Pride Royalty - Features
The Miss and Mister Phoenix Gay Pride Pageant is a community event supported by local community bars and numerous female and male illusionists. As a recipient of the title Miss or Mister Phoenix Gay Pride, the winners will become the faces of the Phoenix Pride organization during their reign. Part of their duties as title holders is to promote pride in our community, state and country; portray role model qualities with integrity and dignity at all times; and raise awareness of Phoenix Pride Grants and Scholarships Programs.
2012 Miss Phoenix Gay Pride - Grecia Montes D'Occa
Grecia is well known in the Phoenix Latino LGBTQ community, but it is Javier who is behind her. Javier Armando Enriquez, also known as Grecia Montes D' Occa, was born in Cuauhtémoc, a town in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Born on April 21st, 1983, little Javier always knew he was different than his peers. He was raised by his mother and grandmother, his father and grandfather having passed away when he was only 4 years old. He remembers that his mother and grandmother were thrust into the role of "men of the house" and thanks to their strength and integrity he was able to grow into the person he is today.
Leaving home to make a new life in the United States was a choice Grecia made all on her own. Grecia knew that the only hope for a better future was through continuing her education. "In Mexico, there was no opportunity for me to continue my education," Grecia says. "Thanks to God, this country welcomed me with open arms. And even though I love my Mexico, the United States has become my adoptive country that I love and appreciate." At first, Grecia did not consider drag an art. But through the guidance of many professionals in the community, she began to understand and discover the artist buried within. The art of female impersonation has helped Grecia develop into an outgoing and community oriented individual. "Everything I imagined as a child, like being on TV, radio and magazines became easier for me to accomplish. I love to impersonate stars like Edith Marquez, Veronica Castro, Marisela, and Katy Perry."
Grecia enjoys competing, and has won various awards such as Chica Cosmo 2001 and Miss Goddess Apollos 2012. With over 10 years as a gender illusionist, Grecia is proud to have shared the stage with performers like Diamond Dallas, Claudia B, Tyra Marie, and Kiki Vermont Andrews as she made her English crossover. Being considered for the title of Miss Phoenix Gay Pride is an incredibly humbling honor for Grecia. As a Latina artist, she would love to represent the whole LGBTQ community and Phoenix Pride with beauty, intelligence, and talent. Because education has been such an important part of her life, Grecia feels that her main objective is to help others realize their dreams by raising money for the Pride Scholarship Program. She also has goals of representing Phoenix and Arizona on a national level.
"I am most thankful to God for giving me an incredible life, blessing me with a loving family and friends, and for allowing me to experience happiness in these difficult times." She is proud to represent Apollo's and is excited about the opportunity to meet new people in the LGBTQ community.
2012 Mister Phoenix Gay Pride - Jensen Dean
Jensen Dean is brand new to the drag scene. Jensen performed in his first show on October 8th, 2011 which was the Mister Rainbow Cactus Pageant. To his delight, he was selected as 1st Alternate to Mister Rainbow Cactus Baron Von Ausome. Jensen is passionate about his community and wanted to get involved in performing to give back on a much larger scale. He enjoys getting people energized and excited! Drag performance gives him the outlet and opportunity to get others excited about the community. Generating more involvement and awareness about the LGBTQ community is what inspires him to compete for Mister Phoenix Pride. When we asked Jensen what his goal is, he responded, "to save the world one drag show at a time!"
