36th annual WESA pageant
Saturday July 5th 2025
Presented by
BE FIERCE!
BE INSPIRED!
A Celebration of our Sponsors, Creativity, and Community
Every year, the WESA Pageant shines as one of our most beloved and electrifying traditions — a vibrant celebration that brings together our community, spotlights our generous sponsors, and invites members to step into the spotlight, express their stage personas, and champion a powerful cause.
At its heart, the Pageant is more than just a show. It’s a member-driven movement, built from the passion and dedication of volunteer performers, dancers, stagehands, judges, hosts, and teammates. Their countless hours of preparation and joy fuel an unforgettable night that uplifts, entertains, and inspires us all.
Giving Back with Pride
The WESA Pageant isn’t just about dazzling costumes and bold performances — it’s a powerful force for good. Over the years, the WESA community has proudly donated over $158,000 to local charities. In 2025, we are thrilled to support Qmunity: BC’s Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Resource Centre, a vital organization that stands with and uplifts some of the most vibrant and courageous voices in our community.
Who Will Be Crowned Queen?
Each WESA team selects one bold member to compete as their Pageant Queen, creating unforgettable routines with the help of their teammates. With charisma, creativity, and community spirit, these Queens take the stage in one of the most anticipated events of the summer in Vancouver’s West End.
The Après-Fête – Celebrate the Queens!
After the spotlight fades, the celebration continues! Join us at Fountainhead Pub for the Pageant Après-Fête, a heartfelt thank-you to our dazzling contestants. Enjoy a well-earned bevy, a delicious meal, and bask in the joy of an evening that brought us all together. Click for more.
Come cheer, come celebrate, and come be a part of something truly fabulous.
The WESA Pageant is more than an event — it’s a statement of love, unity, and pride.
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 35 years, the WESA Pageant has raised and donated over $157,000 to more than 30 LGBT+ community organizations and charities.
For a history of our WESA Pageant winners, please visit our Awards page.
Some pics from the WESA 2024 Pageant audience ...
See you at the 36th WESA Pageant in 2025
Questions? Email Rafe L. at SpecialEvents (at) WESA.net.
Sponsors
