it's actually a competition. And the work. I mean, I've been a finalist four times, I think, five times. And the work you have to put in because you have to source your music, put it all together five minutes, you have to choreograph it. You have to costume it all at your own [00:02:00] expense. So you then have to get sponsorship and all this sort of stuff. So, um so Jonathan just rang and said, um, this is what we're doing. Um, and he gave me three or four countries that I could be so I For some reason I don't know, I chose Miss Japan. So I was Miss Japan the first year I was Cherry Blossom Osaka. And it just as I say, it's just gone. Gone from there in that first year. Uh, how many [00:02:30] participants were there? Probably with because the first year we only had two muscle boys. Um, whereas now I think we have about 10 or 12. Um, I think I think there was about 30 of us on stage. And of course, now it's 50 odd or something, I think. And of course, we've won. We We're in the Guinness Book of Records twice. I mean, Jonathan being Jonathan, contacted Guinness Book of Records and sort of said, You know, could can we [00:03:00] get make a record or whatever? And of course they have. You have to be so specific with the Guinness Book of Records. And so they helped Jonathan phrase what we were gonna do, and it was the most number of men in drag performing a choreographed piece that was longer than two minutes or something. Rather so we we beat a record that was done by a group in America, Of course, And then I think the following year we beat our own records, so but they don't count. [00:03:30] They don't count the girl. The real girls that are dressed, you know, doing the Victor Victoria thing. It has to be men in drag. So with that first production, did anyone in the cast have any idea of what it was going to be on the first night when you were in rehearsals? Um, we were very lucky that first year we had, um, Helen Medlin, the opera singer. She was our MC and I know Helen through [00:04:00] theatre and stuff. And it was interesting I when I because I was an Act two girl, and I had that we did all this music and I had this little bit of music that we wanted someone to sing to, and we'd made the words up and and I just contacted Helen and she said, Oh, yes, I could do that. She said, Play it over the phone, you know, and and do a little So anyway, so of course I gave. She came on on my in the programme as a supported by you [00:04:30] know, Helen Milan. So of course, when I gave it to Jonathan. Jonathan said Not not the Helen Milan. I said yes. So he contacted her and she was in between jobs that year. So she came along and did did the MC And she got the audience just so worked up and the choreographer Because most of the people in that first show had never been on stage, let alone in a frock or or anything. And the choreographer [00:05:00] got us in positions on a stage. And we all had a spotlight over the top of us. And, um, he said, You know, the reaction of the audience is gonna be that much that we won't have you moving to begin with. We'll sing. We were singing I am what I am So we set stood still and we sang I am what I am But she was in front of the curtain getting them all wound up and yahoo And it was amazing As the curtain went up, [00:05:30] You you were hit by the noise. It actually knocked you on your shoes. You swayed and, um, I I get emotional. I still isn't it. Um but you just knew that everybody was with you and they just loved it. And the more we went and then right at the end, you know, we we sort of do the opening number, sort of maybe at the end, as a finishing thing. And I mean, the audience were just wild. It was just. [00:06:00] And, as I say, all the husbands of my friends were all saying, Look, if if it's gonna be on next year, we want tickets. And, um, that's how it's been amazing the rehearsal period for that first show, You you were saying that a lot of people hadn't been on stage before. What was that like? What was, well, the the The great thing is that Jonathan says anyone can be in the show. Anyone you don't need any skills, [00:06:30] any talents, You just have to make the commitment to do every rehearsal, supply, a dress, a wig and some shoes, and that's all you have to do. But the guy Michael Sanders was is our choreographer. I mean, we have two or three now, but he was our first choreographer, and he he does a lot of amateur theatre, So I think he's used to having people that are not dancers and stuff but everybody, everybody helped one another. [00:07:00] I mean, I'm only in a little cottage, and one of the guys down the hill was was finding it really hard. And so he used to come to my place. And then, of course, when we were on at the theatre because when it was at Sky City, because it's black most of the time, I don't think they put shows on there. Now, um, we we were able to rehearse like the like last week at the theatre. And