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Michelle Ann Starr

Originally from Philadelphia. A 20 year NYC transplant.

The Pride Through Protest theme means a great deal to me personally as I am someone who believes in being intelligently and learnedly vocal about topics and issues that impact, affect, and have a profound effect on my scope, choices, and day to day life experience. Sometimes that can pose a unique challenge. 

When we stand up in peaceful protest, we exercise our power to lead by example and impress the pride we feel about what is paramount to us upon others that can relate or perhaps be enlightened to support our already established or potentially shared values. 

I am participating in this pageant because through my journey into recovery, I have rediscovered the beautiful artist and QUEEN I am inside and out; Someone I had very much lost for a very long time. I love the idea of the platform, the sense of sisterhood, and the sheer fun and joy derived from putting our best forward and showing up for ourselves in displays of talent and creativity.  

I am excited to foster a feeling of hope, tenacity, and accomplishment not only for myself, but for the whole of our community and empower those who may have yet to begin on their own paths to peace and tranquility.

Sobriety has hit the reset button on a myriad of levels in my life. I am a better man, better son, better friend, better employee, better coworker, better stranger, even. Moreover, I have been afforded the opportunity to return to my craft, the wonderful art form of drag that I love so very much and become a better queen. I have relearned how to glean contentment and happiness from the simple things, create with a childlike zest, connect deeper with my loved ones, and be GRATEFUL for every gift I’ve been given. Simply put, sobriety saved me.

I’m a pretty open book, and as a result, have been told my sincerity is my best and worst quality! I am always tactful, but believe in absolute truths. I’m also pretty good at emulating voices.

I have been a pageant fan my entire life. Mostly the mainstream, televised ones. My favorite talent is dance. I love seeing the full body act as a vehicle for well rounded expression.

The person who, three years ago, never would’ve imagined in their wildest dreams that this could be possible is who inspires me, and continuous momentum in tandem is what inspires me most. I have had a rough road of a childhood, and always strive to transcend mediocrity and persistently push myself to reach higher and traverse new territories. Life is truly what you make it, and I use the memory of my former self to remind me of why I work so hard.