Origin of Womanless Beauty Pageants

Womanless weddings, often staged by men’s civic and fraternal groups, were popular entertainment in the U.S. southern states prior to the advent of television. They consisted of a mock wedding in which males crossdressed in the roles of the entire wedding party, including the bride, mother of the bride, bridesmaids, flower girl and female guests. These events were often fundraisers, since many in the community were more than willing to pay admission to see their male neighbors in female attire. (Sources: Wikipedia and NCpedia)

Womanless weddings predated womanless beauty pageants. 

Schools, always looking for ways to raise funds and to keep the student body busy (idle hands are the devil's workshop), noticed the popularity and success of womanless weddings and were inspired to do something womanless in the educational realm. And mid-20th Century, someone came up with the idea of holding beauty pageants with boys crossdressing in the roles of female contestants. 

The earliest womanless beauty pageant that I can find was in 1947, a “Boys’ Beauty Contest” put on by Cradock High School in Portsmouth, Virginia (photo above). Evidently, the Boy’s Beauty Contest was popular and it became an annual event at Cradock High School through the early 1950s. [Note that there were earlier school events in which boys dressed like girls (e.g., Halloweens, plays, fashion shows, follies, burlesques, musicales, etc.), but as far as womanless pageants per se, the 1947 Cradock High pageant was the earliest.]

Eventually adults got into the picture and womanless beauty pageants replaced womanless weddings as surefire fundraisers. Inexplicably, just like womanless weddings, womanless beauty pageants are more popular in the U.S. southern states than anywhere else.  

My research is dependent on over 4700 womanless pageants that Femulate contributor Starla Trimm tirelessly culled from online high school yearbooks, so it is possible that there were earlier womanless pageants that are not documented online. If you know of an earlier womanless beauty pageant, please let us know what you know.

Using those 4700 pageants, I calculated the popularity of pageants between 1947 and 2019. Growth was slow in the 1950s (55 pageants) and began to pick up speed in the 1960s (310 pageants). The heyday for pageants was the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with 1145, 1709 and 969 pageants respectively. The next century saw a dramatic drop-off in popularity with only 437 pageants in the 2000s and 44 pageants in the 2010s. 

Mine is not a precise calculation because not all high school yearbooks are accessible online and some pageants may not have been documented in any yearbooks at all. But even my imprecise calculations illustrate the rise and fall of womanless beauty pageants’ popularity.

Transphobia and homophobia (on the right) and political correctness (on the left) probably account for the drop. 

And so it goes.

Wearing Boston Proper

The 1950 installment of the Boys’ Beauty Contest at Cradock High School in Portsmouth, Virginia

Someday Funnies

Wearing BGL

British professional femulators Colin Ross and Terry Bartlett, circa 1940

My Louboutins

Before

As a fashionista who loves high heel shoes, I am well aware of high heels from Christian Louboutin with their signature red bottoms. Louboutin shoes are beautiful, but their price ($750 and up) match the height of their stilettos... much too high for my femulating budget!

I got the bright idea to paint the bottoms of my own more reasonably priced high heels to emulate Louboutins. 

I did a little research on the Internet and discovered that I was not the first girl to make fake Louboutins. Some girls used red nail polish and other girls used various brands of red paint. One paint job that impressed me used the Angelus brand of acrylic leather paint.

Angelus has a few shades of red, so I did some more research to find a shade that matched Louboutin’s red. Pantone-18 Chinese Red is what Louboutin uses and Angelus’ Fire Red looked to be a good match.

I ordered a bottle from Amazon and it arrived the next day. (I just love Amazon Prime’s instant gratification!)

After

With paint and paint brush in hand, I needed a candidate to paint. I selected my new black patent Nine West Alison sling-back pumps.

It took less than five minutes to do each shoe. I kept a paper towel handy in case I slipped up and painted a part of the shoe that wasn’t its bottom. The dry paper towel cleaned up any mishaps thoroughly. Your mileage may vary with shoes that are not patent leather.

I checked back about four hours later to see if I needed to apply a second coat and I did. Two coats were adequate and I wore my new Louboutins out and about the next day.

Wearing New York & Company (Post-op)

“Mom Catches Son CrossDressing!!” is the title of this short and entertaining video that I found on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it!

Someday Funnies

Wearing Bella Dahl

Heather out and about in Utah

The Name Game

Bette Davis as “Stanley”

My sister mentioned to me that in the 1942 film In This Our Life, Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland play sisters named Stanley and Roy, respectively. According to IMDB, “The film never hints that there is anything unusual about their names, nor does it offer any explanation.”

IMDB also mentioned, “In David Maraniss’ 2012 biography of President Barack Obama, titled Barack Obama: The Story, he reports that Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham Obama Soetoro, was named ‘Stanley’ not after her own father, Stanley Dunham, but after the Bette Davis character in this film. Maraniss says that Obama’s maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, saw the movie while pregnant with Obama’s mother, and she thought the name sounded sophisticated for a girl.”