so, you know, you'd be taking people in the wings. I mean, everybody just helped, you know? Of course [00:07:30] there's the odd thing of someone not in the right spot. And you say, Oh, you know, you're not in the right spot and they go, Oh, you just want to be in the front and and you're saying, Well, no, you're lighting. You go. You got to remember there's a little X where you stand because you're lighting. Um, you know, you want to be seen. You know, I said, It's not that I want to be in front of you even though I said they'd be looking at me anyway. But no it was. And it's interesting because I think we had only [00:08:00] like eight rehearsals. And of course, most of the people said it wasn't enough. We needed to do more. Um, but I, you know, sit in front of them. I said, Yeah, but I I said, I don't mean it detrimental. But I said none of you. Even if we had eight months, you still wouldn't be able to pick it up. I said, And a lot of the energy is is just, you know, getting on and doing it, you know, um because because now I think we [00:08:30] I think we have about 16 rehearsals for the next one. So, uh but no, I mean because because it is a social thing as well. And of course, I because I've done shows and stuff, I want it to be good. And of course, they want it to be good. But of course, at rehearsals, I mean, they're all chatting away and don't really listen to what they're being told, and then they wonder why they can't do it. And but, no, it's just just it's just amazing how it's just grown, and it's just lovely. [00:09:00] Jonathan, the director what is his directing style like, um, he's very, very good. I mean, he doesn't He doesn't. I say he doesn't. I mean, of course, he loses his call now in the game, but most of the time, he doesn't. And he's very good at, um, you know, boosting people up. I mean, he seems to know when someone might be down or whatever. You know, they've had [00:09:30] a hard week or something or other, and he'll, um you know, booster them up and and say, Look, come on, you You can come to the front or da da da, da da. But, um and but he he is a perfectionist, and I mean, he probably would have everything written down. I mean, you get a schedule from him like the the the day of the show. I mean, it goes eight o'clock, this 8 12 this, and I mean, it goes all the, you know. I mean, he's just so [00:10:00] exact, which I think you've got to be when when you've got so many. And then, of course, now you know, 50 odd people on stage, plus all the backstage people and and of course, most of us have to do quick changes. So we all have dresses and all that. So there's huge amounts of people. So I mean, he's. But he's very good at that, you know? And I suppose that's why he runs his own little ment company. So he's very good at that. Right from the start of the pageant. The idea [00:10:30] of the contestants making their own, uh, dresses and headgear was Was that always the way? Yeah, Um, when we first did it one of the fabric shops here in Auckland. I can't think of the name, but they came on board as a sponsor and we were able to get X number of metres of certain fabrics, you know? So they just said You can have these fabrics and I tried to [00:11:00] find lots of my friends. So and I sew, but I'm no good at creating something without a pattern. And none of them said they couldn't. They couldn't do anything without a pattern. And then, you know, someone said, Oh, so and so and so and so. And Catherine, she runs the costume magic, and she's been on board since because I went and because she was working for costume magic then and now she owns the costume shop. But, um, this friend said, Well, [00:11:30] I'll give you Catherine. She's is she said, um, she's marvellous. And, uh, so she said, Oh, yes, I'd love to do it. And so we met at the fabric shop, and that's the first time we'd met. And, um so I told her I was Miss Japan and da da da da So she said, Well, you obviously got to have a red dress And so she said, Which fabric? And I said, Well, you you've got to make it So, um, you choose the fabric because you got to work with it and I told her what I wanted. I wanted a cow [00:12:00] neck. I wasn't gonna I wasn't gonna have boobs. I, you know, I just thought, Oh, well, I'm Japanese so I can get away with So the cow neck and I said, I want angled he line And I said, Slick because I said, My legs are my best feature So they've got to be seen. And she took two measurements and I went for a fitting, and all she had to do was adjust the the the cow neck and, um so yeah, from day one, you had to, and it's it's interesting, because I've done theatre. [00:12:30] I know you can wear shit on stage and, of course, under the lights will come up. I mean, the frock that I'm gonna be wearing next year. I wore it was the one I wore as miss, um Holland, because the theme is red and gold. So I thought, Well, I've got that dress, but we've been wearing that dress