35th WESA Pageant Charitable Fundraiser

35th Annual WESA Pageant
Saturday, June 1st, 2024
Presented by

Pageant History
The “Miss WESA Baseball Beauty Pageant”, as it was known back in 1987, was the brainchild of three WESA Members: Mark Sullivan, Gregg Welliver, and Art Gullett; who all played on the Celebrities Nightclub baseball team that season. They got together to plan a league party at their new sponsor's place of business and the initial concept was to put on a simple Drag Show. But it evolved into asking each team in the league to put up a contestant to compete in a swimsuit, evening gown/talent, and skill testing question competition.  Needless to say, it was a big hit and THE  WESA PAGEANT, as it is now known (updated in 2008 to recognize that our membership represents  variety of gorgeous and diverse backgrounds), was born.

The formula was simple: each team in the league solicited a candidate to represent them in the WESA PAGEANT.  The contestant was usually a "Rookie" player to the league (however, over the years some softball players have entered multiple times trying to win the coveted title!) Contestants would participate in swimsuit competition where they would wear a Team Sash—sometimes elaborate sashes have been made by the teams to support their

candidate and promote their team sponsor. Contestants would then perform a number which was judged for originality, lip-sync, costume, and audience reaction. Three finalists would be selected to which a skill testing question asked to each to add to their point totals. The judges would tabulate final scores and select the 2nd Runner Up, a 1st Runner Up, and the Winner of the Pageant who becomes Miss / Mister / Mx WESA for the season! The only expectation is that the Winner returns the following season to perform a step-down number and help to crown the new Winner.

The original 1987 crown for Miss WESA was a cardboard creation, made by an elementary class in Surrey taught by one of the WESA members. Since then many crown creations have been crafted with some type of “softball” theme.

There have also been a variety of hosts for the WESA PAGEANT including a number of current and past WESA members: Sydney Malcolm, Pat King, Art Gullett, and Lance Sandover, have hosted multiple times. The original Pageant Host, Mr. Bill Monroe, hosted for several years from when the Pageant first started. Other Special Event Commissioners and local celebrity Drag Queens have also done the honours.

The WESA PAGEANT has become a major community event and WESA’s signature marquee fundraiser from what started as a simple evening of fun for some softball players.  Over the past 30+ years, the WESA Pageant has raised and donated $120,000 to approximately 30 LGBTQ2S+ community organizations and charities.

***

And the Winner is...