One drag performer will win a grand prize of $10,000 during Elvis Duran’s Drag Spectacular on Tuesday, July 21 at 7pm ET. Legendary radio host, author, and LGBTQ advocate Elvis Duran will host the event on his YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Celebrity judges for the event include Emmy Award nominee Tituss Burgess, Michelle Visage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Tony Award winner Idina Menzel and Cynthia Germonatta, Lady Gaga’s mom and founder of The Born This Way Foundation.
The event is currently hosting an open call for videos of original drag performances from around the country. Videos sent in by Tuesday, July 14, will be judged on creativity and performance and twenty of the performances will air during the event. Judges will then select three stand out performances as well as a Grand Prize winner who will be awarded $10,000. Find out how to send your performance here.
Submit your performance & participate in #ElvisDragSpectacular! Do you have what it takes to impress our panel of judges @momgerm @idinamenzel @michellevisage @Instatituss? Get involved and you could win $10k and support @bornthisway & @AliForneyCenter -> https://t.co/QqNTKVuozO
— Elvis Duran (@elvisduran) July 6, 2020
“Look at this panel of judges! The foundation is set for this fun, festive event to celebrate our LGBTQ family Pride,” said Elvis Duran. “The drag community has always been there to keep us entertained and amazed. Their stage may be currently “on pause” but we can still turn on the lights and have a show. Wig snatching time!”
The Drag Spectacular will be presented in partnership with the Ali Forney Center and the Born This Way Foundation.
“I am so grateful for Elvis + the morning show’s generosity in not only inviting me to participate as a judge but also benefitting Born This Way Foundation and our dear partners Ali Forney Center through this event,” said Germonatta. “It is so important that even though we’re physically apart, we’re still able to come together virtually to celebrate Pride and our commitment to building a kinder, braver world where everyone can be their true self. I can’t wait to enjoy all the performances.”
Duran has been a longtime LGBTQ advocate who wrote about coming out and his work in the entertainment industry in his memoir “Where Do I Begin?: Stories from a Life Lived Out Loud.” He most recently co-hosted ‘Can’t Cancel Pride: A COVID-19 Relief Benefit for the LGBTQ Community’ with Laverne Cox. Duran was also an Executive Producer of the P&G and iHeart Media event which featured Ricky Martin, Katy Perry, Billy Porter, Adam Lambert, Big Freedia and more. He and his Morning Show team also participate in Spirit Day each year by spotlighting LGBTQ youth and going purple to stand against bullying. The National Association of Broadcasters recently inducted Duran into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame and he and his husband Alex Carr were also recently honored by the Pride Center of Staten Island for their LGBTQ advocacy.
Elvis Duran’s Drag Spectacular is produced by Steven Levine, president of marketing and artist relations for the Elvis Duran Group, who noted: “I’m always proud that Elvis encourages our team to step up to help our community, and to use our platform so we can raise awareness for causes that truly impact the lives of millions of people around the country.”
Tune-in for the Drag Spectacular on July 21 at 7pm ET to find out who wins.