So, how does the competition work? Miss Melbourne Drag has three heats. From these heats, the winners of each heat will be invited back to the two semi finals, and each weeks winner is invited to open the show on the following week (except the week before the semi final). Winners of the semi finals will appear in the grand final.

In order to be eligible to compete, you must perform as the opposite gender, be over 18 years of age, and must not be a professional (ie. consistently performed or hosted at a professional level). On the night of your performance, you will be performing twice (once in each show) to your own music, which should be provided on CD and no longer than three and a half minutes per track.

Judging is based on four major categories – stage presentation, movement, personality and audience response. This years’ judges will range from sponsors, local drag queens and media – confirmed judges include Guy Barton (director of Australia Fashion Week), Paul Spanor and Katie Underwood (of Bardot fame). The judges decision is final, and no where near as tacky as that "touchdown" business on Australian Idol.

The lucky winner takes home a prize pack big enough to break every single acrylic nail – a $1500 cash prize from GayAZ (in addition to a paid, featured performance at the exhibition), $750 from Dr Paul Spanor, $250 from Pink, a photo portfolio valued at $1800 from StarShots Southland, a years free video rental from Out Video, a $300 voucher from Profile Jewellery plus more to be confirmed. In total, that’s a whopping $2500 in cash prizes and $3000 in sponsor prizes.

The competition isn’t just restricted to big wigs (*boom tish*) however, as Miss Melbourne Drag encourages newbies to take the stage, as the winner of the best up & coming of each heat will be invited back to the Best Up & Coming final. The eventual winner will be crowned Best Up & Coming of 2005, and take home a stash of prizes including $750 cash, and more than the equivalent in sponsor vouchers - including $150 from Profile Jewellery.

You too could follow in the stiletto’d footsteps of last years winner, Char D’Nay. As an up & comers entrant, she stormed the competition and won the major prize. She’s since been a featured performer at the 2004 Fantasy Ball, a member of the Madonna show at Pink, and recently scored her own show on Wednesday nights at Diva Bar. She’s done fantastically through her success at the contest, but just like Jennifer Hawkins stepping down from her role as Miss Universe, it’s time to pass the tiara to the next Miss Melbourne Drag.

So frock off, get your entry form in and start practising in front of the bathroom mirror – the heats kick off on June 4^th at Pink @ Newmarket.