One of the most influential LGBT documentaries of all time is The Queen, Frank Simon and Flawless Sabrina’s 1968 film that takes the viewer behind the scenes of a tumultuous drag pageant held in New York City two years before the Stonewall riots.



The landmark film, which has now been remastered and is available on Netflix, inspired the likes of Paris is Burning, Wigstock, Pose and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

[Originally posted as FOF #2824 – Pageant Queen Aurora Sexton Looks at the 1968 Documentary The Queen]

Today, Miss Gay U.S. of A pageant winner, Aurora Sexton, joins us to look at drag pageants over the decades and what it takes for a gal to make it big in the pageant circuit.


Aurora Sexton painted for the gods.

Aurora Sexton snatches the crown.

Aurora Sexton as Melania Trump in her solo show “Let Them Eat Cake!”
Plus–

➤ RuPaul brings queer and drag culture to Saturday Night Live and gives Pete Davison a drag makeover.



➤ Aurora’s “LET THEM EAT CAKE! Diary Of A First Lady” A one woman show about the excitement, stress and drama of being FLOTUS!

➤ What was Alyssa Edwards like in her early days in the pageant system?