I like that!

In 2012, Bradford High School produced a better than average womanless beauty pageant. Mostly civilian boys in evening gowns, one contestant, Number 8 (photo above), was outstanding and in my opinion, not a civilian. As soon as I saw how he walked across the stage, my trans-radar alarm sounded. He exuded femininity and should have won the pageant hands-down. See Number 8 for yourself by clicking here to view the pageant on YouTube (his appearance begins at the 4:50 mark).

Wearing ESCADA pants

Joey out and about (above and beyond) donating blood.
Read all about it on Joey’s blog.

Someday Funnies

Wearing Boston Proper

F1nn5ter aka Rose is a young British femulator with a huge following on YouTube

Fashion Model Stana

Readers commented favorably on the (Out and) About sidebar photo of “Fashion Model Stana,” so here is an excerpt from my book Fantasia Fair Diaries describing what happened on the occasion of that photograph. 

On Tuesday of Fantasia Fair week...

I attended a practice session for the fashion show. Yes, I am modeling in the annual Fantasia Fair Fashion Show before an audience of civilians and trans-people alike and it should be the thrill of my lifetime (up to now). The girls running the fashion show walked us through the routine of walking down the catwalk, etc. The first step from the stage to the catwalk is a doozy, so I plan to take it slow in my killer heels! The fashion show is Wednesday night and it should be a lot of fun!

On Wednesday of Fantasia Fair week...

I returned to my room and relaxed for an hour, then went to fashion show practice with my highest high heels in tow. (We were supposed to bring the highest heels we planned to wear for the show to the practice.) I had not worn these shoes before (the silver sequins platform sandals from Payless) and I was surprised how comfortable they were.

Everyone took a turn or two walking on stage and down the catwalk. After practice, I returned to my room to get ready for the show.

We were told to apply our makeup on the heavy side because the stage lights would wash out our faces if all we had on was a normal application of makeup. So I used black and dark grays to do my eyes, bright reds for my lips, and heavy on the blush.

After making up my face, I left my hotel room and walked downstairs to the site of the fashion show (the fashion show venue was in my hotel).

The dressing room for the fashion show models was not a dressing room per se; it was actually the room used for the Fair’s keynote addresses and other presentations. As a result, the facilities were not very good for dressing. We had to drape our stuff over the chairs in the room.

Later, a clothing rack showed up, but by then, my stuff was in such a disarray that the arrival of the rack did not matter.

I wore the first outfit I planned to model to the show, so I was ready to go while other models were dressing.

A photographer working on The Gender Photo Project had a portable studio set up in the dressing room near where I had plopped my stuff. The photographer asked me if I wanted to pose for a photo for the project and of course, I agreed. 

During the photoshoot, the photographer mentioned that I resemble Norway’s most famous crossdresser, Esben “Esther Pirelli” Benestad. I never heard of Benestad, but I was familiar with a film she appeared in: Alt om min far (All About My Father), which is a true story about a transvestite, who seeks his son’s acceptance.

Nigel Dickson had his photography equipment set up at the opposite end of the room. Nigel is the photographer working on a Fantasia Fair book and it turns out that he has taken photos of many famous people.

While I was still enjoying the afterglow from my first photoshoot, Nigel came over and asked me if I would pose for him. I joked with some of the other models saying, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

Turns out I was the first subject that Nigel photographed! After he took a few shots, he thanked me and promised to e-mail me a copy of the photo later.

The actual fashion show was now becoming an afterthought!

I was the fifth model of 23 models to go up the catwalk and I was on and off the stage very quickly. With floodlights shining in my face, loud music blaring, and the MCs making comments, the experience became a blur, but I do remember one of the MCs asking me if I was now ready for a New York City catwalk. I responded, “You betcha” in my best Alaskan accent and I got a big laugh from the audience.

Speaking of the audience, it was not a full house. I assume the lousy weather (cold and raining) kept down the crowd, but the audience that did show up was very enthusiastic and cheered each model loudly.

Wearing the black velvet evening gown from my friend Patty Marino’s collection, second time up was the same as the first... a blur, but the MC asked me to walk the walk twice (something they only asked a few models to do), so I must have been doing something right.

There was a party after the fashion show, but the weather was so miserable, I did not want to walk to the party venue, so I skipped it and went to bed.

From the Health Dept.

Wednesday, I saw my surgeon for a followup to my inguinal hernia repair surgery. 

The doctor confirmed my suspicion that my sore throat was caused by the anesthetic tube put down my throat during surgery and that it would heal itself quickly. He recommended lozenges to ease any discomfort.

