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(L-R) Zhané Dawlingz; Raquell Cuffee; Sunny Dee-LiteInstagram (@zhane93/@tiophoto); Courtesy of Miss ContinentalEstablished in 1980 by Jim Flint, the Miss Continental pageant has become the most prestigious drag queen pageant system in the world over the years.
Unlike other prominent drag queen pageants, Miss Continental became known for being more accepting of trans women as competitors. This has subsequently turned Miss Continental into one of the fiercest and most competitive pageants in the LGBTQ+ community. In other words, winning the coveted title of Miss Continental is extremely well-regarded in the world of drag.
With the exception of the lockdown hiatus from 2020, the Miss Continental pageant is usually held during Labor Day weekend in Chicago, Illinois. On Monday, September 2, 2024, Raquell Cuffee was crowned Miss Continental 2025 and entered this prestigious pantheon of polished pageantry. As we celebrate Cuffee's reign, this feels like the perfect time to look back at all of the legendary winners that came before her.
Scroll through to meet every single winner of the Miss Continental pageant over the years.
1980 – Chilli Pepper
1981 – Heather Fontaine
1982 – Tiffany Arieagus
1983 – Chena Black
1984 – Cherine Alexander
1985 – Maya Douglas
1986 – Tandi Andrews
Tandi Andrews founded the Andrews house that RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Roxxxy Andrews is a part of.
1987 – Dana Douglas
1988 – Kelly Lauren
1989 – Lakesha Lucky
1990 – Chanel Dupree
1991 – Amber Richards
1992 – Mimi Marks
Mimi Marks is known as the first-ever out transgender runway model to work under the Ford Modeling Agency. In 2008, she appeared in the “Rock With You” music video by Janet Jackson.
1993 – Monica Munro
During the reunion episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, Sasha Colby credited Monica Munro for being the biggest inspiration for her drag and performance style.
1994 – Cézanne
1995 – Lady Catiria
The same year she won Miss Continental, Lady Catiria made a cameo in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
1996 – Paris Frantz
1997 – Tasha Long
1998 – Michelle Dupree
1999 – Tommie Ross
2000 – Danielle Hunter
2001 – Candis Cayne
Before winning Miss Continental, Candis Cayne appeared in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. After winning the pageant, she became an even bigger Hollywood star starring in projects like Dirty Sexy Money, Elementary, and The Magicians, among others.
2002 – Yoshiko Oshiro
2003 – Erika Norell
2004 – Erica Andrews
Erica Andrews is the drag daughter of Tandi Andrews. She is also the drag mother of Roxxxy Andrews, who competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race season five and All Stars 2.
2005 – Domanique Shappelle
2006 – Victoria Le Paige
2007 – Necole Luv Dupree
2008 – Tulsi
2009 – Armani
2010 – Mokha Montrese
Mokha Montrese is the drag mother of Coco Montrese, who competed in the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and All Stars 2.
2011 – Alexis Gabrielle Sherrington
2012 – Sasha Colby
Sasha Colby won season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
2013 – Naysha Lopez
Naysha Lopez competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight, then returned as a contestant on All Stars 8.
2014 – Brooke Lynn Hytes
Brooke Lynn Hytes competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 and finished as runner-up. She then went on to become the host of Canada’s Drag Race.
2015 – Tiffany T. Hunter
2016 – Jazell Barbie Royale
Jazell Barbie Royale competed in the second season of Queen of the Universe, placing fourth overall.
2017 – Shantell D’Marco
2018 – Stasha Sanchez
Stasha Sanchez, who is also known as Stasha Garçon, competed in the second season of Legendary with the House of Garçon.
2019 – Vanessa Van Cartier
Vanessa Van Cartier won the second season of Drag Race Holland.
Due to lockdown restrictions, there was no winner of Miss Continental 2020 and 2021.
2022 – Juliana Rivera
2023 – Sunny Dee-Lite
2024 – Zhané Dawlingz
2025 – Raquell Cuffee