for 20 years. I mean, the sequins are all dropping off. I mean, but under the lights. So we just add flowers and things to cover up the board bits on the on the fabric. And then I only [00:13:00] had little like Louis heel shoes that I got from an op shop. Um, but of course, as the show has gone on, everyone's got bigger and bigger. So the shoes I use now, um, another contestant, Steve Lawrence. He had all these shoes and this period, big platforms and big heel, but nice, solid hell. And so he gave me the shoes. So, um, you know, I think, but some of them have gowns made, you know, and OK, they get the money or the sponsorship. [00:13:30] But of course, all the detail just disappears on stage, and they they just don't understand it. But then they enjoy having a gown made. I don't know, but, um, I've got this friend Diana, and she does, um, she we say hair and makeup. She does hair and makeup. She was a hairdresser and wick wig maker in the past. And, um so she she does my hair and makeup and we make the well, we we had that costume the, um the red one that I wore as Miss Holland. Um, but we [00:14:00] added all the frills and bits that she has the ideas and I zoom up the the costume and we've done that with all shows. I mean, like, when I was Miss Peru, it was black and white, and Diana and I were watching dancing with the stars, and this woman was dancing around and she had all this, um, Mabo floating around the bottom. And I said, That's that's what I want. That's what I want. And Diana had this, like a single dress, [00:14:30] just sort of knee length. And, um, we added bits to it and Catherine, it cost you magic. I said, You know, I want some Malibu but I said I probably can't afford Malibu But she through her contacts in America, she got me these white feather boas that had silver streaks through them. So we put one round the bottom and we made, like, a little cape of this and $40. I mean, we had and of course, Diana and I have great fun [00:15:00] doing it and and doing it and then saying No, that's not quite right and cut it and do another bit. And so, yeah, it's it's been lots of fun. And then, and of course, she does my makeup and everything. But when I went to Wellington with Miss England, she didn't come to Wellington, so I had to do well. I could have got the makeup people, but I said, Oh, I'll, I'll do my makeup And I was sharing a dressing room with the love lovely. And of course, he's young and beautiful [00:15:30] and he'd be doing his makeup. And then at the end of it, he just threw all this glitter over himself. And I thought, Oh, I can do that. Give us some but yes, It's just Yeah, I just think the camaraderie of people helping one another, you know, it's just it's always been like that. Um, I think from one of the first shows, one of the guys he had his dress made fairly fairly early on in the piece, and he was quite a bigger guy. And, of course, during [00:16:00] rehearsals and things, he lost weight. And so, of course, dress rehearsal or a couple of nights before dress rehearsal. You know, you put the dress on and of course, it hung on him like a sack. And Steve, Steve Lawrence, he just said, Oh, put it on, you know, put a couple of pins in it and just took it home and run it up on his just did the hemp sea on on his banana. So Trevor had this lovely fitting dress, So yeah, And what about headgear? [00:16:30] The first year, we didn't have headgear as such. Um, we had to come on in sort of like national costume. So I had a lovely a lovely kimono and and, uh, stuff. So head gear actually didn't start till about the second year. I think. Was it even in the second year. It might be in the third year, but that's got bigger and bigger and bigger. And for me, I actually find it the most difficult thing of the show. Um, because you know, [00:17:00] everybody else is gonna And of course you want to be, because you do go in to win. I mean, um, that's the whole point, because you can win great, great prizes. I mean, when I was Miss England in Wellington, I came third and I won a trip for two to Queenstown accommodation, car and everything. So, I mean, there's lovely things to win. Um, but, um, yeah, the head gear I find Really, that's the difficult one for me because I'm not [00:17:30] not that creative. And and I sort of have the ideas. And, um um, like, when I was Miss Peru I, I wanted to do Machu Picchu on my head. And, um, I had the idea, and but Diane and of course, Diana and I do it together, so she couldn't see what I was trying to say. So we ended up with just a a bit of huge bit of polystyrene, and I had a photo of Matri pic blown up on it. But I wanted it to be sort [00:18:00] of free 3D or in a relief, you know, So it would have been a lot of work and stuff, but, uh, yeah, So, um and of course, this next year it it's optional because I'd said to Jonathan, I said a lot of us find it. Really? And, of course, also the cost of doing something like