Brisbane queen crowned Miss Gay Australia

The almost-feline Miss Chinta Woo-Allcock has come up tops in an alternative beauty pageant.

The 38 year-old beat eight others from all over Australia to be crowned Miss Gay Australla 2011.

Chinta Woo-Allcock is the creation of linguistic doctoral student, Ian Atmanegara, whose drag career began slightly over a year ago when he participated in his first drag queen contest at Brisbane’s Sportsman Hotel.

He did not win then but a year later was crowned Miss Sportsman, a prestigious title for the Queensland drag community.

“I wanted to see how far Chinta could go so I decided to enter Miss Gay Australia 2011,” Atmanegara said.

Now in its second year, the colourful event attracted a ballroom crowd of 600 and was held at the Yarraville Club, Melbourne.

The event comprised two categories; one for drag performers and the other, for transsexuals.

Sixteen contestants paraded in fantasy wear, casual wear and evening gown. In true pageant style, the contestants battled it out in the interview and talent rounds.

Organiser Gayzha Vuu praised the event’s success.

“Among many other objectives, the contest aims to discover and develop new talents by providing the platform to showcase their skills to the general public, and not only within the LGBT community.”