Behind the Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition

Rehearsal day. We meet our first four contestants: Charles Galin, Abhijeet, Skynsuit and Abigail Beverly Hills. One of the contestants might be a little too interested in their competitors. There’s a last minute push to promote the pageant. This year’s performances are even more ambitious than last time. Can everyone keep up?

We get to know Nicki Jizz, Snaxx, Tony Soto and Beatrix Bella Rouge. The all-important contestant order is debated and debated again. Crew and contestants find out that high heels and high ladders don’t mix. Shy and reclusive as usual, Alaska hides behind dark sunglasses.

Things take a serious turn during the end of rehearsals when cast and crew have an active shooter drill. Tensions peak as Alaska and Lola fight about how to get the pageant on stage. Show day arrives, along with major headaches about who’s going where. The guest judges get instruction on how to cast their votes.

It’s 45 minutes past curtain time. Is there a reason why we’re not starting? Lola’s not dressed, not that this stops her from running the show backstage. Out in the audience, Alaska takes up a collection of pens for the judges from the audience. The contestants make their debuts onstage. The looks are sickening, but an onstage malfunction stops the show dead.

At long last, the talent section happens and scores can start getting tabulated. Lola’s dressed -- finally! -- and ready to take her turn onstage to introduce evening wear. A guest performer brings the house down. Last year’s reigning queen shows us how it’s done. It’s time to announce the winners, and a shocking tie is revealed.

The day after the show, contestants take a beat to review their performances and the emotion of their experiences. One queen has some iconic advice for drag hopefuls. We meet some of the family and community that support the contestants in getting to this point — in their drag, and in their lives. Alaska and Lola talk about what they’d do differently next time and what not to wear onstage.