Pride Legacy Begins

June 19, 2025
At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
TORONTO, Ontario

A New Tradition Is Born
Toronto’s Village just got a little more legendary. On Thursday, June 19th, the city welcomed the very first Pride Legacy Pageant—a vibrant, high-energy celebration of queer excellence presented by Vision Drag Artists and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. As part of the Buddies' Queer Pride 2025 Festival, this inaugural event set the stage for what’s bound to become a new cornerstone of Pride season in the 6ix.

Hosted by the ever-sparkling Lemon (Canada’s Drag Race S1 & Canada vs. The World winner) and judged by Toronto drag royalty Lucinda Miu and Tynomi Banks (Canada’s Drag Race S1 and CvsTW S2), the pageant brought together eight dazzling drag artists to compete across two categories—Runway and Talent—for a $1,000 cash prize and a coveted performance spot at Buddies’ Tallulah’s Pride Party.

Let’s dive into the legends in the making.

Table of Contents

• Meet the Judges

• Runway: Legendary Moments

• Talent: Shock, Shine, and Showbiz

• Crowned and Crown Worthy

Meet the Judges

Lemon kicked off the night with an electrifying performance, reminding the packed house why she’s considered one of Canada’s brightest drag exports. After hyping the crowd, she introduced the guest judges: Lucinda Miu, a queen known for her theatrical prowess, and Tynomi Banks, the high-kicking, high-fashion diva who brought glamour and gravitas to the panel.

Runway: Legendary Moments

Each contestant was tasked with creating a look inspired by a personal legendary moment. What followed was a deeply emotional and visually stunning showcase of drag as storytelling.

• Sevynn stepped out cloaked in red velvet sequins to honour the resilience of the HIV/AIDS community, complete with a dramatic red ribbon collar and angelic headpiece.

• Guy Anabella brought Caribbean excellence and queer pride together in a butterfly-inspired Caribana look, emerging as a symbol of joyful transformation.

• Midas embodied her namesake with a golden goddess gown and a sobering nod to the myth that inspired her—reminding us that drag, too, is a blessing.

• Love Masisi dazzled in upcycled orange materials from around the world, paying tribute to their personal journey from Haiti to Europe to Canada.

• Betty Baker wore a glitter-splattered princess gown to honour her storytime protest-turned-community rally in Peterborough.

• Molly Kewl gave us nostalgia and irreverence, mixing Y2K raver chaos, Spice Girls camp, and boxers for a wild gender-fluid fantasy.

• Sahira became the fire itself in a self-made molten look that declared: this moment—right now—is their legacy.

• Sucka Queen fluttered across the stage in a head-to-toe stoned butterfly ensemble, representing a hard-earned rebirth in full technicolour.

Talent: Shock, Shine, and Showbiz

After a mid-show performance from Lucinda Miu, the queens turned up the volume in the talent portion, and the crowd was living.

• Sevynn stunned with a sultry, acrobatic pole performance alongside backup dancers.

• Guy Anabella dropped her self-produced track “Pretty Girls are Strong” in a fierce dance number that ended with her literally lifting a giant weight—iconic.

• Midas gave us tech-meets-glam, delivering a red-hot number featuring an X-ray iPad illusion that had the audience gagged.

• Love Masisi broke the mold by singing live, their voice filling the room with soul and sincerity—no lipsync required.

• Betty Baker performed a heartfelt drag storytime in a Dorothy costume, complete with her puppet pal Butch and a message of hope for queer families.

• Molly Kewl got weird in the best way—serving a science-themed act with a side of plasma, proving that education can absolutely be fierce.

• Sucka Queen took us under the sea with a Little Mermaid-inspired video number, and a wink to her fishiest fantasy.

• Sahira delivered one of the night’s most unforgettable moments—a live painting performance that ended with a jaw-dropping reveal when she flipped the canvas upside down to reveal a portrait.

Tynomi Banks closed out the talent segment with a final performance that had everyone on their feet, sealing the night with diva energy and undeniable charisma.

Crowned and Crown Worthy

With the stage full and the energy sky-high, the judges called all eight contestants back out to announce the final results.

