Every Miss Continental pageant winner over the years

$Zhan\u00e9 Dawlingz; Raquell Cuffee; Sunny Dee-Lite$ (L-R) Zhané Dawlingz; Raquell Cuffee; Sunny Dee-LiteInstagram (@zhane93/@tiophoto); Courtesy of Miss Continental

Established in 1980 by Jim Flint, the Miss Continental pageant has become the most prestigious drag queen pageant system in the world over the years.

Unlike other prominent drag queen pageants, Miss Continental became known for being more accepting of trans women as competitors. This has subsequently turned Miss Continental into one of the fiercest and most competitive pageants in the LGBTQ+ community. In other words, winning the coveted title of Miss Continental is extremely well-regarded in the world of drag.

With the exception of the lockdown hiatus from 2020, the Miss Continental pageant is usually held during Labor Day weekend in Chicago, Illinois. On Monday, September 2, 2024, Raquell Cuffee was crowned Miss Continental 2025 and entered this prestigious pantheon of polished pageantry. As we celebrate Cuffee's reign, this feels like the perfect time to look back at all of the legendary winners that came before her.

Scroll through to meet every single winner of the Miss Continental pageant over the years.

1980 – Chilli Pepper

1981 – Heather Fontaine

1982 – Tiffany Arieagus

1983 – Chena Black

1984 – Cherine Alexander

1985 – Maya Douglas

1986 – Tandi Andrews

Tandi Andrews founded the Andrews house that RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Roxxxy Andrews is a part of.

1987 – Dana Douglas

1988 – Kelly Lauren

1989 – Lakesha Lucky

1990 – Chanel Dupree

1991 – Amber Richards

1992 – Mimi Marks

Mimi Marks is known as the first-ever out transgender runway model to work under the Ford Modeling Agency. In 2008, she appeared in the “Rock With You” music video by Janet Jackson.

1993 – Monica Munro

During the reunion episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, Sasha Colby credited Monica Munro for being the biggest inspiration for her drag and performance style.

1994 – Cézanne

1995 – Lady Catiria

The same year she won Miss Continental, Lady Catiria made a cameo in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

1996 – Paris Frantz

1997 – Tasha Long

1998 – Michelle Dupree

1999 – Tommie Ross

2000 – Danielle Hunter

2001 – Candis Cayne

Before winning Miss Continental, Candis Cayne appeared in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. After winning the pageant, she became an even bigger Hollywood star starring in projects like Dirty Sexy Money, Elementary, and The Magicians, among others.

2002 – Yoshiko Oshiro

2003 – Erika Norell

2004 – Erica Andrews

Erica Andrews is the drag daughter of Tandi Andrews. She is also the drag mother of Roxxxy Andrews, who competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race season five and All Stars 2.