that. Um, Maggie, one of the contestants, She her son, is something to do with design and theatre. And she was Miss Egypt last year, and he made this incredible impo. [00:18:30] But the Sphinx, I mean, huge thing, but it was done on a you know, you feed it into the computer, and the computer carves the the thing. Well, you know, it cost her, like, $1500 you know, and she OK? She she knew she was going to have to pay for it, but, I mean, she could have got sponsorship, but she didn't, but, um, yeah, I don't know. I just find it just hard. I The best one, I think the best one I did I was when I was Miss England. [00:19:00] Um, I came on as the rose the rose of England. So I was in a body stocking of Bright green. And Diana's, um, daughter in law never made a hat in her life. But she's all right on the sewing machine. And she made this incredible rose wired and stuff so that that one was lovely because, I suppose because some somebody else did it for me, I mean, when I went to see it before she had finished it, I thought, Oh, it's [00:19:30] not what I want. Oh, dear, you know, Um but of course it wasn't finished. And then when I went back and she came out wearing it, I burst into tears. I said, Oh, it's just what I want. It's still in the cupboard at home gathering dust. Do you find that The that The whole process of going through the production a bit of a roller coaster in terms of, you know, tensions and oh, yeah, I mean, because [00:20:00] you want to, you know, I mean, I mean, the the bottom line is that we've all got to have fun, but you still want it to be right, and and the people are, you know, as like with amateur Theatre I mean, people are still paying to come and see it, so it's gotta be It's gotta be good. Um And, uh, but the roller coaster is is And I think you know, you need, um you need all that. And I mean, you need that. People say to me, Oh, you surely you don't get nervous going on stage because you've done it so long and done [00:20:30] theatre and stuff. And I said, Well, no, because I said, that's what gets you gets you, gives you the edge. You know, it just gives you the I said if if you didn't feel anything before you were No, I just said I don't think I'd be Wouldn't want to do it. I don't think it would be the same. And I'm sure with, you know, most actors, they still, you know, even if they've been doing it for years, they still feel the edge just before they have to go on. And of course, when you get on you [00:21:00] and if you're doing things wrong and you know you're doing it wrong, you've got to get out of it. You know, um, I used to do tap tap classes and um, we started. We started with a play called Stepping Out, and It's a story about tap classes and there's only one man in it and I played Jeffrey, and it's It's about learning to tap. And in the play at the end, it's like two years later and they put on a show for the community. So you had to learn to tap and then you had to unlearn. [00:21:30] And of course I couldn't. I couldn't get my brain and my feet together, so, you know, I'd just fudge it. And, of course, some of the women in the group we we then started our own class, which went for about five years, and it was just like the play, you know, the woman was doing it because her husband was beating her up, and I mean, it was just like the play. It was incredible. And, um so we started doing shows, and the the tap teacher said, Oh, she said, You're you're terrible. She [00:22:00] said, There's everybody else going. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle will change, shuffle in their heads and they're doing it correct. And you're just doing that and you've got the finish and everything. And she said. And you make them all look as if they're doing it wrong. And I said, Well, there you are And it's the same with the show that I say Say to the the ones that worry about it I said, You know, you got to remember there's so many people on stage and everyone's not gonna [00:22:30] be looking at you I said, You know, besides, they're all gonna be looking at me. Um, but I said, You know, you just don't I mean, of course you're gonna feel awful, But you can't go. Oh, my God. You know, you can't show it on your face or or whatever or you can I mean, but because there are so many people on stage that you can fudge it. And of course, the great thing is that you know, we all we all lip sync so you don't have to actually, well, you do have to learn the words because, um, you've got to know. And that's another thing with Jonathan. I mean, he gives us [00:23:00] a CD with a print of the the words because he tweaks the the music to make it fit and stuff. So you get the words and the CD. And in 2006, I went travelling. But I came back and was back here for two weeks and did the show as as Miss Peru. But he sent me the CD overseas. So here I'm in London doing the routines and all this and and of course, I came back and a lot of the