He also said I was good to go and can start lifting handbags greater than 50 pounds!

Wearing Le Redoute

During my recovery from surgery, I watched some films and one that I found very interesting (not to mention,a little weird) was a 2019 British film titled Into the Mirror. It stars Jamie Bacon, who is femulating in the above photo from the film. I highly recommend the film to Femulate readers. It is only an hour long and you can view it for free on YouTube.

Someday Funnies

Wearing A.L.C. dress and Gia Couture shoes

Yusuf Sezgin and Sadri Alisik femulating in the 1970 Turkish film Fistik Gibi.

You can view the film on YouTube.

Angela Working En Femme, Part 2

By Angela Booth

This is Part 2 of Angela’s work experience en femme. Click here to read Part 1.

 I was so comfortable working en femme, I decided I to look for a job and see how the applications went. I checked out vacancies and one took my fancy. It was an administrative role with a local authority. Local authorities are committed to diversity, so I had a look at the application form. I completed it in my legal name. There was a box to say the name you were known as. I think this is a general request as there are people, apart from transitioning, who have a complex name and are know by another. I supplied all the information, but there was nowhere to expand on my circumstances, so I added a cover letter and sent it off. 

I had the usual acknowledgement mail and then an invite for an interview. I started to outthink a simple request to attend an interview. Were they doing it to tick diversity boxes and would I be looked at as a freak with all the staff being told and staring at me? I turned up dressed appropriately and was taken to the interview by a lovely girl There were two female interviewers who had their Q and A sheets in front of them. The interview was conducted very professionally and then I was given a tour of the offices. Everyone was working away and it went well. I knew that I had flunked a couple of questions, but felt it went well for my first interview crossdressed. 

I got a phone call from one of the ladies a week later.  I didn’t get the job and the flunked questions were the reason. She said I had presented well and did impress them.

That was a great experience and I made a decision that I would apply for other jobs in the same way when the shop closed. I applied for three jobs and completed the applications with the covering letter. I was invited for interviews for all of them. Each went as the first did. One I didn’t like, so I said I wouldn’t take the role if offered. 

One, working in a shop, I accepted. My legal identity was kept confidential at head office and any communications and identity was in my femme name. The staff and customers accepted me as one of the girls and it was a nice job. However, due to the business climate, this shop was also in trouble as was a lot of retail. 

We were usually a minimum staff and the future was uncertain. My colleagues were becoming unsettled and the atmosphere changed. I decided to jump ship and look for something more stable. I went to a job fair and there was a company in the care sector. I spoke with the people there and filled an application, then arranged an interview. My previous experience was perfect for them and after security checks, I was offered the job. 

I have been there over two years now. I have had various clients and their families to work with and it has gone well. I plan to stay there until I decide to fully retire. 

I consider myself very lucky as the laws here in the UK afford me equal rights, but the whole process started with coming out to a friend. I have my female identity. My bank has taken my title from my cards so, it only shows initial and surname. They can’t change my name unless I provide evidence of an official name change. I applied for a credit card from another company many years ago in my male name and, a couple of years later, asked for one in my femme name on the same account. I got it! That was before money laundering became a thing and this would not be possible now without more personal information, but my card was not recalled. 

I have joined some organizations in my name. My doctor is aware and I have seen the doctor crossdressed. I also had to go to my dentist crossdressed as a work consultation over ran and I had no choice. I couldn’t lose the appointment, so went with a sore tooth and fingers crossed. After a bit of astonishment, to say that it went well was an understatement. The first thing they did was to ask how I wanted to be addressed and changed the records accordingly and I was flattered with the compliments. 

I also went for an eye test giving my femme details. My date of birth was given along with my address. I get free tests due to my age. There were no questions asked. However, when I was being tested, the practitioner looked at my records and referred to treatment some years back. They knew who I was, but did not make an issue of it and treated me accordingly.

I admit, again, I have been lucky as the decisions I have made have led me to where I am today. I never planned it but, as little femulator, I did dream of this and now it is a reality over 50 years later.

Patience is a virtue and a nice girl’s name, too!

Aches and Pains Dept.

My recovery from the inguinal hernia repair surgery has been rapid. I felt so good yesterday that I took my first hike in the woods since late June and felt fine after 0.83 miles climbing over hill and dale.

My only complaint is my throat. It was fine before surgery, but I woke up after surgery with a mild sore throat, which got much worse as time marched on. It is much better today. 

I assume the tube they inserted down my throat for the anesthesia caused the problem. I will mention it to my surgeon when I go for my followup appointment today. 

Wearing Paige

Harry Tracey femulating on stage in the 1948 annual presentation of The Gang Show.

Someday Funnies

Wearing New York & Company

Out and about, two femulators exit the theater presenting Mae West’s play The Pleasure Man after the police shut it down, October 2, 1928.