New Kitty Crowned at Annual Ruth Ellis Center Catfight for the Crown Drag Pageant — See the Photo Gallery!
Annual event raises funds for the Center's work with young adults
The fifth annual Catfight for the Crown, an amateur drag pageant and fundraiser supporting Ruth Ellis Center, took place June 14 at The Fillmore Detroit. Each year, contestants compete in a good-natured battle brimming with campy charm, baring their claws for a good cause and the chance to be crowned Miss Kitty. The 2024 Catfight coincided with the Center's 25th anniversary and, organizers tell Pride Source, aimed to elevate and honor the diverse identities and stories that strengthen the community's fabric.
“One of the biggest pillars of the Ruth Ellis Center is community,” says Ruth Ellis Center Director of Development Nazarina Mwakasege. “This year, we had 400 of our best and closest friends come together to celebrate a community born out of rejection and a lack of safe spaces to be authentic. Especially at Catfight, authenticity is highly encouraged in this space, you come as who you want to be.”
This year’s event celebrates Ruth Ellis Center’s 25th year in operation by honoring drag and ballroom cultures — art forms that exemplify the beauty, resilience and vibrancy of LGBTQ+ expression. Center Executive Director Mark Erwin tells Pride Source, “We owe this progress to unwavering support and solidarity in the community. Your presence, voices, and contributions continue to empower and sustain our mission.”
2024 winners include Zoe (Miss Kitty) and Belladonna Marz (Miss Congeniality). Learn more @catfightforthecrown.
Photos by @That.Gay.Photographer.
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