Miss Brazil Queen of the Whole Universe 2007 11.15PM: In a triumph of vitality over adversity, Peter Taylor - aka Miss Brazil 'Coca Cabana' - was tonight crowned the Queen of the Whole Universe in a glittering NZ AIDS Foundation drag fundraiser pageant. Taylor, an HIV positive man and Auckland cafe owner who has several times clawed his way back to life from deadly HIV and tropical illnesses which have left him almost deaf and with limited eyesight, provided a vivacious and show-stopping performance as a Rio showgirl complete with shimmering makeup, feathered headdresses and remarkably shapely legs. Although the early portions of the annual Queen of the Whole Universe pageants are scripted, the latter stages are a genuine contest in which judges, led tonight by Labour list MP Charles Chauvel and including GayNZ.com senior writer Matt Akersten and twice-winner of the contest, Lola Bangaway, chose the winners after a series of dazzling and energetic performances. Miss Morocco, 'Insultana Polyandre Xpi Ali Docious,' aka Owen Anderson, was chosen in third place and Miss Germany, 'Votta Gooden Tight', aka David Ross, was placed second. The announcement of Taylor's win received a standing ovation from the audience which packed out the main auditorium of Auckland's Aotea Centre. Earlier in the show Miss England, 'HRH Betty Windsor,' aka Brian Connell, won the Beauty with a Purpose award after dissing Auckland Mayor John Banks. Miss New Zealand, 'Dusty Rhodes,' was unplaced, even after chaining herself to the lighting rig to avoid being evicted from the stage during eliminations. Over forty volunteer performers and a large backstage team mounted the slick show which featured dazzling costumes, and flashy and often humorous, drag routines. As the show began, hostesses Buffy and Bimbo announced that almost $40,000 had been raised by this evening's show, bringing the total the QWU shows have rasied over four years for non-government funded AIDS Foundation projects to just over $100,000.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 1st December 2007 - 12:25am