Nominations Announced for 2016 Philly Drag Awards

The 2016 nominees for the Philly Drag Awards have been announced, and performer Iris Spectre leads the pack with a total of eight nominations.

Spectre will vie with Aloe Vera, Ariel Versace, Bev, Brooklyn Ford, Fahrenheit, Maria Topcat, Sutton Fearce, and Vinchelle for the top award of Drag Queen of the Year. Other highly competitive categories include Best Live Vocalist, which will see Britney Lynn, Lilli St. Queer, Pissi Myles and many other notable performers going head-to-head.

“As someone genderqueer and in love with performance, I’m so happy to be able to pursue what I love and showcase my talents across Philadelphia,” said Annie De Beers, a first-time nominee who will compete with Bella Cane, Donna Ria, Miss Troy, Lady Geisha, Robin Graves, and Sasha Magnolia for this year’s Breakthrough Drag Artist award.

The awards show will be held on Thursday, September 22nd, at Voyeur Nightclub (1221 Saint James Street) from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Formalwear is encouraged, and the cover charge is $10. If you are interested in mingling with the nominees, there will be a pre-show cocktail hour at 8 p.m.

Here’s a full list of the nominees:

Best Hostess/Emcee
Aloe Vera
Bev
Britney Lynn
Fahrenheit
The Goddess Isis
Lisa Lisa
Sandy Beach

Best Dance Artist
Chasity St. Cartier
Iris Spectre
Maria Top Cat
Navaya Shay
Omyra Lynn

Best Lipsync Artist
Aurora Whorealist
Fahrenheit
The Goddess Isis
Sutton Fearce
Vinchelle aka Shea Butter Work
ZsaZsa St. James

Best Live Vocalist
Britney Lynn
Cleo Phatra
The Goddess Isis
Lili St. Queer
Pissi Myles
Satine Harlow

Best Comedy Queen
Astala Vista
Bella Cane
BEV
Fanci Dismount
Fahrenheit
Pissi Myles
Vinchelle

Best Alternative Non-Traditional Drag Artist
Ann Artist
Champagne Showers
Dinah sore
Icon Ebony Fearce
Joey Gallagher
Luna LaVey
Martha Graham Cracker
Robin Grave

Best Dressed/Costumes
Aida Snatchwell
Anita Manhattan
Anna Rexia
Cleo Phatra
Iris Spectre
Jenna Tall
Navaya Shay

Best Hair
Bev
Brooklyn Ford
Celeste Inferno
Chariel
Mary D’Knight
Ophelia Hotass

Best Makeup
Aloe Vera
Ariel Versace
Brooklyn Ford
Lady Poison
Melony VonKruz
Satine Harlow

Best Duo/Group
6cess
Brooklyn & Satine
Frankey’s Foxes
House of Ham
Iris & ZsaZsa
Sinful Sundays Cast

Best Photographer for Drag Queens
Alexander Ortiz
David Allyon
Daniel Paugh
Garrett Matthes
Jonathan Hernandez
Miss Karma

Best DJ for Drag Shows
Carl Michaels
Chris Urban
Drootrax
Fanci Dismount
Lili St. Queer
Salotta Tee

Best Friend to the Drag Community
Bee Reed
Brandon Robert
Carly Sokoloff
Josh Schonenwolf
Liz Schatz
Michael DePiano
Steve Cizzle

DRAG WARS Best Solo Performance
Anita Manhattan- Princess Diana Beenie Baby
Astala Vista- Paris Is Burning
Chastity St. Cartier- Whitney Houston
Iris Sprectre- I am The Robot
Lazanya Ontre- Presto Chango
Miss Troy- Caitlyn Jenner
Ophelia Hotass- Holocaust
Saline- Transformers
Vinchelle- Michelle Obama

DRAG WARS Best Duo/Group Performance
Aurora Whorealis/Nicki Mahal- Oprah Poor Vs. Rich
Iris Spectre/Mary D’Knight – I Love Lucy
Melony VonKruz/The Goddess Isis- Cinderella
Satine/Bev- Romy & Michelle’s Highschool Reunion
Vinchelle/Chasity St. Cartier/Bella Cane- To Wong Foo
Zsa Zsa St. James and her Sisters- Baby Boy

DRAG WARS Best Group Production Number
Gayborhood the Musical (Ariel Versace and Friends)
Into the Woods (Maria TopCat and friends)
Jurassic Park the Musical (Bev, Satine, Aurora Whorealis, Iris Spectre, Scarlett Blue)
Legally Blonde (Vinchelle and Friends)
The Long King (Ophelia Hotass and Friends)
The Matrix (Fahrenheit and The House of Ham)
Pee Wee’s Playhouse (Iris Spectre & The Foxes)
Show Girls the musical (HOH, Pissi Myles, Dinah Sore & Sutton Fearce

Best Venue for Drag Shows
Bob and Barbara’s
Frankey Bradley’s
iCandy
Landmark
L’etage
Tabu
Voyeur Nightclub

Best Weekly Drag Show
Bob and Barbara’s Thursdays
Drag Arena
Gaybill
Miss Everything
Sinful Sundays

Best Monthly Drag Show
Amateur Drag Night
Bev’s Bitchfest
Devil Drag
Frankey’s Foxes
House of Ham Show
La Cage Aux Beach
What Makes Me Pissi

Crossover Artist Of The Year
Eric Jaffee
Gunnar Montanna
Honeytree Evil Eye
La Dolce Spina
Lacivious Jane
Paul Severe

Breakthough Artist of the Year
Annie De Beers
Bella Cane
Donna Ria
Miss Troy
Lady Geisha
Robin Graves
Sasha Magnolia

Drag Queen of the Year
Aloe Vera
Ariel Versace
Bev
Brooklyn Ford
Fahrenheit
Iris Spectre
Maria Topcat
Sutton Fearce
Vinchelle aka Shea Butter Wor