Pageant publicist and promoter Wayne Bernath was bullish about the event. He told XBiz, “I was really blown away by the talent. I didn’t expect it.” Bernath stated that a second pageant would take place next year, and that it appeared likely to become an annual event in Las Vegas. He added that based on the abundance of talent displayed by the Miss Transsexual competitors, pageant promoters are looking into creating Las Vegas’ first transsexual showgirl revue.
Bernath also said the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France Press wire services released a photo of Marks. The publicist stated that 400 spectators filled the Riviera’s Royal Pavilion on the night of the finals. Bernath has been a publicist for magician Lance Burton and the Riviera’s Crazy Girls and La Cage revues
As in the Miss America Pageant it was patterned on, the would-be beauty queens had to compete in a number of traditional categories in order to win the World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual title. Among them is the Best Talent category, which was won by San Antonio’s Erica Andrews, who received a $500 cash prize. Marks told XBiz that she performed a Bob Fosse dance number during the talent competition.
In the other categories, San Francisco’s Lucy Ann Pereyra won $500 for Best Swimsuit. Las Vegas’ Tara Willow Desy won an honorable mention for Miss Congeniality. And in addition to winning the crown, Marks won $500 in the Best Evening Gown competition.
Up to $25,000 in cash and gifts was reportedly given to the winners in the contest’s different categories. The 1st runner-up was Erica Andrews, who received $2,500 in winnings. The 2nd runner-up, Lucy Marie Pereyra, received $1,000. As the grand prize winner, Marks won almost half of the prize money and presents. She received a cruise to the Bahamas for two, plus $5,000 in cash.
Marks told XBiz that she is currently “very single” and plans to go on the cruise around November. Marks said she has been a transsexual for 14 years. She works at a Chicago nightclub called the Baton Show Lounge, where she performs as a female impersonator.
Marks was interviewed while she cooled off poolside in a skimpy bikini at the Riviera, where she was trying to beat Las Vegas’ 106-degree heat. “The pageant went pretty smoothly. I’ve been involved with other pageants - for female impersonators - and there weren’t many glitches in this one. There was a good turn out of girls. Hopefully next year there will be twice as many girls at the pageant,” Marks told XBiz.
“I’m excited about and willing to work on future pageants with Norbert Aleman,” Marks said. Aleman produced The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Pageant, and produces the Riviera’s Crazy Girls show. If a transsexual revue emerges out of the beauty contest, and Marks is asked to appear in it, she told XBiz, “I have a job in Chicago I’ve worked at professionally for 14 years. So, to do another show, it would have to further my career. I’m open to hearing about it. It’s up to them whether or not they want me in the show,” said the reigning Miss Transsexual.
Asked what the significance of The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Pageant is, Marks eloquently replied: “I hope it opens up doors for all of us. Hopefully, it’ll become a situation where [transsexuals] don’t have to answer questions regarding our sexuality. Where we won’t have to explain ourselves every time. I’m sure Miss America and Miss Universe don’t have to constantly be questioned about their character. We’re human beings first. Everybody deserves the same rights, period. Nobody should be discriminated against. We should just be able to be who we are. I hope this pageant does this for all of us,” Marks stated.
The world’s first Miss Transsexual went on to say, “I’m a girl, I’m a woman – I shouldn’t have to explain myself.”
According to Bernath, Chyna Doll will discuss the pageant on Howard Stern's show on the "E" Channel at 11 p.m. on July 27. Doll has wrestled for the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., and was a pageant judge.
