By Kevin Ferrisi –

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Connecticut’s own Kiki Lucia has added another feather to her wig, trading the spotlight of lip-syncing for the mic of stand-up comedy. The beloved drag performer recently competed in the annual Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen drag pageant in New York City, a prestigious preliminary to the renowned National Miss Comedy Queen competition. Going head-to-head with some of New York’s sharpest comedy queens, Kiki proudly represented Connecticut, proving that her wit is as sharp as her style.

Founded in 2005, ANR Productions has revolutionized the drag pageant scene with its National Miss Comedy Queen competition. Designed to spotlight humor and creativity, the inaugural pageant took place in Orlando and has since blossomed into one of the most prestigious events for comedy-driven female impersonators. With preliminary competitions held nationwide, National Miss Comedy Queen has expanded its reach and influence. One such preliminary, the Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen pageant, recently took center stage at Industry Bar in New York City, where contestants battled for the chance to represent in the national competition.

Representing Connecticut in the preliminary, Kiki Lucia shared the stage with a fierce lineup of comedic talent, including Hanna Byss, Toxic Shock, Koko Momo, Maxi Padding, Lori Lu, and Pink Pancake. The competition was judged by an esteemed panel of past titleholders: National Miss Comedy Queen 2017 Amanda Punchfuk, National Miss Comedy Queen 2011 The Minx, comedy icon Kizha Carr, Glam Award Entertainer of the Year Bootsie Lefaris, writer and director Diana Peralta, Slammy Award winner Ari Kiki, and celebrity choreographer Mitchell Wayne. The event was hosted by National Miss Comedy Queen 2023 Patty Bourey and Miss Big Adam’s Apple 2021 Holly Box-Springs, also featuring National Comedy Queen 2024 Vivian Vendetta Sinclaire.

The Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen competition put contestants through a rigorous and entertaining five-category scoring process. The day began with a pre-show Interview, allowing judges to get a glimpse of each queen’s personality and wit. The on-stage portion kicked off with a Presentation round themed “Athletic Supporter: Yay, Sports,” showcasing the queens’ creativity and humor. Contestants then dazzled the audience and judges in Talent, Outrageous Evening Gown, and the fast-paced 60 Second Spokeswoman categories. These five categories mirror those of the national competition, preparing the winners for their shot at the coveted National Miss Comedy Queen title.

During the Interview portion, Kiki Lucia sat down with the judges in a relaxed, five-minute “come as you are” session, offering a glimpse into her candid personality and quick wit. When it came time to kick off the show, for the Presentation round, themed “Athletic Supporter: Yay, Sports,” Kiki delivered a muscle queen bodybuilder moment. She began by humorously struggling to lift a campy barbell, only to shed her timid exterior in a dramatic outfit reveal. With newfound confidence, she hoisted the weight triumphantly, all set to Ariana Grande’s empowering anthem, “Break Free”.

For the Talent category, Kiki Lucia took the stage in a gay camel a.k.a giraffe costume, complete with extended arms that ingeniously transformed her into a towering giraffe. She delivered a hilarious performance to the “Gay Camel Mix” by comedian Bryan Callen, mashed-up with comedian Michelle Wolf, a mix made by Kiki herself, bringing to life their comedic bits about the giraffe being a flamboyant creation of a gay designer. Kiki’s impeccable timing and commitment to the campy concept had the audience in stitches, proving once again her ability to blend humor with creativity.

In the Outrageous Evening Gown segment, she captivated the audience as a dark, horned jack-in-the-box goddess, exuding Maleficent realness while dramatically emerging from an oversized toy box, as the host humorously narrated her favorite things. In the 60 Second Spokeswoman category, contestants were given a choice between two bags. They had to reach in, pull out an item, and then sell it comedically to the audience for 60 seconds. Kiki pulled a plush tail attached to a harness from a mystery bag and quickly transformed it into a comedic sales pitch, touting it as a playful alternative to the male appendage.

Kiki Lucia’s journey to Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen began with a leap of faith and a deep curiosity about the world of comedy. “I wanted to try my hand at competing and started looking for pageants,” Kiki explained. Drawn to the nationally renowned National Miss Comedy Queen competition, she discovered the New York prelim and decided to apply, despite the high stakes. “I was super nervous about doing New York because so many winners there go on to win nationals – that’s a lot of pressure,” she admitted. Kiki’s connection to the NYC drag scene helped ease her nerves, having performed at Industry before the pandemic and worked with notable figures like judge Bootsie LeFaris. After researching past competitions and consulting with pageant veterans, Kiki decided to step out of her comfort zone and give comedy a try, bringing her signature humor and charisma to the stage.

To close the evening, Kiki Lucia returned to the stage alongside the night’s cast for the crowning of the night’s winner, Lori Lu. Kiki, stunning in a pink mermaid gown, took the opportunity to honor the late Bubblicious, a beloved Black trans woman, queer icon, drag legend, and human rights advocate in Connecticut. Bubblicious’s legacy, defined by unforgettable performances and a relentless commitment to equality, continues to inspire. A close friend and mentor to Kiki, her passing left a deep mark on the community, and her memory was lovingly celebrated by Kiki during the night’s closing ceremony.

She takes great pride in crafting every outfit for each category entirely by herself. Though Kiki Lucia didn’t place in her first attempt at Miss Big Adam’s Apple, she remains proud of her performance and fully embraces her self-proclaimed title: “I’m kinda owning that I’m the ‘Porkchop’ Queen,” she joked, likening herself to Victoria “Porkchop” Parker, the very first contestant ever eliminated from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Much like Porkchop’s legacy as a trailblazer, Kiki sees her debut as the start of something bigger, viewing the experience as a valuable first step in her comedy pageant journey in her drag career. Simply making it into the competition this year was an honor in itself. With her eyes set on climbing the comedy queen ladder, Kiki is already thinking ahead. “Honestly, I’m 99.99% sure I’ll do it again.”

ConnecticutDrag.com reached out the the promoter of Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen, Kari Kerning and she shared with us, “I was so INCREDIBLY proud this year. All our contestants were so funny and talented. I think I’m most happy with the range of performances we got, it felt like such an inclusive night. Stand up, camp, fashion. It’s so rare you see that range of performances all on one stage.”