A queen since 2017

Last night I realized that I won my crown exactly five years ago. For those who've been around a while, you may recall it was such an oddball win that I didn't get crowned on the stage. If you didn't know, here's the story in brief.

It was the final year of the festival and the organizers had a real-time spreadsheet that was updated with scores in the performers-only Facebook group. We could see who was winning what prizes over the course of the evening. I wanted the comedy prize, but my Yakety Sax act had the highest scores across the board. My fellow performers knew my name should've been called out as queen, but the stellar performer just behind me in the scoring was announced. I was shocked but smiling, and other people asked me what happened.

The judges had computer problems and lost access to the spreadsheet somehow. They fumbled. They apologized after everyone left, we took a promo shot with two queens using the king's crown for me, and then I was mailed my crown later.

For that particular festival, we paid an entry fee plus an additional fee for extra categories. People were considered for every category for which they paid. I could've entered for queen and princess, but I'd been performing for long enough that I didn't feel I would qualify as a princess. I entered for queen, comedy, and glamour.

The judges looked at the princess numbers because most of the ladies entered for princess and queen consideration. They accidentally gave my award to the top scorer for princess, who had also entered to win queen.

Even with the hiccup, I was running on adrenaline for hours after the show. I couldn't believe that I won. My flight home was after a very short night's sleep in a hotel, and I was absolutely buzzing.

And I almost didn't go! There was risk of weather and I didn't want to get stuck. I decided that morning to catch my flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. Good thing I did.

He told me to fetch a crown. I was tickled that I succeeded.

I'm not sure what the future will hold for burlesque festivals after COVID. I haven't done much hunting for festivals and dates since I'm focused on preparing the puppy for the stage. I'll have to see what the world knows in 2023.