The First-and Only-Miss Trans Northampton
On September 5th, the Rainbow Times’ own Lorelei Erisis was crowned the first Miss Trans Northampton. With the pageant, Northampton became one of a handful of locales around the globe where trans women can compete for a title that honors their beauty and their talents-while recognizing them as both women and transgender.
“Especially for trans women, it is so important that they have a place in a world where they can be women and they can be applauded. This seemed so beautiful to me, to have a place in the world for trans women to be looked at as beautiful-and not just physically, but as who they are as people,” said Bet Power, a trans community organizer and judge at the pageant.
Eight contestants vied for the coveted title. They introduced themselves and walked down a runway, posing like experienced models, before a cheering audience.
A panel of six judges-representing a spectrum of gender-evaluated the contestants as they moved through three rounds. The contest began with a talent competition (limited to five minutes each) and evening gown modeling.
After the judges narrowed the field to five contestants, the third and final round gave each contestant the opportunity to answer a question that had been submitted by one of the judges. Questions were direct and relevant, ranging from how the contestant would help the effort to pass trans-inclusive legislation and why such legislation is necessary to what made the contestant glad to be transgender.
In the end, the judges selected Erisis (the stage name of Lorelei McLaughlin). Erisis, a Second City-trained improv performer wowed the audience with a funny and touching performance of gender transition at breakneck pace, during the talent competition.
“When they first suggested the pageant, before I even had the chance to say anything, my mom had already volunteered me,” Erisis said, laughing. “Not that I wouldn’t have anyway.”
She acknowledges she’s been very lucky in some ways. “My family has been incredibly supportive.”
Still, being trans adds to the challenge of finding work. Trained as a comedian, Erisis supplements performance gigs with other jobs.
“I have been getting gigs, doing a lot of that sort of thing but you know it does not traditionally pay the bills all that well-even when you are not trans,” she says with a laugh.
Erisis recently found a new job that pays the bills. Still, the stage is clearly this born-performer’s natural element.
“There is just nothing that I enjoy more than being in front of people and entertaining them, but also finding truth. That is what improv-or at least the Second City style of improv is all about-the comedy comes from those kinds of simple truths and making those connections with an audience. It just makes them laugh despite themselves.”
Erisis is already a familiar face in the Valley, having been the emcee of Northampton Pride this year. She’s also on the board of Northampton Pride-and she clearly spread her enthusiasm for the pageant: several board members supported the pageant by serving as tux-clad ushers.
Backstage, the pageant also got some help from Miss Pioneer Valley, Helen Hua, who coached contestants through a runway walk-something several had never done. Earlier in the evening she was a visible presence, warmly greeting guests as they entered.
“I just felt that this was exactly the kind of thing Miss Pioneer Valley should do,” Hua said.
She felt the judges made a wise choice in Erisis.
“I think they chose who they thought could be the best spokesperson. Lorelei has prominence in the local community. There’s a genuineness about her,” Hua said.
The pageant’s success-and appeal beyond the local trans and queer communities-speaks volumes of encouragement to trans community organizers.
“It was beyond what we thought would happen. The week before, we knew we were going to sell out,” said Bet Power. “That is what happened: it was standing room only.”
“The climate in this community right now seems to be so supportive of the trans community. I think we are really going to see something special [at the New England Trans United Pride March and Rally] on October 3rd,” said Bet Power.
A week after the event, organizers changed the pageant’s name to the Miss Trans New England Pageant, hoping to open the contest to trans women from the larger region. Next year, Erisis will crown Miss Trans New England. Still, she won’t exactly relinquish her own.
“I believe I will be the first and only Miss Trans Northampton, which is kind of neat actually-that means I am Miss Trans Noho forever,” she said with her trademark humor.
On September 5th, the Rainbow Times’ own Lorelei Erisis was crowned the first Miss Trans Northampton. With the pageant, Northampton became one of a handful of locales around the globe where trans women can compete for a title that honors their beauty and their talents-while recognizing them as both women and transgender.
“Especially for trans women, it is so important that they have a place in a world where they can be women and they can be applauded. This seemed so beautiful to me, to have a place in the world for trans women to be looked at as beautiful-and not just physically, but as who they are as people,” said Bet Power, a trans community organizer and judge at the pageant.
Eight contestants vied for the coveted title. They introduced themselves and walked down a runway, posing like experienced models, before a cheering audience.
A panel of six judges-representing a spectrum of gender-evaluated the contestants as they moved through three rounds. The contest began with a talent competition (limited to five minutes each) and evening gown modeling.
After the judges narrowed the field to five contestants, the third and final round gave each contestant the opportunity to answer a question that had been submitted by one of the judges. Questions were direct and relevant, ranging from how the contestant would help the effort to pass trans-inclusive legislation and why such legislation is necessary to what made the contestant glad to be transgender.
In the end, the judges selected Erisis (the stage name of Lorelei McLaughlin). Erisis, a Second City-trained improv performer wowed the audience with a funny and touching performance of gender transition at breakneck pace, during the talent competition.
“When they first suggested the pageant, before I even had the chance to say anything, my mom had already volunteered me,” Erisis said, laughing. “Not that I wouldn’t have anyway.”
She acknowledges she’s been very lucky in some ways. “My family has been incredibly supportive.”
Still, being trans adds to the challenge of finding work. Trained as a comedian, Erisis supplements performance gigs with other jobs.
“I have been getting gigs, doing a lot of that sort of thing but you know it does not traditionally pay the bills all that well-even when you are not trans,” she says with a laugh.
Erisis recently found a new job that pays the bills. Still, the stage is clearly this born-performer’s natural element.
“There is just nothing that I enjoy more than being in front of people and entertaining them, but also finding truth. That is what improv-or at least the Second City style of improv is all about-the comedy comes from those kinds of simple truths and making those connections with an audience. It just makes them laugh despite themselves.”
Erisis is already a familiar face in the Valley, having been the emcee of Northampton Pride this year. She’s also on the board of Northampton Pride-and she clearly spread her enthusiasm for the pageant: several board members supported the pageant by serving as tux-clad ushers.
Backstage, the pageant also got some help from Miss Pioneer Valley, Helen Hua, who coached contestants through a runway walk-something several had never done. Earlier in the evening she was a visible presence, warmly greeting guests as they entered.
“I just felt that this was exactly the kind of thing Miss Pioneer Valley should do,” Hua said.
She felt the judges made a wise choice in Erisis.
“I think they chose who they thought could be the best spokesperson. Lorelei has prominence in the local community. There’s a genuineness about her,” Hua said.
The pageant’s success-and appeal beyond the local trans and queer communities-speaks volumes of encouragement to trans community organizers.
“It was beyond what we thought would happen. The week before, we knew we were going to sell out,” said Bet Power. “That is what happened: it was standing room only.”
“The climate in this community right now seems to be so supportive of the trans community. I think we are really going to see something special [at the New England Trans United Pride March and Rally] on October 3rd,” said Bet Power.
A week after the event, organizers changed the pageant’s name to the Miss Trans New England Pageant, hoping to open the contest to trans women from the larger region. Next year, Erisis will crown Miss Trans New England. Still, she won’t exactly relinquish her own.
“I believe I will be the first and only Miss Trans Northampton, which is kind of neat actually-that means I am Miss Trans Noho forever,” she said with her trademark humor.
Miss Trans Northampton, Lorelei Erisis
Photo by Tynan Power
Miss Trans Northampton 2009 Contestants. Photo by Tynan Power
