Author | Yeni Sleidi
A gym teacher, a baker with washboard abs, a cat enthusiast, an old-fashioned pervert, and a loud-sweater-aficionado all competed on Thursday to win the prestigious title of Mr. Transman 2013. The third annual pageant was held at The Knitting Factory and hosted by Mr. Showbiz, Murray Hill, who looked sleek in a three-piece suit and bowtie. His assistant, Frances, also deserves an ovation for her Roomba-esque ability to swiftly clear the stage of dropped banana peels and dildos.
The five contestants — Jesse B, Adyian Dowling, Winter Laike, Brant MacDuff and Jude — flexed while wearing swimsuits, strutted around in evening wear, answered personalized questions and wooed the judges with their array of talents. But before the winner was announced, 2011’s Mr. Transman, Teddy B. Glaze, dropped by in a tux to do the Lindy Hop. And when Murray asked him how his life had changed since he won the competition, he showed off his engagement ring and said, “I was a boy when I won, but now I’m a man.”
- © Yeni Sleidi
Brant MacDuff, the charming John F. Kennedy look-a-like who urged Casey Legler to kick him in the crotch during his interview, was chosen as the runner-up. And after a long and noiseless drum roll, Winter Laike, the tenderqeer who made the crowd swoon when he strummed his guitar, was crowned this year’s Mr. Transman. He was awarded a cash prize, a custom-made trophy, a gift bag from Stoli and a photo spread in an upcoming issue of Original Plumbing magazine.
His elated family joined him on stage to celebrate, which prompted Murray to end the event with a reassuring message, “You can be transgender, and still have a family that loves you.”
- © Yeni Sleidi
