HISTORY OF OHIO GAY PRIDE PAGEANTRY
The Miss Ohio Gay Pride Pageant System started 10 years ago in 1997 with a dream in mind, a goal to become one of the most respected pageantry systems in the state of Ohio - To become the Pride of Ohio!
In 1998, Miss Ohio Gay Pride Pageantry was established by Jean and Mark Martin
with Tara Richmond as the first Miss Ohio Gay Pride. The pageant categories were Swimwear, Evening Wear, & Talent. As Miss Ohio Gay Pride moved forward, welcomed additions were Krystal Stone of Cleveland, as Miss Ohio Gay Pride 1999 and Alexis O'Hara of Dayton, as Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2000-2003.
In 2003 the Miss Ohio Gay Pride pageant system was acquired by Bromans, INC., owned by Lita Mannon and her husband, Paul. Bromans decided to take the pageant system to the next level and really bring a New Sense of Pride In Pageantry. The Swimwear category was dropped and the Evening Wear category was changed to Creative Evening Wear. The talent remained as the same talent category.
The first year, in 2003 brought 4 contestants to the Gay Pride Pageant. Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2004, Erica Martinez of Cleveland, was crowned at Axis Nightclub and, because of Erica's hard work and determination, the pageantry system took leaps and bounds the following year. City Preliminaries were set up, in addition to the long running Miss Columbus Gay Pride pageant which has run consecutively since 1998. Other city preliminaries were added, bringing to Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2005 16 contestants who competed for the title. Kiarra Cartier-Fontaine of Toledo, was crowned Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2005. Miss Ohio Gay Pride Pageantry has continued to grow and flourish with large number of contestant interest. With the crowning Danyel Vasquez of Akron,
in 2006, Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2007, Paige Passion of Columbus, also from Columbus, Maria Garrison as Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2008. And now with the crowning of our current and 9th Miss Ohio Gay Pride, Penny Tration of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Miss Ohio Gay Pride Pageant System continues to prove that it is one of the most prestigious and sought-after titles in Ohio.
Axis Nightclub in Columbus, Ohio is the "home" of The Miss Ohio Gay Pride Pageant and has become an integral part of the success of the pageant. The owners, staff, and management of Axis Nightclub have gone beyond all expectations to help with the preparation and execution of the pageant each and every year.
In 2007, with the rising popularity of Male Entertainment Pageants in the state of Ohio, Bromans, INC. announced a new addition to the Ohio Gay Pride Pageant System.
The very first Mr Ohio Gay Pride Pageant, with the crowning of Paco Martinez. Brings a new dimension to the Gay Pride Pageant system. Mr. Ohio Gay Pride continues to flourish as we have added Brent Fabian of Columbus Ohio as our current and second Mr. Ohio Gay Pride. The Mr. Ohio Gay Pride Pageantry System has 5 prelmininary pageants, qualifying contestants from across the state to compete at Mr. Ohio Gay Pride.
The Ohio Gay Pride Royalty looks forward to the new and exciting dimensions that are coming to Ohio Gay Pride Pageantry and are dedicated to the continued success and growth of The Pride of Ohio!