new new ones didn't didn't know [00:23:30] me. And of course I learned the words and everything. And I'm quite good at picking up dance routines. And and, of course, as long as there's people around me, I can, if I'm in the front, of course, I can't until I've learned it. And some of these youngsters said, But have you been doing Have you been doing this choreography while you're away? And I said, No, no, no, no, no. I said, This is my first day and they said it can't be And I said, Well, your peripheral vision and and, um, I said, I'm probably not doing exactly, [00:24:00] but nobody. And of course, by the end of the couple of weeks rehearsal, I was up to scratch. So so tell me what it's like moving from the rehearsal period into the theatre. That's the technical you that you have the technical rehearsal when everything goes turns to custard. And I actually hate the technical because that's when you know people shout at one another. [00:24:30] I mean, Jonathan shouts, and the stage manager shouts, and and the people in the wings are chatting and not listening, and and then they wonder why they're on the wrong side. And, uh so the technical one is the difficult one, and then the dress rehearsal is is seems to go well. But of course, Jonathan also make we do. We do a dress rehearsal on the actual day so we actually do the show twice on the day of the performance. So, um, [00:25:00] but it's good because every and and that. But the funny thing is, you know, we don't we do it with dresses and the dress rehearsal, but we don't do wigs and makeup, but people can if they want to wear the wig. So the funny thing is, when you're queuing to go on stage for on opening night, you don't recognise anyone. And this last time, Um, because I didn't do the show up here and then I learned to to go down to Wellington for the the out games. Um [00:25:30] and so I thought, Oh, yes, I've got to follow Sue. Well, she's a tall lady with dark hair, but on stage she had bubbly blonde hair and and of course, I wasn't doing the steps correctly and stuff. And I'm thinking, But where is Sue? Where's Sue? And I think Oh, there she is and stuff because I'd get into position late and people would look at me and and, uh but no, it was fun. It was It was good. It was a good good. And it was it was great for [00:26:00] me because I as I say, I travelled last year and I said to Jonathan, I'm planning to be away while the show is on because I don't want to come back and watch it, because if I watched it, I'd want to be in it. So I I didn't even see it. And, um but, um, going to Wellington, I was going to Wellington because I also swim. And so I'm in the in the team Auckland Masters swimmers. And so I swam in the out games down in Wellington and came home with three golds and a bronze. So, um, not [00:26:30] only my stage and screen, but I'm also Olympian. And last year, one of the reasons for being away. I was at the Gay Games in Cologne and came back with two golds and a silver there. I think so. Lose count. That's fantastic. So, have you been in every queen of the whole universe? Well, I, I say I've been in every queen of the whole universe. Um, but I didn't actually physically do last year's show. [00:27:00] 2010. I didn't do that show. Um, but when um, Owen was Miss Oz, he won, and he won a trip to, um Fiji. And so Owen asked me, Would I like to go with him? So he was He was Barbie prawn because he was Miss Oz, and I was Annette curtain. So here's Barbie and Annette in Fiji. And the funny thing was, we got there and we were in [00:27:30] Oh, I forget the name because there's an I think it's and it's it's quite a It's a sugar cane town, and it's quite industrial and stuff. And the day we got there, they were having like a festival and they had the crowning of Miss Sugar cane. And so, of course, Barbie and Anne just laughed and said, Oh, we should have bought our dresses. We could have got in the Miss Sugar cane thing. So [00:28:00] So Owen won that in 2009. So in 2010, So that's the show I didn't actually perform in. But Owen handed over the crown to the next queen, and he mentioned that Annette was sorry. Anne wasn't in the show, but she was, um, touring, promoting queen of the whole universe in the world. She was doing a term of tour or whatever, so I was mentioned. So but Jonathan says, Well, you weren't [00:28:30] in it and I said, Well, I was by name so I've been in every production. But then, of course, that that same show, the 2010 they took to Wellington. And so the guy who played Miss Heaven wasn't going down to Wellington. So I took Miss Heaven and then got talked. Well, I think I got Hoodwinked into being an Act two girl because Miss Heaven was just an act One girl. Can you talk to me about, um, the transformation going from ID to whatever [00:29:00] country you're representing. Well, it was It was interesting. My friend Diana, who's who, As I say, she's my creator. Um, she was doing an art