Mr. & Miss Gay Albany

01/03/2026

06/09/2025

Received this beautiful letter today from the Damien center. We were so pleased to have the opportunity to help such a great organization. 

06/08/2025

What a fantastic day today at Albany pride with our very own, Mr. and Miss Gay Albany, our current Miss Empire State and the new Northeast bearded Queen. 

05/30/2025

We were so pleased today to present a check for $1125 to the Damien center! This is just a small part of the Mr. & Miss Gay Albany system to show support for the outreach that the Damien center provides. All funds were raised from the contestants charity basket raffle at this past Mr. & Miss Gay Albany 2025 pageant. We are grateful to all the contestants for raising such wonderful funds. 

05/13/2025

History of the Miss Gay Albany Pageant dates back to 1997 when our first Miss Gay Albany, Iodine was crowned.

The pageant was held annually by owner James Shear (Sherri Love) for the next eight years, with the exception of 2001 due to the September 11th tragedy. By 2004 we had seven amazing drag artists who had held the title including Iodine (1997), Vanity (1998), Alexis Imani (1999), Chi Chi Ray Colby (2000), Misdemeanor (2002), Penny Larcony (2003) and Anita Morrey (2004). After winning the title in 2000, Chi Chi Ray Colby became a co-promoter/owner with James from 2002-2004.

After a nearly two decade hiatus, in 2024 the Miss Gay Albany pageant returned owned by James Shear (Sherri Love) and Christopher Church (Amanduh Brown). Stella Progress was crowned the first Miss Gay Albany in over 20 years.

On April 26, 2025 Starling Silver was crowned Miss Gay Albany 2025, the 9th drag performer to be crowned with the title. In 2025 the promoters of the pageant added on the title of Mr. Gay Albany to the pageant format and the first ever Mr. Gay Albany, Roman Myäira was crowned.

As the legacy continues, the promoters announced at the 2025 Pagaent that Miss Gay Albany 2024, Stella Progress would become a co-promoter/owner of the Mr. and Miss Gay Albany Pageant going forward.

05/08/2025

We were honored to acknowledge three individuals for the lifetime achievement award. Amanda Love, Jim Larson and Marisa Henry.

05/08/2025

Peekaboo, we see you! What a fabulous audience ❤️

05/08/2025

Evening wear!

05/08/2025

Last night we had the pleasure to present our first of 2 charities there check from our charity basket raffle. House of Precise Inc. We hope this helps in many ways. ❤️

05/07/2025

Pleased to share our contestants in presentation were.

05/06/2025

We are so very pleased to share that on April 17th our former Miss Gay Albany Stella Progress hosted her 2024 Miss Gay Albany benefit show as part of her final bow while completing her reign as Miss Gay Albany! The event was a major success and was hosted at the VanDyck/Stella Pasta Bar in Schenectady! Stella and the amazing cast raised $1900 for the MPower! Program thru the Albany Damien Center!!!