1991       # 10 

Place: MOVED TO MONTGOMERY PARK – NW YEON

Host: Darcelle XV

Date: September 1

Theme: Marie Antoinette’s Garden of Versailles

Judges:

La Femme Magnifique X Myra Madrid     Los Angeles

La Femme Magnifique Runner Up: Unknown

Press in The Oregonian, September 8, 1991.

AUCTION NETS CASH FOR CHARITY 

Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) - September 8, 1991

●        Author/Byline: BEVERLY BUTTERWORTH - of The Oregonian staff.

●        Section: NORTHWEST LIVING     Page: L02       Column: In One Ear

Summary: Chocolate decadence and a catered dinner entice donations to the March of Dimes
LA FEMME MAGNIFIQUE: On the runway at Montgomery Park Sept. 1, all the men were women and everyone a lady. It was the finals for La Femme Magnifique, a dress-up affair to name the most beautiful female impersonator in the West. Entrants were finalists in contests held earlier in California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Colorado.

Marie Antoinette's Garden at Versailles was the theme, so one of the four clothing changes required of each contestant had to represent the era -- complete with powdered wig. Some were 2-feet high. ``You had to be a man to wear them,'' said Darcelle XV, Portland's darling of drag, who sponsored the contest.

Producer-director Laurel Andrews made sure nobody wobbled in high heels when they strutted on the runway in their beads, rhinestones and feathers.

The tough job of picking a winner fell to State Rep. Vera Katz; Pat Benson, Ms. Senior Oregon; Ann Dant, Oregon Ballet Theatre; Jim Conelly, KWJJ radio; Dr. Richard Harris; Sandra Kaufman, costume designer for The Musical Co.; Sarah Giles, actress with the same company; and Jo Anne McHenry, of Montgomery Park management.

``I feel dreadful when someone loses,'' Darcelle said. ``Because I know costumes cost about $5,000. One person spent $1,500 for feathers. And they do the work themselves.''

Clothes like this don't hit the streets often. One number was a nude-colored body stocking with appliques in the appropriate places. It was worn with white top hat. Another was a yellow beaded gown, a la Bob Mackie, that took three months to make.

This year's winner, Mayra Madrid, Los Angeles, received the crown from Dianna Spencer, of Denver. Cicely a singularly named Portlander, is a former La Femme Magnifique.

Darcelle wore a circa '73 kelly green and white dress with tons of rhinestones. ``It looks good under the footlights, and I could zip it up,'' the entertainer said with a baritone laugh. LULU OF A LUAU: It was like a tropical storm Saturday, Sept. 1, but the surprise luau for Larry Van Laningham proceeded as planned under party tents in his parents' backyard. Laurie Van Laningham threw her husband off by holding the party there.

Note there is a video of La Femme 1991 Regional Pageant. Click here. Remember, these are vintage videos - transferred from VHS to DVD the quality may not always be the greatest - these videos are being posted for historical purposes.

Below is article in the Alternative Connection newspaper, October 1991.

Downtowner Magazine September 9, 1991