Category is: Continental Court!See on InstagramEstablished in 1980 by Jim Flint, the Miss Continental pageant has become the most prestigious drag queen pageant system in the world.Unlike other prominent drag queen pageants, Miss Continental became known for being more inclusive of trans women as contestants. In many ways, making that choice wasn't just about fairness it genuinely turned Miss Continental into one of the fiercest and most competitive pageants in the LGBTQ+ community.With the exception of the lockdown hiatus from 2020, the Miss Continental pageant is held annually during Labor Day weekend in Chicago, Illinois. On Monday, September 1, 2025, Gadfrie Arbulu was crowned Miss Continental 2026 and entered this prestigious pantheon of polished pageantry.Scroll through to meet every single winner of the Miss Continental pageant over the years.1980 Chilli PepperSee on InstagramInstagram: @theonlychillipepperchicago1981 Heather FontaineSee on InstagramInstagram: @fontaine.heatherFun facts: Tiffany Arieagus is the drag mother of Latrice Royale, who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 4, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 1, and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.1982 Tiffany ArieagusSee on InstagramInstagram: @arieagustiffany1983 Chena BlackSee on InstagramInstagram: @patriciablack1984 Cherine AlexanderSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1985 Maya DouglasSee on InstagramInstagram: @the_maya_douglas1986 Tandi AndrewsSee on InstagramInstagram: n/aFun facts: Tandi Andrews is the drag mother of Erica Andrews. She is subsequently the drag grandmother of Roxxxy Andrews, who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 5, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 2, and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 9.1987 Dana DouglasSee on InstagramInstagram: @danadouglas39201988 Kelly LaurenSee on InstagramInstagram: @theoriginaldirtyblond1989 Lakesha LuckySee on Instagram1990 Chanel DupreeSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1991 Amber RichardsSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1992 Mimi MarksSee on InstagramInstagram: @mimimarks11Fun facts: Mimi Marks is the first-ever out transgender runway model to be represented by the Ford Modeling Agency. In 2008, she appeared in Janet Jackson's "Rock With You" music video.1993 Monica MunroSee on InstagramInstagram: n/aFun facts: Monica Munro was referenced as Sasha Colby's biggest inspiration for drag and live performance in the reunion episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15. Actress Hari Nef has also referenced Munro, sharing a video of her Miss Continental performance on Instagram.1994 CzanneSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1995 Lady CatiriaSee on InstagramInstagram: n/aFun facts: Lady Catiria was still the current-reigning Miss Continental as she made a cameo in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.1996 Paris FrantzSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1997 Tasha LongSee on InstagramInstagram: @thetashalong1998 Michelle DupreeSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a1999 Tommie RossSee on InstagramInstagram: @tommieross2000 Danielle HunterSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a2001 Candis CayneSee on InstagramInstagram: @candiscayneFun facts: Before winning Miss Continental, Candis Cayne starred in the film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. After winning the pageant, Cayne played iconic characters like Carmelita on Dirty Sexy Money, Ms. Hudson on Elementary, Dr. Michelle Velez on Grey's Anatomy, and Fairy Queen on The Magicians, among others. Cayne's latest project, Candis Cayne's Secret Garden, premiered exclusively on the Advocate Channel Out's sister platform and is currently streaming on Hulu.2002 Yoshiko OshiroSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a2003 Erika NorellSee on InstagramInstagram: @theerikanorell_2004 Erica AndrewsSee on InstagramInstagram: n/aFun facts: Erica Andrews is the drag daughter of Tandi Andrews, and the drag mother of Roxxxy Andrews, who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 5, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 2, and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 9.2005 Domanique ShappelleSee on InstagramInstagram: @shappelleprod2006 Victoria Le PaigeSee on InstagramInstagram: @lepaigevictoria2007 Necole Luv DupreeSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a2008 TulsiSee on InstagramInstagram: n/a2009 ArmaniSee on InstagramInstagram: @christinaarmani2010 Mokha MontreseSee on InstagramInstagram: @thedollmontreseFun facts: Mokha Montrese is the drag mother of Coco Montrese, who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 5.2011 Alexis Gabrielle SherringtonSee on InstagramInstagram: @queengabrielle9042012 Sasha ColbySee on InstagramInstagram: @sashacolbyFun facts: Sasha Colby competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 and won the show.2013 Naysha LopezSee on InstagramInstagram: @nayshalopezFun facts: Naysha Lopez competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 8.2014 Brooke Lynn HytesSee on InstagramInstagram: @bhytesFun facts: Brooke Lynn Hytes competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 11. She's also been the host and main judge of Canada's Drag Race for its entire run so far.2015 Tiffany T. HunterSee on InstagramInstagram: @tiffanythunter2016 Jazell Barbie RoyaleSee on InstagramInstagram: @jazellbarbieroyaleJazell Barbie Royale competed on Queen of the Universe season 2.2017 Shantell D'MarcoSee on InstagramInstagram: @shantell_dmarco2018 Stasha SanchezSee on InstagramInstagram: @stashasanchezFun facts: Stasha Sanchez, a.k.a. Stasha Garon, competed on Legendary season 2 within the House of Garon.2019 Vanessa Van CartierSee on InstagramInstagram: @vanessavancartierFun facts: Vanessa Van Cartier also competed on Drag Race Holland season 2 and won the show.Editor's note: Due to lockdown restrictions, there was no winner of Miss Continental 2020 and 2021.2022 Juliana RiveraSee on InstagramInstagram: @julyriverag2023 Sunny Dee-LiteSee on InstagramInstagram: @deelitedeesignshair2024 Zhan DawlingzSee on InstagramInstagram: @zhane_dawlingz2025 Raquell CuffeeSee on InstagramInstagram: @raquell_cuffee2026 Gadfrie ArbuluSee on InstagramInstagram: @gadfrie