Tiara and talent, this titleholder's monumental reign as Miss Continental

Though RuPaul's Drag Racehas introduced drag to a broad and mainstream audience, Miss Continental remains a staple in the world of drag. For almost 50 years, queens have brought their A-game to the Continental stage, a pageant that is to drag what the Oscars are to cinema.

In 2023, Zhané Dawlingz graced the stage and conquered, becoming its 43rd titleholder.

And on her first try, no less.

She shines bright on stage and even brighter in person. I was pleased to meet her at last year's Out100 and immediately felt a warm and welcoming connection. Her grace and charm greeted me again when we chatted.

Zhané's journey to the Miss Continental stage wasn't an overnight success but a labor of love honed by years in musical theater. "I found a lot of comfort in being on stage," she explained. "Using my triple-threat talents to really find a sort of confidence deep within myself

For those unfamiliar, Miss Continental is an institution among drag pageantry. Think Miss USA, but with more rhinestones, bigger hair, a whole lot more attitude—and "a little bit difference in proportion," Zhané joked. The pageant is known for its rigorous competition, demanding contestants excel in categories from evening gowns to swimwear.

Like their Miss USA counterparts, talent is a make-it-or-break-it moment for contestants, a portion that often requires weeks or months of preparation. But Zhané had something different in mind, changing her talent number before the pageant. The replacement? Singing Etta James' "At Last" live for both nights at the pageant.

"The mic was on, baby," she laughs.

Zhané's rendition echoed through the halls, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that a new queen was here to claim her throne. "That song has a lot of meaning to me," she smiles.

With a crown comes privilege and pressure; Zhané's reign wasn't without its tests. "There were moments of backlash, negativity, and even social media drama," she revealed. "But queens like [1999 Miss Continental] Tommie Ross offered support…and reminded me to keep my mindfulness and not allow others to dictate how I react to them."

And like a true queen, she pressed on.

Miss Continental is more than just a title; it's a legacy. A queen is crowned but becomes a torchbearer for an entire community. And as a Black trans woman, it is as much about the sash and tiara as it is about embodying the marginalized within the community. "It's such a beautiful thing to see people like myself being able to get representation in a positive manner," she affirms. Zhané's reign took her from Puerto Rico to Paris and Amsterdam to Los Angeles. But one of the first things she wants to do after her stepdown? Rest. "I am going to take a little vacation," she says. "A little holiday, and, you know, kind of get a mental reset."

GALLERY: Every Miss Continental Pageant Winners over the Years

Several former titleholders in the Miss Continental pageant system have become actresses, authors, activists, entrepreneurs, and more. Some titleholders have also gone on to enter yet another competition: Drag Race, including Roxxxy Andrews (Miss Continental Plus 2010), Sasha Colby (Miss Continental 2012), Naysha Lopez (Miss Continental 2013), Brooke Lynn Hytes (Miss Continental 2014), and Vanessa Van Cartier (Miss Continental 2019). Does Miss Continental 2024 have her eyes on RPDR?

"In the words of Sasha Colby: 'Come on and win Continental, then come on over to Drag Race," she teased. "I've done the first part, so who knows?"

Regardless of her next step, Zhané knows the Miss Continental legacy is more than a year with a crown; it's about representation, impact, and staying true to oneself. "It feels like I'm the star that added to this larger constellation of stars living in the sky," she says. As her reign ends and she prepares to pass the baton to the next Miss Continental, Zhané's next chapter is full of hope and promise.

Being Miss Continental has opened so many doors to her, and we can't wait to see how she steps through each one.

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