MX NERD NY RETURNS!

We are proud to announce the return of the Mx Nerd NY drag pageant! Created and owned by NYCG Vice President, Shane Cherry, the pageant has sadly been dormant since the catastrophic events that bombarded the world in 2020. But we think now is the time to bring it back! Mx Nerd is a pageant all about celebrating your favorite fandoms with all the glitz, glamour, and extravagance of drag! In addition to being a good time, Mx Nerd NY will also crown a winner as a representative of the intersection of our local LGBTQIA+ community and the gaming industry at large, and serve as a fundraiser so NYC Gaymers can continue to bring you exciting events and foster community. We're so excited to bring the pageant back into the public eye!

The competition consists of 4 categories:

• Daywear (Presentation)

• Talent

• Formalwear

• Question and Answer

In service to the values of inclusivity, contestants of any gender are welcome to compete, choosing a version of the Mx Nerd Title that best reflects their identity. The winner will serve as Mx / Ms / Mr / Miss Nerd NY for the next year, working to advance acceptance and representation within the gaming industry and fandoms, and fostering inclusive spaces in which our community can prosper. And of course, there will be plenty of guest performers and step down numbers by current reigning monarchs Miss Nerd New York Megami and Mr. Nerd New York Fox Squire.

Check back here at https://gaymers.nyc/mxnerd to keep up with updates. The pageant will take place May 2024. For press or general inquiries, please contact mxnerd@gaymers.nyc. But if you're the next nerdy drag superstar, or want to support the next nerdy drag superstar by volunteering or sponsoring a portion of the pageant, please continue reading for more information.

CONTESTANTS

So you think you know all the cheat codes or you just got that gud! Here's everything you need to know if you'd like to compete to be the next Mx Nerd New York:

You'll be able to register for the pageant right here at gaymers.nyc! The form should be live when we're ready to announce our date and venue, but if you'd like to be contacted as soon as it's active, please contact us at mxnerd@gaymers.nyc. The pageant can only accept a limited number of contestants, and spaces will be limited based on restrictions from the prospective venue and because the judges will otherwise get way too hangry. We want you all to compete, but sadly, this means it's first-come-first-serve to sign up, and others will be added to a wait list. There will be no fee to compete, but we will be asking for a $50 deposit, which will be forfeited as a penalty if the contestant doesn't show up. NYC Gaymers and Mx Nerd New York reserve the right to change these policies without notice.

Once accepted, we'll go over the next steps in the process, including signing the competition contract, filling out your act information sheet, and selecting your talent. Be warned: similar talents may be asked to come up with something new, with priority going to the earlier applicant to submit their info sheet. We won't ask you to do this, though, unless talents are very similar - lip syncing the same song, for instance. And don't worry if you don't know everything you want to do in advance; you'll have opportunities to change your info sheet and talent selection.

The best advice we can give prospective contestants is to remember that this is a drag pageant, and in addition to criteria of creativity and nerdiness, you will be scored with strict beauty pageant conventions. At Mx Nerd, we don't believe in judging a contestant’s body or identity, but you will be expected to wear garments that fit, wear makeup (or a lack of makeup) that accentuates your look, be able to move gracefully in your outfits, and make sure you don't have loose threads or visible wardrobe malfunctions. You'll get to see the judging criteria in advance, and we're revamping our judging system this year to ensure it fully aligns with our values.

We are looking forward to getting more information to you quickly. In the meantime, feel free to direct any questions to mxnerd@gaymers.nyc. And may the odds be forever in your favor!

SPONSORS

Mx Nerd New York is a massive undertaking, and it simply won't be possible without the help of generous sponsors! Sponsorships help us provide prizes and payments for the contestants and other performers respectively, as well as creating a greater fan experience. A huge component of pageantry is charity, so the most common sponsorships will take the form of product or service donations for us to use in a raffle benefiting NYC Gaymers. Of course, we'll happily accept cash or prize donations, as well. Please reach out to mxnerd@gaymers.nyc if you'd like more information.

VOLUNTEERS

We can't do this without you! There's so much that goes into making an event like Mx Nerd New York. We'll need administrative help in the lead up to the competition, production assistants on the day of, techies to ensure the show runs flawlessly, and even ambassadors to potential sponsors and performers! If you'd like to get involved, please reach out to mxnerd@gaymers.nyc so we can utilize your amazing talents!