Paying Their Way

The pageant receives most of its support from Iowa’s major gay clubs. Studio 13, the only gay club in Iowa City, does its part by hosting the preliminaries, as well as the benefits for the winners

Champagne Showers making a little extra cash as the visiting attraction. Photo by: Melanie Kaminski

“We don’t get any major sponsorship.  In Texas, girls raise around $1,000 at their benefits, here we are lucky to raise $200-300,” Cass said.

Cass, former Miss Gay Iowa 1993, Miss Gay USofA At-Large 1998 and owner of the pageant since 2000 has dealt with the financial aspect first hand.  

Former Miss Gay Iowa, Vanessa Taylor, estimated that serious contestants will spend as much as $5-6,000 at the state level and anywhere from $20-30,000 at Nationals.

Ayanna Love, former Miss Studio 13, has met with financial consultants in the past to budget her money for the competition. Last year, she spent at least $550-600 just on costuming and accommodating her back-up dancers.

“As Dena often says, ‘It takes a lot of money to look this cheap,'” Love reflected.