Two queens crowned this past weekend

Two divas were crowned at major pageants in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on the weekend.

On Saturday, Camille Von Zuush was chosen as Miss Gay Western Cape 2015/2016 at a glittering sold-out event at the Baxter theatre in Cape Town.

Von Zuush, who last week was also admitted as an Attorney of the High Court, said the past few days had been a “humbling and exciting experience.”

Writing on Facebook, she thanked the show’s producers “for creating the platform where girls like me can express themselves fully without restrictions.”

Von Zuush added: “To the finalists, this pageant is not just about competing but it’s about creating bonds that can last forever. Our sisterhood will be binding for years and I know we can count on each other.”

The judges at the seventh annual event included Coenie Kukkuk, Mr Gay World Director for Africa & Middle East.

According to its mission statement, Miss Gay Western Cape “strives to provide a platform for persons both straight and gay (especially) to showcase their talents, through a controlled and secure environment, and without exploitation.”

In Port Elizabeth, Sasha-Lee Taylor (also known as Eben Muller) was crowned Queen of Nelson Mandela Bay Pride 2015 at the Boardwalk Amphitheatre, also on Saturday.

Taylor, who beat out seven competitors, told The Herald that she was “ecstatic being able to call myself the Queen of Pride.”

She explained that after entering the pageant for the past four years, she was determined to win and began preparing her outfits back in May.

The show featured well-known Western Cape drag persona Mary Scary and a plethora of spectacular outfits worn by the contestants. Second Princess was Violet Desdemona and First Princess was Ava.

The Queen of Pride will take a leading role in the upcoming Nelson Mandela Bay Pride on 28 November.