Celebrating drag excellence at the first ever Newfoundland Drag Awards

Drag queens were dripping with glitz and glamour as they walked the red carpet Saturday night for the first ever Newfoundland Drag Awards, held at The Rockhouse in St. John's. 

Dakota Blake, who performs as Misty Manifest, and Dill March formed their own production company, Dream Haus Productions, and their non-profit, Drag is Art, and put off the event.

They felt there was a need for more performance opportunities after many performers chose to leave Velvet Night Club — the only bar in the city dedicated to drag performance — after it was exposed for the low pay it gave performers on Canada's Drag Race. 

Blake and March's goal is to empower 2SLGBTQ+ artists in the province by creating professional development and performance opportunities.

The non-profit received funds for the event from Year of the Arts funding from Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism department. 

March said they were excited to have the opportunity to celebrate drag excellence. 

"I think that these types of events exist for other artistic disciplines, but for drag artists less so," said March. 

Another important part of the evening for March was the opportunity to showcase new performers through the new and emerging drag artist award category.

"There's not really too many venues where new performers can really try and test out some of their drag. So we're really excited to showcase some of the new and emerging talent." said March.

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Fifi Fofum, a drag artist of only seven months, won the new and emerging drag artist award. She said the award night was incredible.

"Drag is so important, so special, especially in our world right now.," Fofum said. "To celebrate it on such a high level is fantastic."

The show featured six categories: Most authentic drag artist, new and emerging drag artist, lip sync assassin, dripping in opulence, drag host with the most, and most creative. 

The public weighed in on nominations with about 1,000 submissions. The Drag is Art board of directors alongside community representatives narrowed down the categories to 10 nominees. Then, a public vote of 6,000 ballots decided the winners.