The Other White Meat

Life’s a
pageant for female impersonator Victoria Parker, a.k.a.
Victor Bowling. Typically going by the nickname
Porkchop -- a moniker lovingly bestowed by friends as
tribute to his talent for cooking scrumptious
Southern-fried pork chops -- Parker is among the main
subjects of Ron David and Stewart Halpern’s
award-winning documentary Pageant, which profiles
contestants vying for the 34th Miss Gay America title
and tiara. This February. Parker competes yet again,
in RuPaul’s Drag Race, Logo’s
deliciously addictive, cross-dressed take on Project
Runway and America’s Top Model
(challenges include “Drag on a Dime,” in
which the queens assemble looks from Dollar Store
and thrift shop goods).

Born in Anderson,
S.C., and based in Raleigh, N.C., Parker has performed
in clubs across the nation, snagged some 100 pageant titles,
and appeared on TV’s Access Hollywood,My Life Is a Sitcom, and Extra during her more
than 20-year career as a female impersonator.
Currently a “Spotlight Divas!” cast member at
Raleigh’s Legends nightclub, Parker talked with
Advocate.com about her experiences making
Pageant (opening December 26 in New York City),
the scoop on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and
whether Porkchop is kosher for Passover.

How did you get involved with Pageant? I was considering doing Miss Gay America since
it was going to be in Memphis and I was in Nashville
at the time, and I saw a passing notice online that
they were doing a documentary at the competition that year.
I sent them an e-mail that I wanted to compete and be
part of the documentary, and I actually got turned
down to be in the movie. But a week later I got a
phone call and they said they changed their mind. I
asked why, and the film’s other [producer-director],
Stewart, saw my video and said we have to have her,
and both of them flew down to Memphis to see me
compete in Miss Gay Tennessee America. So because of Stewart
I got cast.