21 photos of drag performers raising money — and the roof — for sober charities

Miss Mar Vista 8, a sober drag charity pageant 

Ten years ago, a group of sober friends decided Mickey and Judy style to “put on a show,” in this case, a charity drag pageant. Miss Mar Vista was born in the pageant cofounder Rick Egusquiza’s backyard with a homemade stage in the Mar Vista area of West Los Angeles. About 60 drag fans from the sober community and allies packed the space to cheer on contestants who participated in swimsuit, talent, and evening gown activities to earn the soon-to-be-coveted title.

This week, Miss Mar Vista held its 8^th pageant, a yearly event save for two years during the pandemic. The production and audience have grown to a backyard that accommodates about 400, and this year’s judges included RuPaul’s Drag Race star Eureka O’Hara. Cofounders Chris Gardner, Dylan Johnson, and Egusquiza continue to anchor the show with Gardner hosting and Johnson and Egusquiza as judges who routinely perform in drag.

“Miss Mar Vista began in 2015 on a makeshift, rickety stage in my backyard, rooted in a commitment to uplift the sober, queer community,” Egusquiza tells The Advocate. “While we’ve grown significantly, in my heart, we will always embody the spirit of being small but mighty.”

All of Miss Mar Vista’s contestants, judges, dancers, and “Meat” (akin to Drag Race’s Pit Crew) are sober, and the funds raised go to sober nonprofits.

At Miss Mar Vista 8, titled “Demons, Divas & Diamonds,” queens Sara Quell, Seven Divine, Kinaree, and Banana Nicole Split competed for the title in a show that included high-flying acts and plenty of songs off of Lady Gaga’s Mayhem. Finally, reigning queen, Eleven DiVine, passed her crown to the winner, Banana Nicole Split. The pageant raised more than $22,000, and the funds will benefit Beit T’Shuvah Treatment Center, CMALA, West Hollywood Recovery Center, and Trudging Buddies.

Scroll through the photos of Miss Mar Vista 8 below.

Arranged for Advocate.com by Nikki Aye, Digital Photo Editor

Jizz Taylor opens Miss Mar Vista where she evolves from the Beast to Beauty.

Contestant Kinaree's talent number.

Host Chris Gardner with "the Meat."

Banana Nicole Split calls Donald Trump during her talent number.

Miss Mar Vista judge and RuPaul's Drag Race's Eureka O'Hara.

This year's contestants, Kinari, Seven Divine, Banana Nicole Split, and Sara Quell pose for the swimsuit competition.

Jizz Taylor breaks free of the her Beast in the pageant opener.

Reigning Miss Mar Vista Eleven DiVine (before a new queen was crowned) and emcee Chris Gardner.

Miss Mar Vista dancers.

Jizz, Eureka, and Heresy West on the dais.

Seven Divine's moving talent number complete with multi-media and fireworks.

Kinari takes flight.

Heresy West, Eureka, and the boys.

Miss Mar Vista's emcee.

Gardner and the Meat hand out raffle prizes.

The results are in for the winner following their evening gown presentations.

Seven Divine shows off her swimsuit.

Banana Nicole Split is crowned Miss Mar Vista 8!

Banana Nicole Split with Jizz and friends.

Miss Mar Vista cofounder Jizz prepares for the show.