Midas was named runner-up, a well-deserved honour after her tech-savvy, visually striking performances.

But it was Guy Anabella who soared the highest—crowned the first-ever winner of the Pride Legacy Pageant, proving that her butterfly moment was more than a metaphor. It was destiny.

A Future Worth Celebrating

The Pride Legacy Pageant wasn’t just a pageant—it was a love letter to Toronto’s drag history and a toast to its future. In one night, we saw resilience, rebellion, reinvention, and raw talent take the stage under one shared spotlight.

With support from Vision Drag Artists, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and sponsors like Absolut, this event has set a powerful precedent. And judging by the queens we met and the stories they told, we’re not just witnessing the beginning of a pageant—we’re witnessing the birth of a legacy.

Photos and review by Kevin Blondin

Friday the 13th

with a twist of Lemon

Friday the 13th - with a twist of Lemon

When: Friday, October 13, 2023

Where: Windsor Sportsmen’s Club, 2401 Dougall Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

Presented by: Lavender Promotions and Koko Starr Events

Main Act: Lemon (From Canada's Drag Race Season 1)

Supporting Acts: Luxy Charms, Rollz, Koko Starr, Phoenix Black, Hudson Bae, Subrina Kink

Admission: $20 in Advance, $25 at the Door, General Admission Only

The Zine Experience:

Let's turn the clock back to Friday the 13th, a date infamous for its dark aura. But Windsor wasn't about superstitions; it was about celebrating the extraordinary. The Windsor Sportsmen’s Club was the place to be, and it wasn't just any Friday night – it was the night Lemon (@lemongivesyoulife), the tangy sensation from Canada's Drag Race (@canadasdragrace) Season 1, returned to Windsor for another spectacular drag event hosted by Lavender Promotions (@lavenderpromo) and Koko Starr Events.

Picture this: It’s Friday night, it’s 8 pm, and I’m at a place called the Sportsmen’s Club with dead animals covering the walls… This truly is a Friday the 13th.  Inside, the air buzzes with anticipation, as the crowd awaits a sour and sensational spectacle. Lemon, with her zest for life and a style as bright as the fruit she's named after, was the star of the show. She didn't disappoint; She squeezed out every drop of charisma and talent.

But Lemon wasn't alone. She brought with her a smorgasbord of talent that added a variety of flavors to the night. Luxy Charms (@luxycharms666), the self proclaimed “little goth clown hooker” was pure luxury and charm, drawing us in to her darkness with her sinister grin. Rollz (@rollzthedragqueen), the dark horse of the evening, spun us into a whirlwind of wonder. Koko Starr (@kokostarrqueen), a local legend, brought her A-game, dazzling the crowd with her power and glamour. The dancing queen from London, Ontario, Phoenix Black (@itsphoenixblack), fiery and fierce, set the stage ablaze with her presence. Hudson Bae (@kinghudsonbae), the embodiment of cool, brought a new definition to suave. And Subrina Kink (@subrina_kink), sprinkled a touch of kink and a dash of horror into the mix that would have made Jason’s own mother proud!

For just $20 this unforgettable night could have been yours. The audience, a blend of faces from all walks of life, reveled in the atmosphere. It was general admission, so no one was too far from the magic happening on stage.

The energy in the room was electric, a fusion of Lemon's vibrant spirit and the crowd's enthusiastic cheers. With every lip sync, every costume change, and every dance move, Lemon and her ensemble elevated the room to new heights.

As the night waned and the clock ticked away, it was clear: Lemon and her cohorts had painted the town yellow. It was a Friday the 13th that would be remembered for its audacity, its eccentricity, and its pure zest for life.

In the end, as the crowd dispersed, smiles on their faces and a touch of Lemon's inspiration in their hearts, the Windsor Sportsmen’s Club remained an oasis of extraordinary. The city had experienced a Friday the 13th like no other – one that proved that sour can be sweet, and that a little bit of Lemon goes a long way.

The Verdict: Sour, sweet, and everything in between – the Windsor drag scene will be talking about this unforgettable Friday the 13th for years to come.

By Kevin Blondin (@kevinblondinsta)