There She, Uh, He Is . . . Miss'd America

Miss'd America is Atlantic City's "other" beauty pageant, held one night after the Miss America Pageant and just a few blocks away from the site of the big event. Started 10 years ago by Atlantic City Councilperson John Schultz as little more than a bar contest, the drag pageant has become a local institution. It's a spoof with a serious aim -- to make money for the South Jersey AIDS Alliance. To date, the extravaganza has raised some $200,000.

"We started with a Burger King crown and dried-up roses," said co-producer Gary Hill. "But we've upgraded to a rhinestone crown and real roses." Miss'd America, which has eight contestants instead of 51, features evening wear and talent competitions. The gowns and performances are kept secret until the big night, but past costumes have included a giant pumpkin and a Rose Bowl Parade float.

Pageant host Robert Hitchens, known to Atlantic City audiences as Sandy Beach, said there was no hesitation in going on with the show in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The shows writers and producers are accustomed to creating laughter in the face of tragedy, he said. "AIDS is such an ugly subject. The idea is, why not get the point across and make people laugh?" This year's Miss'd America Pageant takes place Sunday night at 7 p.m. at the Studio Six nightclub on South Vernon Ave. in Atlantic City.

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