Established 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.
1982 — Tiffany Arieagus
Instagram: @arieagustiffany
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.
1986 — Tandi Andrews
Instagram: n/a
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.
1992 — Mimi Marks
Instagram: @mimimarks11
Mimi Marks was the first-ever out, trans, 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 Munro
Instagram: n/a
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 on social media, sharing a video of her iconic Miss Continental performance on Instagram.
1995 — Lady Catiria
Instagram: n/a
Lady Catiria was still the current-reigning Miss Continental as she made a cameo in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
2001 — Candis Cayne
Instagram: @candiscayne
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.
2004 — Erica Andrews
Instagram: n/a
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.
2010 — Mokha Montrese
Instagram: @thedollmontrese
Mokha Montrese is the drag mother of Coco Montrese, who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 5.
2012 — Sasha Colby
Instagram: @sashacolby
Sasha Colby competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 and won the show. Then, at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Colby introduced Chappell Roan as her official drag daughter prior to the singer's first-ever VMAs performance.
2013 — Naysha Lopez
Instagram: @nayshalopez
Naysha Lopez competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 8.
2014 – Brooke Lynn Hytes
Instagram: @bhytes
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.
2016 – Jazell Barbie Royale
Instagram: @jazellbarbieroyale
Jazell Barbie Royale competed on Queen of the Universe season 2.
2018 — Stasha Sanchez
Instagram: @stashasanchez
Stasha Sanchez, a.k.a. Stasha Garçon, competed on Legendary season 2 within the House of Garçon.
2019 – Vanessa Van Cartier
Instagram: @vanessavancartier
Vanessa Van Cartier also competed on Drag Race Holland season 2 and won the show.
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Editor's note: Due to lockdown restrictions, there was no winner of Miss Continental 2020 and 2021.
2026 — Gadfrie Arbulu
Instagram: @gadfrie
Gadfrie Arbulu was a well-known trans activist in Peru prior to moving to the United States. Specifically, Arbulu reported a case of discrimination against her during an interview with Buenos Días Perú — the Peruvian equivalent of Good Morning America on national television — in April 2012. At the time, Arbulu was denied entry to a nightclub named Gótica after being questioned about her gender.
In 2013, a judge ruled in Arbulu's favor, issued a mandate to temporarily shut down the club (for seven days), and ordered its owners to pay compensation damages to the victim. The ruling was also featured on national TV in Peru, this time on the primetime news broadcast Cuarto Poder, in a story titled, "Gadfrie's Triumph." Attorneys and activists featured on the story spoke about this being a groundbreaking case for trans rights in Peru, and discussed how the ruling could set a new precedent to advance legal protections for trans people in the country.
