St Pete Pride\u2019s 2025 Royal Court. (Graphic courtesy St Pete Pride)<\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG | St Pete Pride<\/a> will hold its 2026 Mx St Pete Pride<\/a> Pageant May 3 from 5-11 p.m. at 1920 Ybor<\/a>, celebrating local drag and crowning its next Royal Court.<\/p>\n \u201cMx St Pete Pride is where confidence commands the stage, creativity pushes boundaries and self-expression is everything,\u201d organizers shared this month. \u201cThis is your moment to step up, stand out and show exactly who you are unapologetically.\u201d<\/p>\n This year will mark 18 years of pageantry for St Pete Pride, which rebranded its competition in 2023 to begin crowning Miss, Mr. and Mx. representatives. This year\u2019s celebration will honor the current reigning Miss St Pete Pride Seduction Dickerson<\/a>, Mr. St Pete Pride Dioscar Demilo<\/a> and Mx. St Pete Pride Roman Marco Lewinsky<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been an absolute joy to work with our 2025 Mx St Pete Pride Court,\u201d says St Pete Pride Secretary Darius Lightsey<\/a>. \u201cTheir passion and creativity for their artform is second to none. They have shown up all year with positive mindsets and a willingness to do whatever was asked of them, all while individually leading very busy lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Each division will feature a maximum of six contestants. They must live in Florida, believe in St Pete Pride\u2019s mission and be willing to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery court has their own uniqueness that sets them apart from others,\u201d Lightsey notes. \u201cOur\u00a0pride\u00a0theme this year is \u2018Here Comes The Sun\u2019 and the 2026 Court will help promote the organization\u2019s message that we are living out in the sunlight and nothing can dim our shine.\u201d<\/p>\n To help find this year\u2019s representatives, St Pete Pride enlisted former Miss St Pete Pride Delores T. Van Cartier<\/a> as pageant coordinator. Former Mr. St Pete Pride and Mr. Black America 2026 Amari Lavish<\/a> will emcee.<\/p>\n Entertainment will feature previous winners like Kiala Santi<\/a>, Stephanie Stuart<\/a> and Kenya Black<\/a>. The evening will also honor the 15-year anniversary of Miss St Pete Pride 2011 Jaeda Fuentes<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year will mark the pageant\u2019s first competition in Ybor. Lightsey says St Pete Pride \u201chas reach and visibility that extends beyond the city limits of St. Petersburg\u201d and that the venue \u201cisn\u2019t just an event space.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a place where memories are made,\u00a0stories are shared and creativity comes to life,\u201d he explains. \u201cThat is the essence of pageantry and thus the perfect place to create more memories for St Pete Pride.\u201d<\/p>\n Contestants will be judged on Pride Wear, Evening Wear, On-Stage Interview and Talent. They will win a $2,000 cash prize and perform at three signature events this year.<\/p>\n \u201cNow more than ever, we need spaces where we can\u00a0still dream,\u00a0still aspire,\u00a0still be excited for the future,\u201d Lightsey notes.\u00a0\u201cSt\u00a0Pete\u00a0Pride\u00a0is committed to\u00a0strengthening the legacy of inclusion and diversity, while providing a safe space for the education, self-exploration and celebration of our LGBTQIA community and allies.\u201d<\/p>\n General admission tickets are $20 plus additional fees and are now on sale. <\/a><\/p>\n Mx St Pete Pride 2026 will be held at 1920 Ybor. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit StPetePride.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Watermark Out News eNewsletter<\/a> \u00a0and follow us for more: \t
BlueSky<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | LinkedIn<\/a> | TikTok<\/a> | Threads<\/a> | YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n