RATING: A-

Lion Heart Distribution presents a production of The Reporters Inc. Directed, written, and edited by Mark Saxenmeyer. Cinematography by Larry Collins and Chris Davis.

Stars Sunny Dee-Lite, Maya Douglas, Jim Flynt, Alexis Gabrielle “Gabby” Sherrington, Ginger Grant, Tiffany T. Hunter, Naysha Lopez, Mimi Marks, and Sheri Payne. 

The story of the Miss Continental Pageant, an annual-LGBTQ pageant in Chicago, comes to life in this documentary that focuses on the history, contestants, and acceptance as a way of life. 

Founded by James W. Flynt over four decades ago, Chicago’s “Miss Continental” Pageant is a celebration of life for the LGBTQ community. It is the “Miss Universe” of the LGBTQ community whose contestants consist of drag queens and transgendered women. The 2011 competition was one of the most prestigious and also one of the most determined years for the competition. 

We get to learn the stories of some of the competitors, such as Tiffany T. Hunter, a transgendered woman and Naysha Lopez, from Colombia; as well as past winners such as 1993 winner Mimi Marks and 1991 Miss Continental Plus Ginger Grant. While we learn about their acceptance both within the competition and in their real-lives, we also learn about the setbacks that past competitors had dealt with, including addiction and death. One question will remain: who will be the Queen to reign supreme as Miss Continental?

It is always exciting to learn more about things you never knew existed or if you did know, had a curiosity about the story behind these things. Like learning more about LGBTQ culture and some of their local popular things that made the community a strong one. Last year, we were treated to learning about California’s Studio One as the focus of a documentary that was the West Coast’s version of Studio 54 in some ways. 

Now, we are off to the Windy City, Chicago, where the annual Miss Continental Pageant is held. Founded in 1979 by James W. Flynt, the pageant is a celebration of female impersonators and transgendered women within the community. When we meet some of the contestants, we get to learn a bit about their background. One of the funniest stories comes from Tiffany T. Hunter, whose father questioned about anatomy with Hunter hilariously replying that she had a few “additions”. We also learn about how important the pageant and the Baton Club, where some of the contestants got their start, is to the competitors, who are not out to sabotage and have nothing but the utmost respect for each other. 

There is a brief period where we learn about setbacks involving the pageant. There were contestants who were addicted to drugs. There was one instance where one turned to prostitution and even ended up on a talk show talking about her profession. Sadly, there are those who succumbed with one who died due to an abusive relationship and another whose murder was never solved. The positives, however, overcome the negative as we see the competition and the winner crowned with an epilogue of what’s happened to some of the contestants profiled since the 2011 pageant.

The Queens: Quest for the Crown is a riveting, exhilarating, and at times, emotional look at a pageant that has rarely been seen outside of Chicago and takes pride in its community. With the LGBTQ community mighty proud, you even get a chance to know the contestants as they want you to know them. Definitely a documentary worth watching. 

The film is streaming on Tubi