ABOVE: Shontelle Sparkles (L) and Trinity the Tuck. Photo via Florida EOY.
TAMPA | Florida Entertainer of the Year F.I. will be held Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Ritz Ybor, an official preliminary pageant to National Entertainer of the Year F.I. featuring a $5,000 grand prize and more.
EOY was inspired by 1985’s Female Impersonator of the Year pageant and created by George Stinson and Ed Lewis. Former winners include Orlando’s Trinity the Tuck, who joined the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” hall of fame following her 2014 victory.
Fort Myers native Shontelle Sparkles is the 31st and current reigning NEOY. According to the pageant system, “she looks to inspire others and show them that being yourself, stepping outside of the box and not fitting the mold will take you to places beyond!”
Both Sparkles and Trinity will be in attendance for Florida EOY, the latter of which reflected on the pageant as a whole Jan. 27.
“EOY is what really made who Trinity is,” the entertainer shared via social media. “I encourage not only entertainers interested in competing for the sake of competition to consider EOY but also if you are newer and want to network, invest in developing your craft and be seen on a national stage I also suggest this system!”
Trinity also highlighted the upcoming Florida preliminary.
“Florida entertainers, there’s a preliminary coming up Feb 5th. I’m in your back yard and can help with whatever advice you might need! Even if you just have questions. Inbox me,” she wrote. “This is an exciting year for this system as it has grown exponentially in the last few months!”
Additional guest judges and entertainers include Kylie Sonique Love, “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season six winner; Danielle Hunter, National EOY 2018; Sunny Dee Lite, Miss Continental 2023 and Necole Luv Dupree, National EOY 2002. Contestants will be judged in four competition categories: presentation, creative evening wear, on-stage Q&A and talent.
The preliminary’s grand prize winner will receive $5,000 cash grand prize, a crown and sash, certificate and a National EOY four-night hotel stay. Nationals are scheduled for July in Louisville, Kentucky. The first runner up will win a $1,000 cash prize and certificate; second runner up will receive $500 and a certificate.
Tickets for the pageant are on sale. General admission is $12 and meet & greet tickets with the “Drag Race” winners are available for $14.95. Additional fees apply. Read more:
For more information about the pageant and to purchase tickets, visit FloridaEOY.com.
