In the aftermath of societal ruin—the end of Alternative Miss Ireland—there’s been a void, a vacuum of sorts but don’t worry babe, we’ve got you!
Alternative Miss Ireland (AMI), an annual drag pageant show and LGBTQ+ fundraiser, was first held in 1987 as a one-time philanthropic event. In 1996, however, AMI came back onto the scene with iconic drag queen Panti as its host, a position she maintained until AMI’s end in 2012. Known for its collection of politically charged, eclectic performances and performers, AMI was a fabulous explosion of queer Irish art and artists. After its end, artist and organiser Bill Harris was determined to fill the void it left.
As I walked through the doors of the Douglas Hyde gallery on Culture Night, I was eager to see if Harris’s AMI-inspired revival pageant was successful. I was greeted by a pounding bass beat and the glow of bright pink and purple lights. After grabbing a complimentary glass of wine and a program, I moved downstairs to claim a seat. The decoration was minimal, yet somehow the space felt completely transformed. A low stage was set at an angle in the left corner of the room, with stuffed clouds, yellow stars, a disco ball and a crescent moon hanging over it. On the opposite wall, three roughly-cut red fabric hearts were hung. The whole effect was campy and nostalgic—like a bygone school pageant from the early 2000s brought to life again. As more people shuffled in, the feeling of anticipation grew. We were ready for a show and that is exactly what we got.
The entire performance was a mélange of creativity, camp and concept, from the contestants’ bios—each a must-read—to the performances themselves. The show’s six contestants, Fanny Split McGee, Tadgh McFadden, Mamma Virginia, The Salmon of Knowledge, Stella by Starlight, and Vodka, were all unforgettable. The fashion section—category: eveningware—offered a huge range of looks including, but not limited to, a luxurious beaded gown and veil, a flaming fish purse and a fishnet-wrapped Salmon carted in by a fishnet-tight-clad fisherman.
The talent section, however, was the clear show-stealer. There was karaoke, lip-syncing, dancing, black magic, politics, riddles and self-help seminars, all delivered with incredible creativity and skill. Fanny Split McGee wowed us both with her political humour and voice, The Salmon of Knowledge granted audience wishes and treated us to a truly fabulously bizarre experience, and Mamma Virginia performed a much-needed conceptual curse on Israel’s own Benjamin Netanyahu. Tadgh McFadden, a “straight” Irish man just looking for a pint, delivered a particularly memorable dance performance that I, at least, will not be getting out of my head for a good few months, and Stella by Starlight gave us classic drag absolutely soaked in melodrama. Last but not least, Vodka shared her own 12-step plan towards becoming the messiest you that you can be.
Bringing all of this together was the night’s host, The Doll (Danielle James), was wonderfully witty and never gave us a dull moment. She made sure to make us all feel welcome, whatever our shape, size, or species (babies included). Shout out to the night’s only infant guest, Juno, who was experiencing her very first Culture Night. The pageant’s three wonderful judges were: Mangina Jones, who was crowned AMI in 2011, actor/podcaster PJ Kirby and influencer/model Jess Brennan. In addition, the behind-the-scenes work of the night was quick and smooth—no small feat in such a cramped venue. The sound design and DJ, 2muchbootyinthebooth, was similarly essential to the night’s success, and both deserve a huge shoutout. The cherry on top of it all, however, was the audience, whose infectious energy made the whole night a treat.
After a period of audience voting and a vibrant surprise performance delivered by the one and only Mangina Jones, the crowning ceremony began. We were all on the edges of our seats, ready to greet the first—but hopefully not last—winner of Miss Powder Vacuum. It was announced that Fanny Split McGee was our champion, and the audience erupted into cheers as she gracefully accepted her flowers and sash.
The night as a whole was electric from beginning to end, my only complaint being the lack of bathrooms, but honestly as an Arts Block student I should be used to that by now. I have never had the pleasure of seeing such a variety of drag performances in one place, although drag performance art is perhaps the more appropriate term. Miss Powder Vacuum revived Alternative Miss Ireland in the best way, taking inspiration from its predecessor while producing an entirely unique show. I can only hope that this was the inaugural performance for what will be an annual—and personally very much anticipated—event.