course at Rutherford College. Um, and it was like that first year of 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 so she was doing this course and, um and Diana is a bit like me. She just thinks, Oh, you should just be able to [00:29:30] go right? You know, they want a church, there's there's a church. But of course you have to have the thought process and the lecturers wanted to know where you're coming from and all this and there were three TS or something. It was truth, transformation, and something or other. And and of course, she'd go. And she'd say, Oh, what about this and this and this? And the lecturer said, Diana, you can do better than that, and and so she'd go and think again and think again and and she [00:30:00] was. She was thinking, I'm not gonna do this course, You know, I just want to do art, you know? 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. So she went to them and they said, Yes, that's fine. So that first year when I when I was that was the second year when [00:30:30] I was Miss Holland. Um, she did this amazing study. I've got this lovely book she did of me on the sewing machine and and picture of just my leg, my legs and then in stockings, on the shoes. And and And then the last picture at the end was, um Ophelia. Ophelia. Dick? Yeah, Ophelia Dike. That's who I was as Miss Holland. Um, and, um and then part of that. So that got accepted, and they just loved [00:31:00] it. And then she a part of the course she had to do something else about a childhood thing that you've always wanted or something that you've never had. And she'd never had a Barbie doll. And so she because she's got all this dress up box. So she got me to go round and she just put on a day makeup. And then she had all these different clothes and wigs, and so the different looks. So I became a Barbie for the die for the day. But the lovely thing was when she she got through the course [00:31:30] and she she graduated. We did the show one night, and I think she graduated the next day on the Sunday And of course it was. The show sort of used to be in November time, Um, so it's coming into summer and stuff. So here I am around her place after doing the show the night before, sort of slightly hung over, putting all the slap on again and dressing up as Ophelia and and went to her graduation dressed [00:32:00] as Ophelia and all the lecturers lecturers came up and they said, Oh, we know you, Ophelia. We feel as if we know you so well. So yes, it's, 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, it was a really mind she 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 [00:32:30] a man in a dress. I mean, once you get the wig on and all that. I mean, it's fabulous that, you know, But I still felt like, um a man. 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 [00:33:00] a bloody good looking 58 year old woman. I said, You're right, you're right. My shoulders went back and every so every time I go on So, uh, the last one, I would have done 2009 Miss England and and um, she says, And so you know what? What? What are you? And I said, a bloody good 62 year old woman and she good on you, but it was really, really interesting. I found it. Really, As I say, [00:33:30] I just felt just like a bloke in a dress. I just felt so butch. I don't think I could ever be butch. So the transformation on the evening of the show? How How does how does that work? Well, that's again amazing. Because you know, we've all got our different dressing rooms and, um, diner, always well in Auckland, anyway, does does my makeup and the other the others. There's always a team [00:34:00] of makeup artists that come along to to do most people, so they all get to see each other just with the face. But it's it's when you put the wig on. It's just amazing. And and as I say, you stand in the wings or in the corridor waiting to go on to the stage and you don't recognise anyone. I mean, it's it's crazy. It's a whole you think, Oh my God, and you're on stage, you're going. But where's where's Michael? [00:34:30] And he's right there and he goes, I'm here and go, Oh, so, um but and of course, we don't really some of them try their wigs on, but we don't really, because they usually set so nicely. You don't wanna muck them up in a rehearsal. So we don't sort of get to wear them until the actual night. So, um and you know, just the eyelashes and stuff, and, uh, I mean, some of them. I mean, I don't know how they wear them. I mean, I just [00:35:00] have regular ordinary girl lashes, but, I mean, some of them have, you know, drag queen lashes, that sort of like 3 ft long, you could have birds sitting on them. And, of course, the lovely thing is, we get to meet our public after the show and and you go up to to people. Um, and they just say, Well, it took us ages to realise who you were, you know? And, of course, Jonathan has us all coming [00:35:30] forward one at a time and on on the a VS or