Hundreds of residents gathered to cheer on their favourite contestants in the Miss Gay Lavender Hill 2023 pageant held on Saturday 11 November.
Organiser of the event Caylim Hendricks said the special event was aimed at being a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The event creates a safe space for the LGBTQIA members to showcase their talents to the community.
“It was also to make a difference on the Cape Flats and to show that there is help, inspiration and unity among each other.”
Dancers from Lavender Hill High School entertained the crowd between intervals as judges had to make the tough choices.
Hendricks says the pageant, which this year was held in memory of his late wife Gita, was to give back to the community.
“In 2019, we both created a new pageant just to give back to the community and the Cape Flats as a whole.
“My late wife Gita was a transwoman and she passed away in 2020. This pageant was brought back to celebrate her legacy.
“We had many tributes to Gita and to have seen the foundation that she started was a very emotional process for me.”
Participants sparkled and glowed in the different categories of swimwear, evening wear as well as favourite barbie.
However, there could be only one winner.
The title of Miss Gay Lavender Hill 2023 went to Alicia Amy Connersia from Delft, while Larrissa Gordon from Heathfield was crowned as first princess and Tammy Rhuday Fredericks from Somerset West as second princess.
“It was so overwhelming when the crowning happened because people just saw rainbows. It was emotional and I did not expect such a resounding response.
“It was also a difficult event to plan because of the challenges such as gang violence in the community.”
Connersia tells the People’s Post that the pageant is very close to her heart.
“When they announced that I was the winner, I was overjoyed with tears. I’ve participated in the pageant for the third year now and told myself that I would win one day.
“We all know Lavender Hill for its gang violence but something good can come out of the area.”
The 37-year-old transgender female said a lot of preparation went into the event.
“For the first time barbie realness was a category where each of us had to have a message.
“I decided to be a colourful barbie and my message was to represent the whole rainbow nation coming together and as a transgender woman, I refuse to be put in a box and be labelled.
“So, coming out of that box I celebrated the rainbow nation, it was an overwhelming moment for me.”
Her message to the LGBTQIA+ community is to “give of your best and you will succeed.”
Meanwhile Hendricks, who grew up in Retreat as a proud 25-year-old gay man, says was thankful to honour his late wife.
“I want to thank God for creating the space where we could honour my late wife, which I promised her I would do.
“Thank you to every sponsorship, the entire community, performing artists who came out and every participant who came out. My wish and dream is to create a bigger platform and to include a Mr Gay pageant.”
His advice to members if the LGBTQIA+ community is to be yourself “loud and proud”.
“As a LGBTQIA+ person you need to be yourself, loud and proud, whether you are gay, trans or bisexual.
“Do not allow other voices to impact you and your choices.”