whatever. They they, you know, Miss England curtain or whatever. Um, so it's not until you sort of actually come forward, but people think, Oh, my God, I thought that was it. You mentioned the public. And I'm wondering, can you describe a queen of the whole universe audience? What is that like? Um, well, the great thing is that it it's It's a diversity. [00:36:00] It's a real cross section. I mean, it's not just a gay audience. Um, and as I said earlier, my my friends, um, would first time brought their husbands along and, um, the husbands would came out of duress and they hated it. But of course, after the show, they, um they just wanted to they couldn't believe it and and people get right into it. Um, when I was Miss England, I was doing some of the music when I in my second piece [00:36:30] was wartime songs. You know, Vera Lynn type stuff and and, um, you'd have people you didn't know and it was funny. It was the age group. About 40. They'd come up to me and they go, 00, it made us feel homesick for the UK and oh da da da da da And there was a couple of very English guys came up to me and they they said, Oh, you were robbed. You were robbed. You should have won the Kiwis. The Kiwis don't understand the English humour. [00:37:00] You you you know, even your name a curtain, you know, and they really get they all get into it. And, um and my I've got new neighbours, next door neighbours, and and so I'm talking to them about getting tickets. And I said, You know, I've already got my block of tickets. Um, would you like to come and And she she said, Oh, yes, When is it? You know we'll have a couple of tickets I said July and she said, And you're selling tickets now? And I said, I said The thing will sell out I said, [00:37:30] It's the last show and I always like to get the front two rows. A. They're cheaper. I mean, you get the third row back and I think it's about $20 more expensive. And I always do, Um, like a supporters pack. I've always done it from year one with with Miss Japan, I had the flags. And that year, um, I didn't know anyone with, you know, computers were that much older. I mean, 2004, but I cut the paper out [00:38:00] that drew around an egg cup and filled it in with the red dot. I mean, um, what you do when you haven't got a life. And then I had I little paper folding little fans and stuff, but I think my best one was for Miss Holland. Um, a friend that got me the proper Dutch hat. And I used it as a template and I made using curtains, Not thinking years later I'd be but going to the store and getting, um, net curtains. And, um, I made [00:38:30] all these Dutch hats. I made about 60 Dutch hats with plats, and then I made pa like paper windmills, like the kids make those windmills. And so they had the flag. And so it's just something I like to do. And of course, I had some friends over from England when I was Miss Holland and I gave them the the Supporters pack. So they had one had one, had the hat with plats, and the other one had and they both had flags. And I said, You know, um, when you get there, just put them on or whatever. [00:39:00] And of course, they thought I was sending them up, and so they had them in a plastic bag or whatever, and they got to the foyer of the A centre. And of course, all they could see was all these plats and Dutch hats and flags and and windmills and so quickly put that on and they didn't know anyone. And they offer You obviously know Miss Holland and da da da da da, and it just gets everyone. And in the first year, when you know, nobody knew what it was about my my tap teacher because she choreographed [00:39:30] it and we worked that one out together. They all came wearing kimonos and and stuff. So it was It's just it's just yeah, people just get right back right into it and and it's a good show. You've been an actor girl a number of times, and I'm wondering, is the feeling of competition really real? Like I mean, when you win or lose, is it something that you really? Absolutely. Because the work that you put in as an Act two girl I mean, you've a you have to [00:40:00] do a five minute piece and five minutes is a long time. You've got to source your music. You've got to put it all together. You you've got a then choreographic. You've got to costume it. You can have up to six people supporting you, so you've got to costume them and they've got to go to rehearsals. And so as long as the rehearsals for act As we say, Act one, um, you've got your Act two rehearsals. So you know there's double things going on. So it's a It's a lot of hard work being an Act two girl. [00:40:30] Um, some, some of the people in Act One think, Oh, you know, we could We could do that. But Jonathan's very clever in knowing now that he knows people. I mean, right in the first show. I mean, he just had to think, Oh, well, we'll take those four people and they can be in act act, too. But, um, he's very good at knowing what people are capable of. And if someone says, Oh, I'd like to do Act two I mean, he'll be up front and [00:41:00] and say, Well, I this year, I don't think, you know, maybe next year, you know? I mean, he's very diplomatic and stuff, but I mean, it's his show, so I mean, he's got and he wants. And the second act, I mean, it's just got just got bigger and bigger and bigger, but and I had to laugh because, as I say I, I was miss, um, heaven in the shame Wellington this year. And, of course, Miss Russia had she sort of had the, you know, the onion domes. She had that Fabri egg. She [00:41:30] had this. She had that she had this. Well, Miss Heaven had, um I think there was. I had four angels and me, So there was five of us, and I think all I had was five umbrellas with tinsel and good on it. And but everyone said, you know it. It worked. And it was. And because Sarah, the choreographer, had put it all together, So she she got the theme of what she wanted because I was I was supposed to be Dorothy and Dorothy gets [00:42:00] killed, you know, do Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. And this rock came on and killed me. And it's Dorothy's journey of trying to get to heaven. You know, she's knocking on heaven's door and all that sort of stuff. Um, and it was slick, you know, We dance and dance and dance and did it Da da da, da da. And everybody said, you know, you know, the simplicity of it was just wonderful. Unfortunately, it wasn't videoed, so you really don't see have no idea what it was like. But everyone says, you know, But, [00:42:30] um, Miss Russia had all the bells and whistles. So and there was only there was only three finalists in in Wellington for that year. So they didn't have 123. They just had a winner, and the other two were runners up so to and I would run us up. So, uh, in the Wellington one, why do you think the pageant has been so successful? I think main thing is that, [00:43:00] um, the the great cross section of the audience and, um, you know, they all know it's a good night out. So, um, and as they say, it's also supporting the the charities. Um and I think the main thing is, I think we're all having fun. And so the audience pick up on that and they have fun. And especially when some of the other casts now are doing supporters pack. It was only me to begin with, and and so they, [00:43:30] you know, they they you get to all the different flags and different things, and people dress up and and, um so, yeah, so it's a sort of the audience become competitive as well. That must be an amazing feeling being on stage and just having the audience going wild. Well, yeah, The, um, that first one, though, when the curtain went up, and I mean, I've never felt I mean, you know, at discos and stuff, you hear the But it was it just hit us. [00:44:00] I mean, it just went bang in, you know, really hit you in the chest, and, um and of course, you then know you've got them in in your hands. I mean, it's just wonderful. And one year, I when I was Miss Peru, I got into the second act, and of course, I told all my supporters, Yes, I'm I'm I'm in act too. And they go, Oh, good, good, good. But Jonathan has has, um, red hearings. And in that year, we had a a wedding sequence, [00:44:30] so we had to do a we And because I was being disqualified, which I knew, um, queen of the whole universe actually put my act two bit together, the wedding bit. And of course, So I came down the aisle in my wedding dress and the groom came down the other aisle to, um, go into the chapel and gonna get married. And, um so we're up on the stage and a priest came down on wires and all this stuff, um, and then out of the audience, these plants, [00:45:00] a muscle man came up and, um, AAA a physique sort of performer in in his, um, speed days. And I'm I'm sort of going to the ah Oh, Which one do I pick now? 000, and and of course I'm And the two walk off with my groom. And so I'm left on stage on my knees screaming, and I mean, it was all the music and all this stuff, and, of course, the the judge or [00:45:30] whoever It was the MC that that night says, Oh, M Peru has been disqualified for over acting and and, of course, all my friends I said I was in it. So of course, they they still thought I was coming and and Jonathan's going What? Don't Because they're all in the fab. What don't you understand? Miss Peru is not in the show anymore. You'll have to support somebody else and they're going No, bring her back [00:46:00] just finally, Ed, um, if you had a chance to say to to all the people out there in the dark on on the last show something. What? What? What would that be? What would you say to people? Um, I would like to thank Jonathan for his thought of putting it all together [00:46:30] and holding it together And, um, you know, promoting it And and, of course, with Kevin's help as well. But, um, yeah, so a big thank you to them, especially Jonathan.
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